DRC’s Operating System and Device Support Policy

Last updated: October 30, 2025

When a software vendor ends support for an operating system (or level), they discontinue free security updates and enhancements for that software. This can present large and immediate security and support risks to the software’s users and potentially compromise DRC’s ability to create a secure testing environment. As a result, DRC strongly recommends that all clients use fully supported versions of operating systems.

To accomplish the dual goals of minimizing security risks to DRC clients while making necessary software changes, DRC has established a multi-phase support timeline for the transition from an unsupported operating system or level to a supported operating system or level.

Note: DRC assumes no responsibility or liability for software transition processes at testing sites.

Prerelease

DRC works with operating system vendors to test our software in each vendor’s beta channel as they develop enhancements to the operating systems and before they are released to the public.

Phase 1 and Phase 3: Best Effort Support

The DRC Support team will help troubleshoot issues reported concerning the operating system or level and DRC software applications as best we can, but DRC cannot guarantee a resolution.

If a problem is uncovered, DRC Support will report the issue to DRC Development. Again, we cannot guarantee a fix, software update, or resolution timeline for software fixes or updates. If DRC determines that an issue is related to a client’s network, hardware, or third‑party software, the client must obtain support directly from the software vendor or the hardware manufacturer.

Best Effort Support occurs at both ends of the software lifecycle.

• Phase 1: After DRC software testing begins and before the software is fully supported by DRC. DRC offers Best Effort Support for any new version of a supported operating system (OS) product within 30 days of public availability of the OS product version, or by the next planned common or client-specific release date of the DRC application, whichever duration is greater.
• Phase 3: After the software is no longer supported by the vendor and before the end of DRC support. Once the OS product version has reached the end of vendor support, DRC offers Best Effort Support until the next planned common or client-specific release date of the DRC application, at which point it is restricted from use unless DRC chooses to extend support.

Phase 2: Fully Supported

Operating system versions on the DRC Fully Supported operating system list have been verified by DRC. DRC supports major versions that are publicly supported by the product vendor and minor versions of the product when DRC deems necessary. Any new version of a supported OS product will be Fully Supported by all DRC applications within 90 days of public availability of the version of the OS product, or by the next planned common or client-specific release date of the DRC application, whichever duration is greater.

Phase 4: End of DRC Support

Operating system versions on the DRC End of Support list, or that are not listed under Fully Supported or Best Effort Support, are blocked from running DRC software applications.

Vendor End of Life

The Vendor End-of-Life phase is when an operating system is not yet blocked from running DRC software applications but is not supported by the vendor. The date listed in this phase is when a vendor stops supporting that operating system. However, DRC will allow use of this operating system until the next major release of the DRC INSIGHT Secure Browser.

Device Support Policy

Support Criteria

DRC’s approach is to support our software on the devices most commonly used in the classroom. DRC’s device support policy for these devices considers three criteria:

1. Does the device’s specification meet DRC’s system requirements?
2. Is the device running a DRC supported operating system version?
3. Does the vendor support the device? (This question mainly applies to iPads and ChromeOS devices.)

When the answer to all these questions is yes, DRC will provide support for the device. In other words, support is provided for DRC software on vendor-supported devices that meet DRC’s device requirements and that are running under a supported operating system.

When a vendor ends support for a device, the device will no longer receive necessary security and functionality upgrades. This can compromise DRC’s ability to create a secure testing environment and may impact DRC’s software ability to function properly if the device does not support functionality DRC software requires. After the vendor ends support, DRC will provide Best Effort Support for a short period before also ending support.

Currently, vendor device support affects mainly Apple’s iPad devices and devices running Google’s ChromeOS.

Apple iPad Devices

When an Apple iPad model no longer has an Apple supported operating system version these devices are considered unsupported by Apple. Because Apple no longer supports the device, DRC is unable to offer support and recommends these iPad devices not be used for DRC INSIGHT online testing.

Google ChromeOS Devices

Each Google ChromeOS device has an Auto Update Expiration (AUE) date. Before reaching this date, the device automatically receives new software updates from Google. As Google’s Auto Update policy for ChromeOS devices states,

“ChromeOS devices receive automatic updates regularly that enhance both the device itself and the software on the device. …However, end-to-end updates for all our devices to ensure the highest levels of security requires dependencies on many third-party hardware and software providers so we cannot indefinitely ensure that older ChromeOS devices will receive updates to enable new OS and browser features.”

Google bases ChromeOS device’s AUE date on the model’s first production date, not the date the device was purchased. This is typically 5-6 years after the model’s first production release. When a device reaches its AUE date, Google considers the device obsolete, software updates from Google are no longer guaranteed, the device may not receive necessary security and functionality upgrades, and Google suspends the ability to manage it using the Google Management Console.

To determine the AUE date for a ChromeOS device, use the following link to Google’s Auto Update policy and the list of ChromeOS devices with their AUE dates: support.google.com/chrome/a/answer/6220366.

DRC does not offer support for unmanaged ChromeOS devices (the DRC INSIGHT Secure App for ChromeOS was manually installed) that meet the system device and supported operating system requirements.

Even if the device still has a supported version of ChromeOS, DRC recommends replacing any ChromeOS devices that have reached or will reach their AUE date within the school year.

Supported Device Types

• Windows
  • • Both touchscreen and non-touchscreen devices
• ChromeOS
  • • Both touchscreen and non-touchscreen devices
• iPadOS
  • • iPads that support iPadOS 16.x or above
• macOS
  • • Non-touchscreen devices only
• Linux
  
  • • Non-touchscreen devices only

Supported Accessories

Test Administrators need to be aware that smartphones are turned off and/or not present and not connected to any Bluetooth or wireless peripherals a student is using during the assessment.

• Mouse (Wired, Wireless and Bluetooth)
• English language keyboard (internal and external, wired, wireless and Bluetooth)
• Touchpad
• Headphones (Wired and Bluetooth)
• Microphone earphones (Wired and Bluetooth)
• Earbuds (Wired and Bluetooth)
• Stylus for touch devices
• Other input devices as supported for accommodations (determined in conjunction with each state department of education).
  Note: The input device must allow students to select and deselect; drag items; highlight text, objects, and areas; enter letters, numbers, and symbols; use the Shift, Tab, Return, Delete, and Backspace keys.

Unsupported Accessories

• Smart Board interfaces