New features in NetSupport DNA

Software distribution status

When using the software distribution tool to deploy software across the company or to publish software to targeted users (allowing them to ‘pull’ it onto their device), IT teams can now view, via a handy report, whether there were any errors during the install or if the applications were installed successfully. This new feature helps ensure that all staff have all the required applications and quickly highlights if any users are missing or have not installed available apps, thereby boosting productivity levels.

Software update

IT teams can choose how NetSupport DNA gets updated across their company: automatically updating via a smart update or by an external method, such as GPO or SSCM. This new enhancement helps put the team in control of how and when they want updates to go live.

Further optimisations

Several additional optimisations have also been included in this latest release, making NetSupport DNA even easier to use – while bringing further efficiency savings, boosts to productivity levels and security, plus much more, to businesses globally! For example, NetSupport DNA now supports up to 10,000 devices, there are new approval requests for USB devices not encrypted with BitLocker, improved Active Directory user profile evaluation – and much more.

Efficiency View

The Efficiency View helps businesses to see at a glance if their technology is being used efficiently – helping to reduce any wastage. The unique dashboard highlights key areas of efficiency data, such as:

• How many PCs were left on outside of office hours
• The number of unused PCs
• PCs with the lowest spec and disk space
• Most/least used USBs and apps
• Plus more!

Armed with this information, businesses can see exactly how their technology is being used and the areas where efficiency can be improved to create cost and time-saving benefits. Plus, compiling this data into one simple-to-read dashboard makes it easy for businesses to quickly see the whole picture.

What’s more, the information can be saved and exported as a report, and the data can be displayed for customised dates – making it easy to evidence improvements.

Data retention policy

To help businesses reduce the amount of data they store, a Data Retention Policy can now be set to delete data over 365 days old (default mode). The policy can be scheduled to run automatically at any time, on any day or at any interval.

The data included in a retention policy includes:

• Internet metering
• History
• Application metering
• Login sessions
• Power on/off sessions
• USB device use
• Print cost data
• Software distribution

The data can be backed up before the policy runs and emails can be sent to notify staff when the process is about to start.

Block windows by title

In addition to restricting websites and applications by their specific name, apps and games can now be blocked or restricted by their window’s title, helping technicians to add a broader layer of security while boosting productivity. For example an application with the word ‘game’ included in the title can immediately be blocked during work hours.

Spotlight feature

Using Explorer mode, technicians can now use the Spotlight feature to help them see more details about a selected PC (e.g. any applications, services, websites and processes in use), all in a single glance. Services can be stopped and restarted remotely as required. It also provides another way to quickly add applications/websites to blocked lists instead of navigating through to the web or application components and adding them separately.

Concurrent logins

In addition to preventing staff logging in on multiple devices, when required, a user can now be authorised to log on to multiple PCs at once (between 1 and 5). A useful feature for roaming staff or technicians who may have several devices.

DNA Console administrator’s password

As an extra layer of support for the IT team, the master console password can now be easily reset internally, allowing the IT team to continue its daily tasks without disrupting productivity.

Drive space visibility

The drive space available for each device is now visible in the Explorer view as a performance indicator, helping technicians to see at a glance which PCs are running out of space and need to be reviewed.

Android Browser app

Adding to the breadth of platforms supported, the new Android Browser app now allows enterprises to monitor and manage Android device activity. It provides IT technicians with the tools to gather a full hardware/software inventory from Android devices, enables real-time monitoring via thumbnail views and includes chat and message features.

The data collected is sent dynamically to the local NetSupport DNA server and is then available for reporting within the Console.

NetSupport Browser app for iOS

This mobile Browser app (for iOS 9.3 and above) brings together the functionality previously available separately in the NetSupport DNA Browser and NetSupport School Student apps – making app use simpler and more streamlined for users of NetSupport DNA or NetSupport School, or both!

For those with NetSupport DNA installed, the following features are supported by the Browser app: Hardware Inventory, Internet Metering and Restrictions, Thumbnails view and MDM deployment/configuration.

For enterprises also using NetSupport School (providing the tools to support staff training and development) the following features are supported: Chat and Message (from Tutor only), Survey, Q&A mode, Thumbnails views, Lock screen, Lesson Details, Register and Internet Metering and restrictions.

Windows

A whole host of enhancements has been added to the Windows version of NetSupport DNA based on customer feedback and requests. Just some of these include: detecting whether volumes on hard drives/USB drives are encrypted (BitLocker); and enabling power management and internet metering features to be set to 15-minute intervals, rather than 30 minutes. The ‘Find PC/Users’ tool now automatically selects matching entries in the hierarchy (as searches are no longer case sensitive); and the Chat feature shows the username of the logged-in user (not just the PC name). Plus, the new ‘Search facility’ added into Software Packages makes it easier to find what you are looking for; and the install date of hotfixes is now shown in a devices Software Inventory – helping to highlight which devices have received updates.

Activity Monitoring

In addition to providing a single time-based summary of all activity by a specific user, PC or department presented in a chronological view, new enhancements now allows for the data to be viewed in graphical timelines, providing an even quicker and easier way to view activity. This time-saving feature means that technicians don’t have to look at each area separately and can instead see the full picture of activity, at a glance in one location.

Internet restrictions

NetSupport DNA now allows you to create multiple approved/restricted websites lists which can be assigned to specific profiles. This means dedicated internet settings can be applied to specific departments.

Filtering list

This now includes the Counter Terrorism Internet Referral Unit (CTIRU) list which can be enabled/disabled. The content from these sites will not be shown when searched for, however businesses can see who was trying to access the sites and when.

