New features in NetSupport DNA

Multi-select Agents

IT technicians across a school now have a more flexible and efficient way to carry out specific tasks on multiple staff and student devices.

From the Tree view, you can select the staff/students you need and then view the component data for them, e.g. looking at the items such as application usage statistics, the memory status of the devices or even the eSafety keywords.

To drill down even more, from Explorer mode, you can select a group of staff/students based on a more detailed criteria (e.g. a combination of departments/year groups, or a group/individual staff and/or students) to perform actions such as messaging – saving time and delivering extra convenience for technicians.

New safeguarding enhancements

Internet risks and trends are constantly changing and, to keep students safe, NetSupport DNA’s Safeguarding Suite now has two new categories (Gambling and Cybersecurity) to help safeguarding staff see any related triggered events more quickly.

Safeguarding staff can also add notes to all triggered events (not just the false positives), such as details of any follow-up actions and more – perfect for ensuring other safeguarding staff are kept updated.

Audio Chat

Within NetSupport DNA, the school IT team can conduct a two-way audio chat session between any number of selected staff or students in full audio mode. Its extended audio support allows one-way talk, listen or full bi-directional audio conversations, as well as seamless streaming of the remote PC’s audible application sounds. A handy tool for providing further support to users – from any location, to any location and without the need to use a phone or third-party chat tools.

Software Distribution status

When using the software distribution tool to deploy software across the school 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/students have all the required applications and quickly highlights if any users are missing or have not installed available apps – thereby boosting productivity levels. They can also manage automatic retries for packages that have failed to be delivered.

eSafety keyword management

To help safeguarding leads and members of staff to keep track of which triggered keywords need reviewing (or to let supporting staff know where to pick up if others are on holiday), all new triggers are highlighted as such, and when staff are reviewing them, they can be marked as ‘in progress’ or ‘complete’. Each status has a different colour code and users can filter the main view to only show certain statuses (i.e. only show new triggers).

Software update

IT teams can choose how NetSupport DNA gets updated across their school: 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 schools 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 schools 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 during ‘out of 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, schools 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 schools 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 schools 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 (choose any time between 3 and 120 months), 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
• eSafety data:
  • Triggered keywords
  • Screenshots
  • Screen recordings

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 keeping students on task. For example an application with the word ‘multi-player’ included in the title can immediately be blocked during school hours but allowed for after schools clubs, if appropriate.

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 students 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 students or teachers 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 schools to monitor and manage Android device activity. It provides IT technicians with the tools to gather a full hardware/software inventory from Android devices and enables real-time monitoring via thumbnail views, as well as including Report a Concern, Phrase Monitoring, Safeguarding Resources, 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!

If NetSupport DNA is installed, the following features are supported by the Browser app: Hardware Inventory, Internet Metering and restrictions, Thumbnails, MDM deployment/configuration, Phrase monitoring, Safeguarding Resources and Report a Concern.

If NetSupport School is installed, the following features are supported: Student features – Chat, Message, Survey, Q&A mode, Thumbnails, Lock screen, Lesson Details, Student Register, Internet Metering and restrictions (NEW to Student part).

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.

For Safeguarding Leads, there have been improvements made to the ‘Review triggered phrases’ interface to make reviewing items simpler – plus, the world cloud can now show triggered phrases colour coded based on word priority, to make it easier to spot high-risk trending keywords.

Contextual intelligence-based Risk Index

Unique to NetSupport DNA, the new contextual intelligence-based Risk Index automatically flags high-risk events and vulnerable students, based on sophisticated contextual AI risk analysis. It assesses the context and history of a child’s activities on the school’s network – from the devices used, time of day, and websites visited (including previous alerts they may have triggered) – and, from this information, creates a numerical risk index. A high-risk index could result if a child has repeatedly researched a safeguarding topic (e.g. suicide) out of hours, in an unmonitored setting such as the library. A lower index rating could result from a student searching a lower risk keyword in a local application during school hours that may have been used for curriculum topics.

All the monitoring and assessment of these alerts is done locally by the school (no third-party services are required) and so the data is fully secure. This allows staff to focus on high-risk alerts (where there is more likely to be a genuine risk) and allows them to apply their professional judgement.

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 and year groups.

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 the search terms are recorded allowing the school to see what keywords/trends are occurring.

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 schools 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, schools 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/students. Using the remote control features, technicians can also quickly access a PC or laptop on the network to remove or move any files that should not be there.

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 school network – from antivirus protection not working and security alerts of failed login attempts from a teacher’s machine, to portable storage devices trying to access the network.

Individuals’ rights

Within the database and administration sections of NetSupport DNA, schools can identify a student and instantly archive or remove all data history related to that student 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.

Resetting passwords

One of the most common issues for IT technicians is students forgetting their passwords. Now, teachers can take on the role of resetting passwords directly from the DNA Agent icon situated in their task bar, allowing the students quicker access to their devices and lesson disruption to be kept to a minimum.

Report a Concern – profiles

DNA’s Report a Concern settings have now been enhanced to allow schools to select which teachers are available for students to report concerns to via Profiles. This is especially useful for schools in multi-academy trusts, who can simply select the relevant profile displaying the safeguarding contacts for their own school.

