Search and Workspace

Powered by the Nexthink Assist AI, Search and Workspace enable users to extract and summarize data to gain insights into the IT infrastructure, perform contextual searches across product documentation, and quickly create Nexthink campaigns.

Understanding the Nexthink Assist AI

Nexthink Assist is an AI model operated by Nexthink within the Nexthink AWS environment. It can answer any questions about Nexthink, Digital Experience and your IT environment, as well as streamline campaign creation:

  • Ask about Nexthink: Get quick answers about Nexthink features, workflows, and configurations.

  • Analyze data: Extract and compile data, delivering instant insights on device performance, binaries, user sessions, and application details. Assist intelligently queries multiple sources, including Nexthink documentation, Infinity configuration objects (such as live dashboards and library packs), and NQL data to provide accurate, contextual answers.

  • Create IT campaigns: Describe your objective in plain language, and Assist will generate a campaign draft. You can then refine, preview, and save it directly to the Campaigns module.

Refer to the Nexthink Assist AI model card documentation for more information on how it operates and processes data.

How Nexthink Assist works

Nexthink Assist follows an iterative process:

  1. Forms an initial hypothesis and selects tools

  2. Gathers and analyzes data

  3. Decides whether further data is needed

  4. Repeats if necessary to enrich the output

  5. Presents a concise response

When Assist provides responses, it generates a Sources section at the bottom, which contains embedded links such as NQL queries, documentation pages and investigation results.

Data out of Nexthink Assist scope when creating NQL queries

The Nexthink NQL data model provides an overview of the data Nexthink collects. While Nexthink Assist supports most of the NQL data model, it does not currently support custom fields and the following listed fields:

Namespace
Unsupported tables

application

network_application

alert

impact

device

device/local_admins

remote_action

execution_summary

service

all

software_metering

all

connection

udp_event tcp_event

session

connect disconnect lifecycle_event lock logout unlock

web

error_summary event_summary transaction_summary page_view_summary page_view/detailed_page_load_time

workflow

execution_summary

Getting started with Search and Workspace

Before you begin, ensure you have the necessary permissions to view Search and/or Workspace. Refer to Permissions for more information.

Search features a modal window where you can input queries. For cursory searches, such as devices or users, type the name of the intended search object. For more complex tasks, input a request prompt using natural language. Review search results and select the results you would like to further explore. Search results comprise all items and investigations associated with the words you typed in.

Workspace features a rich interface designed to improve visibility, continuity, and reasoning. Its main features are:

  • Expanded interface – Interact in a full-screen view with enough space to read results, view charts, and continue conversations seamlessly.

  • Conversation history – Conversations are retained for 30 days since the last update. Each new interaction resets this period, allowing you to keep active conversations indefinitely.

  • Unlimited conversation length – Exchange an unlimited number of messages in each conversation.

  • Sample questions – The home view displays suggested questions to help you explore key use cases.

You can ask questions such as:

  • “What is my technology score?”

  • “List the devices with the slowest boot durations.”

  • “Which applications have the highest number of errors?”

Accessing Search

Navigate to the main menu and select Search. The Search modal window appears, allowing you to query Nexthink Assist for information or task requests. Refer to the Using Search documentation for more information.

Accessing Workspace

Navigate to the main menu and select Workspace. The Workspace module opens, allowing you to query Nexthink Assist for information or task requests. Refer to the Using Workspace documentation for more information.

Permissions

To enable permissions for Nexthink Assist (allowing access to Search and Workspace):

  • Select Administration from the main menu.

  • Click on Role from the navigation panel.

  • Click on the New Role button to create a new role or edit an existing role by hovering over it and clicking on the edit icon to change the role configuration.

  • In the Permissions section, scroll down to the Investigations section to enable Create private investigations; use global search and View Nexthink Assist permissions for the role.

Refer to the Roles documentation for a detailed description of the permission options.

Frequently asked questions

I'm getting unexpected answers while using Search and Workspace. What can I do?

The system uses natural language to answer your questions. Sometimes, you might observe that it cannot respond to your question or that the response is incorrect. Here are some recommendations for how you can best phrase your questions:

  • Be clear and specific: Provide clear information about the issue you are investigating. Avoid vague or ambiguous questions that may lead to inaccurate results.

  • Use targeted keywords: Use relevant keywords related to the problem you are trying to solve whenever possible. This helps the system understand the context and provide more accurate responses.

  • Frame your questions: Structure your prompts as questions or specific commands. For example, instead of typing Find errors in Teams, try How many Teams calls had bad quality in the last 24 hours?

  • Experiment and iterate: If you do not get the desired results initially, do not hesitate to refine your prompts. Nexthink Assist learns and improves over time, so experimenting with different phrasing can help you achieve better outcomes.

For more information on effective prompt writing, complete the online course How to fast-track work with Nexthink Assist available on Nexthink Learn or refer to Writing effective prompts for Search and Workspace.

As a Nexthink admin, can I pilot the usage of Search or Workspace before exposing it to a broader user group?

Yes, Nexthink admins can pilot the usage of Search or Workspace by selectively disabling and enabling the relevant permissions of certain roles.

Do View domain constraints and permissions apply to the Nexthink Assist AI?

Yes, View domain applies to Nexthink Assist. For example, Nexthink users querying data with Nexthink Assist get the same results as running the query in NQL or the Visual editor.

Nexthink also enforces permissions before performing a task. For example, to view and use the Create campaigns feature in Search or Workspace, ensure that your role has permission to edit campaigns. Without this permission, you cannot create campaigns and will receive the following error message: You do not have the right permissions to perform this action. Please reach out to your administrator.

Are Search and Workspace add-on products? Do they require an additional license?

Search and Workspace are Infinity features, part of the Workplace Experience core product, and available at no additional charge.

How does the Nexthink Assist AI execute natural language commands?

To learn more about how Nexthink Assist processes and executes natural language commands, as well as the AI functionalities behind Assist, please refer to the Nexthink Assist AI Model Card documentation.

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