Configuring category usage alerts

Web protection software can notify you when Internet activity for particular URL categories reaches a defined threshold. You can define alerts for permitted requests or for blocked requests to the category.

For example, you might want to be alerted each time 50 requests for sites in the Shopping category have been permitted to help decide whether to place restrictions on that category. Or, you might want to receive an alert each time 100 requests for sites in the Entertainment category have been blocked, to see whether users are adapting to a new Internet use policy.

Use the Settings > Alerts > Category Usage page to view the alerts that have already been established, and to add or delete usage alert categories.

Steps

  1. View the Permitted Category Usage Alerts and Blocked Category Usage Alerts lists to learn which categories are configured for alerts, the threshold for each, and the selected alert methods.
  2. Click Add below the appropriate list to open the Add Category Usage Alerts page (see Adding or editing category usage alerts) and configure additional URL categories for alerting.
  3. Update the Threshold by changing the number of requests that cause an alert to be generated.
  4. Mark the check boxes in the appropriate column for each desired alert method (Email, SNMP) for these categories.

    Only the alert methods that have been enabled on the Alerts page (see Configuring general alert options) are available for selection.

  5. Mark the check box to the left of any categories you want to delete from its list, and then click Delete below the appropriate list.
  6. When you are finished, click OK to cache your changes and return to the Category Usage page. Changes are not implemented until you click Save and Deploy.