Goodbye iBoss, Hello Netskope
Dallas ISD is transitioning to a new secure web gateway solution powered by Netskope, which will replace iBoss in student devices. Like iBoss, Netskope will operate in the background during this transition. The new platform is designed to enhance the student web experience and strengthen the security of district devices and data.
“This new solution provides a smarter, safer way to browse the web,” said Tommy Pigeon, cybersecurity manager with Education Technology.
What is Netskope?
Netskope is a cloud-native security platform that protects users, data, and applications across the internet. It replaces outdated “allow/block” filters with smarter, more flexible controls that understand context—like who the student is, what app the student is using, and what kind of data is involved.
The change for students will be minimal because no active sign-in will be required, and a similar block message will appear if a student is being prevented from accessing websites deemed to be inappropriate or malicious. On Chromebooks, students will see this extension icon when Netskope is deployed:
Why this matters to team members:
- Fewer disruptions: The additional context and policy granularity enabled by Netskope will reduce the number of websites improperly blocked. Previously requested websites to be blocked or unblocked have been migrated from the previous vendor’s solution.
- Better protection: Netskope detects and blocks threats like phishing and malware, even from cloud apps and trusted websites.
- Support emerging technology: Netskope uses numerous intelligence sources to protect students from new websites and applications, reducing potential risk for device infections and data leakage.
Need Help?
If you believe a website is being blocked in error, please follow the district’s current procedures and open a ticket in ServiceNow or contact the Help Desk at 972-925-5630 for EdTech to provide support.
