Filter - Securly Filtering - Solutions Comparison and Compatibility

This article presents a comparison of Securly's four filtering methods: Extension, SmartPAC, SmartDNS, and GuestDNS.  If you plan to implement more than one solution.

Key features and their availability:

1. Google Chat Scanning: Available only for Extension.
2. User Authentication: Supported by Extension, SmartPAC, and SmartDNS, but not by GuestDNS.
3. Off-Campus Filtering: Offered by Extension and SmartPAC, but not by SmartDNS or GuestDNS.
4. Decryption (Requires Certificate): Supported by SmartPAC and SmartDNS, but not by Extension or GuestDNS.
5. Think Twice (Securly Aware): Exclusive to Extension.
6. Wellness Widget (Securly Aware): Available only for Extension.
7. Full YouTube Controls: Available only for Extension.
8. Uncategorized Site Blocking: Both Securly Extension and SmartPAC
9. Guardrails in third-party AI chatbots like Gemini and ChatGPT, enforced as per Filter policies (Securly AI Chat): Available only for Extension.

Solution Comparison Chart

Device compatibility:

1. Extension: Chromebook, PC, and Mac (Chrome).
2. SmartPAC: PC, iPad, and Mac.
3. SmartDNS: All device types.
4. GuestDNS: All device types.

Browser compatibility:

1. Extension: Chrome, Edge
2. SmartPAC: All browsers*
3. SmartDNS: All browsers*
4. GuestDNS: All browsers*

*Please note that all browsers does NOT include browsers with built-in VPNs that can be used to circumvent the filter.