New features and enhancements 

NetSupport Manager v14 includes:

A brand-new user interface makes it even easier to identify and navigate to its remote control and remote management features – all in one click. Co-produced directly with businesses to meet their current and changing needs, its intuitive layout in a ribbon bar format at the top makes completing tasks quicker without getting buried in extra unnecessary steps, while the updated icons for each tool make it really clear what capabilities and criteria can be applied. For example:

• The status bar now shows a list of all connected Clients, allowing you to see who you are connected to at a glance.
• A search facility has been added to the Control and Client Configurators, allowing you to easily locate the settings you are looking for.
• You can now specify the action performed when double-clicking a Client in the List view. By default, this is set to viewing a Client.
• The Tree view can now be hidden, allowing more space when working with Clients in the List view. You can also choose to display the Tree view in Compact Mode, which eliminates the need to use the scroll bar when viewing folders containing many items.
• PowerShell and Remote Command Prompt have been added to the right click menu, making them more accessible.
• Applications can now be quickly launched at Clients while you are viewing them.

Two-factor authentication (2FA) is now available for operators connecting to the Gateway to start a remote connection. This extra layer of security uses time-based OTP (TOTP) or DUO Push to authenticate the operator for up to 12 hours.

To further strengthen Client authentication and authorisation across the network, NetSupport Manager now supports businesses using RADIUS authentication – and even allows them to use it in combination with 2FA, according to the level of verification required for a specific Client.

SSL/TLS certificates have been added for superior data security to help ensure that all data sent across the Gateway is encrypted. Customers can enter their own certificate or allow the Gateway to create and use a Let’s Encrypt certificate. Plus, the Control Gateway key, Security keys and Operator passwords have also been boosted with higher levels of encryption.

If the name of the Client executable changes, it will be prevented from running, to help combat and protect against exploits and malware – a handy feature to ensure no untoward activity is taking place.

The Client log file can be edited to only show selected information to further support data protection, e.g., to protect personal data such as usernames when receiving support. You can also clear Client log files older than “x” days, if required.

Load Balancing Gateways have been introduced to accommodate the ever-changing work landscape. These proactively manage the incoming connections, distributing them across multiple gateways to avoid a single point of failure. Customers can specify the capacity of each load balancing gateway and, in the event that one of them goes down, connections are automatically redistributed, thereby minimising any disruption. This is especially useful for larger businesses, as it ensures consistent maximum performance and reliability without the need for operator intervention.

The Connectivity Server Console data can now be exported to a .csv file to aid further analysis – and to support security, an Export Function can create a file showing all connected clients.

The downloads folder now appears in the File Transfer Tree view, allowing you to directly transfer files quickly and easily. Meanwhile, folders that need to be accessed regularly can be added to a ‘Favourites’ folder in the Tree view. Plus, NetSupport Manager provides a list of files that the Control has recently worked with (the last 20 files are displayed) and these can be sent to a Client in one click. Files on the Client machine can also be seamlessly opened and edited at the Control. Simply double-click the Client file to upload this to the Control machine, make the required changes and it will be copied back to the Client machine.

A list of replay files is now available from the Playback icon in the ribbon, allowing quick and easy access. New recordings and replay files that have been played will be automatically added to the list.

Platform support has been extended to Windows 11, 11 SE and Windows Server 2022 to further futureproof your technology.

NetSupport Manager v12.8 includes:

Showing applications
When showing an application to an end user, you can now select to display the application in a separate window (via Display Mode setting), allowing the end user to continue using their own screen as normal – helping to maintain productivity levels.

When showing applications on multiple screens to an end user, the screens are now compressed to display the whole desktop, providing the end user with an accessible view of the applications.

HTTP access
To enhance the Gateway’s security even further, NetSupport Manager now includes the option to control HTTP access based on the person’s IP address.

Filter list of clients
To help find and connect to clients quickly and efficiently, IT teams can now filter the Gateway’s list of clients by name, username, address and description.

Thumbnail view
The thumbnails of connected devices (displayed in the Control) have been further optimised to improve performance.

Feedback mode*
NetSupport School (provided free within NetSupport Manager), provides a great way to capture feedback, such as during a school lesson or staff training session, to check everyone has understood the topic or to gauge the general mood of the class.

The teacher/trainer can choose from several visual indicators to gauge feedback from the class. Once the option has been selected, a dialog box opens to allow a question to be entered and sent to the class. The chosen visual, along with the question, will then appear on the PCs of each member of the class so they can make their selections.

All the feedback results are reported back to the Console in two formats: a list-style report (showing each individual’s feedback) enables the teacher/trainer to drill down into each person’s mood or understanding – or a chart view, which helps them to see general mood or understanding at a glance.

*This feature requires the free NetSupport School components (providing classroom instruction/training features), available from the NetSupport Manager installer package.

Easy mode*
NetSupport School (provided free within NetSupport Manager) now includes three modes for using the Console’s user interface: Easy, Intermediate and Advanced – helping ensure its features and functions are accessible to all users, regardless of their tech experience and knowledge. The new ‘Easy’ mode allows technology-shy instructors to only see and use the basic core tools, supporting simplicity and ease of use.

Easy mode’s tools include:

• Lock/Unlock
• Blank screens
• Power on PCs
• Message end users
• Feedback mode
• Block all internet
• Help requests
• ‘Mute Audio’ at client
• Lesson Timer

The ‘Intermediate’ mode (previously known as ‘basic’ mode) includes a few more frequently-used tools – and Advanced mode offers all the features and functions available in NetSupport School.

*This feature requires the free NetSupport School components (providing classroom instruction/training features), available from the NetSupport Manager installer package.

NetSupport Manager v12.7 includes:

A few extra features and enhancements have been added to the latest version of NetSupport Manager.

• An update to the Print Capture functionality has been added to support capturing to PDF and XPS files.
• Updated support tool to provide stats for Gateway performance.
• Integration with ClassLink OneRoster (requires NetSupport School), providing more flexible connection methods.

NetSupport Manager v12.5 includes:

New Client app for Android
TheAndroid Client app enables existing Control users of NetSupport Manager v12.50 to remotely connect to Android client devices (Android 4 or later) for enhanced real-time interaction and system support whilst on the move.

Now, IT technicians (Control users) can connect to an Android device via a PIN; a feature that allows seamless and secure connectivity between the Client device and Control simply by sharing a matching code. In addition, the Control and Client can carry out either a one-to-one text Chat session, or, alternatively, the Client can join an existing Control-initiated group discussion to sort out any remote support challenges.

To further aid problem solving, screenshots from the Android Client’s device can be taken during a Control session – plus, files can be quickly and easily transferred to and from the Client device, for total flexibility and ease of working.

The NetSupport Manager Android Client app can be used with existing NetSupport Manager 12.5 licences and is available from the Google Play store.

New PowerShell feature
Launch a PowerShell window to quickly and easily execute PowerShell commands at a selected Windows client.

New deployment enhancements
Send a Wake-on-LAN Windows command to machines that are not turned on and quickly locate machines local to the Control.

Enhanced file transfer and distribution speeds.

Enhanced performance on the ‘View and show’ mode on Windows 8 and above.

Enhanced Inventory process monitoring section in Windows. New information such as the process ID, number of handles and objects are now included, along with real-time statistics showing percentage increase/decrease in, for example, process memory usage.

Version 12 summary:

Take a look at the new features and enhancements in our latest version NetSupport Manager v12.