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 schools control, monitor and support users in a multi-platform environment.

iOS Browser app

The iOS Browser app within NetSupport DNA (v4.5 and above) now allows schools to monitor and manage iOS device activity. It provides IT technicians with the tools to gather a full hardware inventory from iOS devices and enables real-time monitoring – using icon, details or thumbnail views.

A detailed summary of all internet activity is provided, enabling technicians to monitor and control which websites students can access, by applying lists of approved and restricted URLs. Keyword and phrase monitoring are also available, with alerts being sent to the appropriate safeguarding lead to review and follow up on – further supporting a school’s safeguarding policy. To ensure students only use the monitored browser, schools can use an MDM solution to lock down other browsers being used. Students are also able to access the online safeguarding resources list, enabling them source help and advice independently, plus students can report their concerns in confidence to a trusted member of staff via the Report a Concern option.

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. To help monitor and safeguard students when using the internet, a detailed summary of all internet activity is provided. Keyword and phrase monitoring are also available with alerts being sent to the appropriate safeguarding lead to review and follow up on – further supporting a school’s safeguarding policy. Meanwhile, students who may have a concern are also able to report it in confidence to a trusted member of staff via the Report a Concern option. The chosen member of staff is instantly alerted when a concern is raised and can then track it and record any follow-up actions directly from within NetSupport DNA. Students are also able to access the online safeguarding resources list, enabling them to source help and advice independently.

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. Tools to support a school’s safeguarding policy are also included. Students using a Chrome device can now report their concerns in confidence to a trusted member of staff via the Report a Concern option. The chosen member of staff is instantly alerted when a concern is raised and can then track it and record any follow-up actions directly from within NetSupport DNA. Keyword and phrase monitoring are also available with alerts being sent to the appropriate safeguarding lead to review and follow up on.

Teacher ‘Add a concern’

In addition to students being able to report their concerns from any school PC to a trusted member of staff, teachers can now do the same in situations where they are verbally told of a student’s concern. They can now log the concern via the ‘Add concern’ button on the safeguarding navigation tab. Just like the students, the teacher can select which member of staff they would like to report the concern to, enabling the selected staff member to track the concern, re-assign it and record any follow-up actions directly from within NetSupport DNA.

Not only does it help to stop any incidents recorded onto pieces of paper from going missing, but it helps prevent the concern being forgotten about or not being reported/recorded in the correct manner.

False alarm

If a safeguarding keyword is triggered and reviewed as a false alarm, a ‘false alarm’ note can be added allowing the reviewer to provide more details as to why they deem it a false alarm. It may also help other staff understand why it has been marked as a false alarm and helps demonstrate the keyword has been reviewed fully.

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 exactly what applications were used and when, internet usage and any triggered safeguarding keywords – 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 the full picture of activity, at a glance in one location. For example, if there was a specific safeguarding event, a technician or safeguarding lead could review exactly what took place before and after the incident occurred.

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 (i.e. year group or department level), each with its specific component settings. This means dedicated settings (such as internet access) can be applied to specific year groups, allowing the schools to implement age-appropriate monitoring and restrictions.

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 to users who are simultaneously logged in to 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 school, for example getting a message to a teacher at short notice.

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 are 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

Remote Control

To save even more time, powerful Remote Control and monitoring features from screen viewing to transferring files and more, have been added to NetSupport DNA as standard. Administrators no longer have to manually visit each site or computer but can from one central location, manage and control all computers – providing further time savings, especially for multi-site schools, academies and Trusts.

Remote management tools

Adding to the remote control and monitoring features within NetSupport DNA, the latest version also allows you to run command line instructions and scripts at Agent PCs using Remote Command Prompt or PowerShell; and remotely view and edit the Registry, making remote device management even easier.

New safeguarding language packs

Within the database of pre-supplied safeguarding keywords and phrases, language packs are also included as standard to support schools with students learning English as an additional language (EAL). Now teachers and safeguarding leads will be able to extend their safeguarding provision to a wider group of students, as the packs allow them to see and monitor phonetic representations of what students are typing in languages other than English. In addition to English, French, German, Spanish, Czech, Slovak, Romanian and Portuguese, NetSupport DNA also includes language packs for Latvian, Lithuanian, Urdu and Polish.

‘Urgent’ keyword category

We’ve also delivered an important addition to our safeguarding module by creating an “urgent” category in the keyword and phrase monitoring priority list. This tool already provides a school with insight into and alerts from any activity by a student that might suggest the child is engaged in activity that would place them at risk. Using a database of pre-supplied keywords and phrases covering a range of topics from self-harm, bullying and racism through to risks of radicalisation, the school can set individual severity levels to control the outcome when a word or phrase is matched – from a screenshot to a video recording of the event.

Video recording

A new video recording option is also included within the keyword and phrase monitoring feature. When a safeguarding keyword is triggered, in addition to a simple log of the activity, through to capturing a screenshot of the triggered event, NetSupport DNA will now automatically record a video of the student’s screen activity when triggered – allowing safeguarding staff to see in detail what they’ve been up to and allow them to take action more quickly.

Extended multi-site support

For larger multi-site schools, academies and Trusts, 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 – Data Size tab

The database maintenance utility allows the administrator 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 internet metering, application metering and eSafety (phrase matches, screen shots and screen recordings) providing you with the information needed to keep your NetSupport DNA database at a manageable size.