Web Protection Part 3: Deployment, Reports, and Usage

In part one of this series on Web Protection, you had a discussion with a client or potential client about implementing Web Protection. In part two, we covered setting up a demonstration policy and implemented it on a single device to begin collecting data for analysis. Now that you have had a few weeks to let Web Protection analyze the network traffic on your client's endpoint, the time has come to show the results of what type of information has been passing through this device. Bear in mind that while Web Protection has been deployed, it has been collecting and analyzing data. This data is available through the various reports within the MSP Remote Monitoring and Management Cloud Dashboard (MSP RMM Cloud). In the future, note that you can provide feedback on multiple levels. For the sake of this initial demonstration, you will only have tracking information for a single device.

Web Protection Part 2: Setting up a New Policy

In Part 1, we discussed how to have the initial conversation with your client's concerning Web Protection and how their company handles monitoring and managing their user's web activity. We now move into setting up a demonstration for the client to illustrate the benefits of Web Protection. To start out with your new customer, you can offer to run Web Protection on a single, active device for 30 days in order to collect data. This information is what can be viewed per device, and is what drives the generated ports. This demonstration gives you the best opportunity to illustrate the type of data that the client is not currently capturing, and helps them ensure that they are monitoring web access effectively.

Are you using all your super powers?

Written by David Ianetta

Ok, I’ll admit it, I’m a super hero movie fan. 

Marvel universe, DC? Justice League, or X-men. All of it. And being of a slightly older generation, I love that Wolverine is still going strong!

Really looking forward to “Logan” the next installment.

But one of my little pet peeves with many of these movies is the inconsistency of the heroes when it comes to using their super powers.

Superman struggles fighting Batman when the guy can punch a planet out of orbit? 

Would you believe...

Written by David Ianetta

One of my favorite shows growing up was "Get Smart" with Don Adams. That show was famous for reoccurring gag lines like, "Missed it by that much!" and my favorite, "would you believe..."

When ever Maxwell Smart was telling a cover story and could see by the look on someone's face they were not "buying what he was selling" he would keep diminishing the fabricated story until he eventually gave up.

Take An SNMP Walk - Creating New SNMP Checks using MIB Browsing Tools

How many times have you wanted to use GFI MAX to monitor a piece of hardware like a router or printer but didn't know how?  GFI MAX offers several ways to monitor IP addressable devices.

• Ping check - pings a device using its Hostname, FQDN or IP Address and fails if no response is received
• TCP Service Check - Attempts to connect to the specified port/service.  The check can be configured to pass or fail based on connection status.  In this way it can be used to check for services that should be running or alert you when ports that should be closed become open.
• Web Page Check - Checks a web page and passes the check as long as it responds with the expected text.
• SNMP Check - Used to query SNMP server hardware and SNMP enabled network devices such as routers, switched and printers.

So the first three checks are pretty self-explanatory.  SNMP checks however require a bit of digital mysticism.  Here is basic process for creating a new SNMP check that can then be used over and over again on your dashboard.

Jumping elsewhere from your Dashboard

Have you ever been in your dashboard and needed to get information from another website? Were you aware that you can add external links into you dashboard? You can add links to other websites and even save your log in credentials to the other sites in your GFI MAX Dashboard.  The External Links button gives you quick access to all of the websites you  have created links to. 

Quick Tip: The Phantom Menu Item

Sometimes, on a dark, stormy night when an angry moon hangs low, you may see a menu item that is grayed out so it cannot be pressed - or a menu item you know you've seen before has simply vanished like it was never even there. That is because the interface is haunte...

...One second - Legal is on the phone.

As I was saying, the interface is 100% not haunted (where did you get that idea?), and the phantom menu items are most likely due to one of the following 2 causes:

1. The feature in question requires a newer agent than you currently have installed. Once you update the agent, the item should no longer be grayed out
2. You are somehow logged in as a lower-clearance user than you are accustomed to. Once you log in with your regular account, everything should be as you remember it.

Saving time & headaches by saving Bandwidth

The MAX agent is deployed independently, and lives its life very happily that way: no matter where it is (on the Internet), it goes on its merry way sending information to your dashboard so you can always know about and maintain its health & well-being.  With the features enabled, these machines will get all updates wherever they are.

But what about when I have several machines connected to a single Internet connection?  (Well, we're supporting businesses, so that's most all of the clients isn't it?)

Reducing Alerts for better Signal-to-Noise in RemoteManagement

So, you've deployed your agents. You've configured your reports. You've even got the after-hours alerts routed to a special address. Your system is in place to keep you informed of every little thing that happens. So why are you weeding through alerts you don't care about to get to the information you need? How do you get the alerts adjusted to a level that works for you?

Multiplying your results: One action, multiple devices

It's a no-brainer that doing an action once is better than doing that same action 39 times. Efficiency is one of the reasons why people choose an RMM solution, but they may not know of all the dashboard features available to help them achieve this goal.

Managing your RemoteManagement: Security Best Practices

Updated by David Ianetta

The default setup of MSP RMM is perfect for a one-man shop, where all installations, actions and policy decisions are performed by the same person. However, once you move into a multi-user system, the following must be considered: