Netskope Global Technical Success (GTS)

Best Practices – Netskope Client Version Upgrade

Netskope advocates following a structured four-stage approach for Netskope client version upgrades:

Phase 1: InfoSec - 25-50 users

Start by upgrading the Netskope client on approximately 25-50 end-user machines within your organization's IT group.

Goal: Test all critical business use-cases and interoperability.

Testing Period: Minimum 1 week

Success Criteria: No blockers exist for moving to the next phase.

Following are the recommended tests for IT group:

1. Test Critical Application Access
2. Test Dynamic Steering Functionality (If Enabled)
3. Test Steering Exemptions
4. Test Interoperability with VPN Clients (Non-NPA customer)
5. Test SSL Inspection

Phase 2: IT Team - Another 100 to 150 users

Expand the user group by piloting the upgrade of the Netskope client on another 100-150 end-user machines within your organization's IT group.

Goal: To ensure Netskope client functionality on a variety of platforms, with different applications and use cases.

Testing Period: Minimum 1 week

Success Criteria: No blockers exist for moving to the next phase.

Phase 3: Non-Tech Users - Another 200 to 300 users

Upgrade the Netskope client on 200-300 end-user machines within your organization.

Goal: To ensure Netskope client functionality for a smaller group of end users before global upgrade to all end users.

Testing Period: Minimum 2 week

Success Criteria: No blockers exist for moving to the next phase.

Phase 4: Technical Community - All remaining users, in groups of 1000 users each

Upgrade the Netskope client for the remaining end users in your organization in batches of 1000 users.

Goal: To ensure Netskope client functionality for full deployment to all end users.

Success Criteria: No blockers exist.

Important

• There should be separate client configurations for 'InfoSec', 'IT Team', 'Non-Tech Users', and 'Technical Community'. Intensive testing is required during Phase 1 and Phase 2.
• It's important to ensure that the InfoSec and IT teams are informed about the testing, and their feedback should be documented.

Terms and Conditions

• All documented information undergoes testing and verification to ensure accuracy.
• In the future, If any such platform changes are brought to our attention, we will promptly update the documentation to reflect them.

Notes

• This article is authored by Netskope Global Technical Success (GTS).
• For any further inquiries related to this article, please contact Netskope GTS by submitting a support case with 'Case Type – How To Questions'.