System error alerts

When a system error occurs (GPFS etc) NetSupport DNA now triggers a system error alert to capture the error message. The alerts can be configured to capture a screenshot, record screen and run an application. This extra functionality has also been applied to PC alerts, allowing you to choose what happens when any alert is triggered.

Data protection

The software inventory helps businesses keep track of software installed and whether it is GDPR-compliant – as well as ensuring that their data is secure and stored correctly.

Discover information you hold

To know whether data has been lost and to be able to report it within the stipulated 72 hours’ timeframe, businesses must first have a clear picture of where it is located. Using NetSupport DNA’s file discovery, a data manager can quickly scan all or selected network PCs and identify all file types that may contain confidential information about staff.

Prevent data breaches

To help prevent data breaches, NetSupport DNA’s endpoint security and alerting features will automatically notify operators when any number of changes occurs across the network – from antivirus protection not working and security alerts of failed login attempts from an employee’s machine, to portable storage devices trying to access the network.

Individuals’ rights

Within the database and administration sections of NetSupport DNA, businesses can identify an employee and instantly archive or remove all data history related to that staff member stored in NetSupport DNA.

Custom images

To help find items in the Hierarchy Tree view easily, you can apply custom images to departments, dynamic groups, PCs and Users.

New and enhanced platform support

NetSupport DNA has extended its support to include iOS, Chrome – as well as enhancing its Mac OS X support – to help companies control, monitor and support users in a multi-platform environment.

iOS Browser app

The iOS Browser app (for use with NetSupport DNA v4.5 and above) now helps to increase productivity with its detailed summary of all internet activity, allowing technicians to apply lists of approved and restricted URLs to enable companies to fully manage internet use. IT technicians can also gather a full hardware inventory from devices and enable real-time monitoring – using icon, details or thumbnail views.

Mac Agent – enhanced

The Mac agent now allows IT technicians to enable real-time monitoring (using icon, details or thumbnail views) and gather a full hardware and software inventory from the Agent machine.

Chrome Agent

IT technicians can now gather a full hardware inventory from Chrome devices and enable real-time monitoring (using icon, details or thumbnail views) to gain an overview of current activity, as well as receive hardware and software alerts. They can also access the activity monitoring tool which provides a single time-based summary of all activity by a specific user, PC or department, presented in a chronological view and monitor internet usage.

Activity Monitoring

NetSupport DNA now provides a single time-based summary of all activity by a specific user, PC or department. Presented in a chronological view, it shows technicians what time the logon session began and ended, as well as what applications were used and when, plus internet usage – over a set time period. This time-saving feature means that technicians now don’t have to look at each area separately and can instead see all the information at a glance in one location.

Profiles

To provide maximum flexibility and to help save time, NetSupport DNA allows you to create multiple profiles for different groups of devices or users (e.g. department level), each with its specific component settings. This means dedicated settings (such as internet access, print metering and much more) can be applied to specific departments e.g. Marketing (for Facebook).

Logon control

Helping to boost security, NetSupport DNA now prevent users from logging on to more than one PC at a time. The user can be prevented from logging on to a second PC while still logged on the original PC – or they can log on to the second PC and be automatically logged out of the first PC.

IT staff are alerted of users who are simultaneously logged into multiple PCs. Following these alerts, IT technicians are able to log the user out and follow up to ensure the login credentials are not being misused.

Locate a user

NetSupport DNA allows anyone with a DNA agent installed on their machine (if the feature is enabled) to locate another logged-on user and then send them a message. This may be useful for staff members that do not have the NetSupport DNA Console installed, but need to find and contact other users in the company.

Bookmarks

NetSupport DNA allows you to create and place bookmarks within the PCs, Users and Devices Tree views. This may be useful if you have a large or complex Tree structure, as it allows you to quickly navigate to the place you want to work with.

Console security – enhanced

To help save time, a reset option is now available to allow the Console user to reset their password if their account has been locked out (and specific criteria is met).

Explorer – enhanced

To give technicians a more accurate overview of device activity, we’ve increased the thumbnail refresh rate speed to ensure all view modes are up-to-date. In addition, the Explorer mode is now available from the Users Tree view, so that they are able to see data from users – as well as what profiles have been assigned.

A new filter tool can be used to only show logged on users within the explorer view, so that PCs powered on but not in use are excluded from views. In the details mode, Performance data such as real-time network traffic, CPU and memory uses for each PC is now displayed to help give an instant view of network health.

Vault

Raising the product’s security capabilities, a secure Vault component allows storage of serial numbers, passwords and any other confidential IT data. Access to the Vault can be restricted to specific console users and activity can be recorded against the central DNA audit trail to help prevent against any unauthorised views or amends.

System audit

Security is boosted further by the addition of the powerful system audit component. This will track all selected console activity by staff, records when policies or settings are changed, entries are added or deleted or where rights are changed for any DNA user – so technicians have a record of what has happened and when.

Extended multi-site support

For larger multi-site organisations, NetSupport DNA’s enhanced data queue allows incoming data from the DNA agents to be quickly processed by the server, reducing the lag time between agent and console. This ensures the console data is always refreshed, providing an up-to-date overview of all activity – no matter how many IT assets you’re managing.

Optimised query tool

Within the reporting tool, new totalling options have been added, providing greater flexibility on custom reporting. Questions now include a range of new options for totalling custom reports, like setting a max value.

This helps to identify the largest value within your custom search more efficiently, saving you time by avoiding a manual search.

Database maintenance – new Data Size tab

The database maintenance utility allows the administratior to easily maintain and cleanse various parts of the DNA database, from deleting data, PCs and applications to importing data files. The latest version now includes a new Data Size tab as the first option. This tab displays the number of records and data size for items such as internet metering and application metering, providing you with the information needed to keep the NetSupport DNA database at a manageable size.