Streaming Media –Best Practice?

[judy_ulm]

We implemented PAN few months ago in our network. We implanted some URL category policy; blocking A&P, online games, gambling and few other URL categories.

We are thinking of blocking URL category and Application Category for Streaming media. We use You-tube in our organization for training purpose and we would like to keep some audio/video streaming open  from News Agency.

My question is what is the best practice for streaming media?

Should we block URL Category ; Streaming Media and  allow certain website ?

Should we block Application Category; Media and allow certain applications such as You-Tube?

I would like to get your input and see what some of you have done with Streaming Media.

[reaper]

you can create a rule that allows all the allowed applications like youtube, a rule that blocks all streaming media through an application filter and a rule that allows web categories streaming media, this will allow users on the websites but should block the actual streaming applications

you can also set up a url filter that blocks everything related to streaming media but contains either a custom category or a whitelist of allowed urls, this will also block users from accessing the website

[ssarcar]

I think Judy’s question was “ what are other company doing” . I have the same question. Are you blocking Streaming media category?

[will74103]

We have to allow it.  But we do rate-limit all of the streaming apps.  Working pretty well so far.

[cfyeung]

How can I rate-limit some video sites, such as tudou and youku? It's done via QoS.