All Canada, people will wear pink shirts to send a message to stop bullying.

[this post is from Scott Ledyard, a Nerd in Cincinnati, USA)

There seems to be a bit of concern that Google is recording search history. Now that Google is changing their privacy terms, this is becoming a new topic despite the fact that they’ve offered search history for some time.

It’s been my experience setting up Google Apps for Business that this service is turned off by default, but I suppose that could vary. My personal preference is to leave it on, as I find it useful for later research.

Anyway, it’s quite simple to turn this off for your Google Apps domain. Go into your domain management menu. Lately, this can be the biggest challenge as they’ve moved this around. It’s in the SECOND gear icon.

Then go to Organization & users, and finally the Services tab.

Scroll down, and you’ll see the Web History where you can turn it off, or on.

if you want to see what your Google Search history has been, visit https://www.google.com/history/

[this post is from Ben Wiper, a Nerd in Nova Scotia, Canada]

If you’ve been following the news lately, you have no doubt read about the ongoing legislative battles between internet users’ rights to privacy and protecting intellectual property being waged in Canada, USA, and other countries across the world.

Some of the recent attempts to diminish online privacy will affect you directly if passed. If these bills become law, many online activities that many of us take for granted will suddenly become illegal and you may not even be aware of it.

SOPA   PIPA   ACTA   Bill C-30 (Each link goes to corresponding Wikipedia page)

One side effect of a number of these bills – if they become law, is that you or your business can be held  liable for the content transmitted over your network.  For example, if you have a wireless network without a password and somebody uses it to share music illegally or to visit questionable websites, you or your business could potentially be liable for that act.  One way to guard effectively against unwanted traffic and content on your network is to use Content Filtering by OpenDNS.

OpenDNS allows you to filter up to 26 individual categories of web site content including alcohol, drugs,  pornography, social media and more.  The great part is that you can create a bypass code that allows people at your home or office to bypass the filter.  For example, you may filter out social media sites, but want to visit Twitter yourself.  Using your username and password, you can access blocked sites on an individual basis.

Anonymous Browsing
If you are concerned about your online privacy, Nerds can implement many solutions to allow you to surf the internet anonymously, and reduce the risks of being tracked by various websites. We can assist you in protecting your right to privacy and security online.

Do Not Track Plus
DNT+ is a free plugin for modern browsers.  It finds and blocks websites from leaking your information to partner sites, with Facebook being one of the biggest violators.  In less than 4 hours I had 117 DNT+ blocks for leaks of my browsing habits to Facebook.  Please note that websites may load a little slower when using DNT+, particularly those that “leak” a lot of your online activity, like Facebook.

Private Browsing
Most modern browsers support “In-Private” browsing which provides a decent level of privacy however you will probably have a number of your favourite web sites that either don’t work properly, or don’t load at all.  For more details: Internet Explorer Firefox Chrome Safari

What tools do you use to protect your privacy online or to browse the internet anonymously? We encourage you to share your thoughts in the comments, or send us a message on our Nerds on site Facebook fan page or our Nerds on Site Twitter!

If you haven’t read “The E-myth Revisited” and you plan on going into business for yourself – please read it.  The reason most small businesses never reach their potential is because the entrepreneur who started the business ends up ‘being’ the business.  In effect what they have done is simply created a job for themselves.

“If they don’t fail outright, most businesses fail to fully achieve their potential. That’s because the person who owns the business doesn’t truly know how to build a company that works without him or her.. which is the key.”
Michael Gerber, The E-Myth

We are serious about working together to enable everyone on the team to grow a business far removed from what they are capable of delivering themselves.  Sharing resources, skills, experience and costs just makes more sense.

We Are a Family

At Nerds On Site we are more than a team, we are a family. What a bonus to be able to run your own business AND have a team to work with when you need them.  We keep each other inspired and help out each other when in need.  Whether it’s meeting for breakfast or getting together to teach each other new skills (from Tech stuff to marketing to handling customers) we know that someone’s got our back, without getting on our back!

Established Partnerships

WHO you know can make a HUGE impact on the value that you can deliver to clients. We have spent years identifying and working with some of the best-in-class solution providers around.

One of the benefits of clients having Nerds On Site as their trusted Technology Partner is the vendor relationships that we bring to the table. We have spent years identifying and working with some of the best-in-class solution providers around. Sometimes it’s not just what you know – it’s who you know.

The Brand

The NerdMobile is one of the biggest parts of being a Fully Certified EntrepreNERD. It gets you looks, it gets you business, it gets you girls! Okay, maybe not girls but our Nerds have been chased by desperate computer owners seeking help, sought out by businesses and home owners that want a NerdMobile parked in THEIR driveway to ”brag” that THEY use Nerds On Site. Nerds have even had cards with handwritten pleas left under their wipers: “HELP! Please call me!”

Nerds LOVE their NerdMobiles! They use them for business, they use them for play, they even use them to help their communities with events like “Fill the Beetle to Feed the People” where we fill the NerdMobiles with food for local food banks or other charities. From Ottawa, Canada to Johannesburg, South Africa, Nerds are always giving back to their communities. Parades, FUNdraisers, and golf tournaments.

 The CHARGE Philosophy

What kind of people are we looking to connect with? The kind of people who can connect with our ‘CHARGE’ philosophy!

C – Confident, Competent, CEO
H – Human Engineers
A – Attitude of Humility
R – Responsive and Resourceful
G – Goal and Destination focused
E – Engaging and Enthusiastic

What Are We Looking For?

We need ALL competencies and skills!

More than anything, we are looking for folks that have a passion for technology… any and all aspects of Information Technology. Nobody can claim to know ‘everything’ about technology, so our clients love the fact that we work together as a team. While many of our nerds are ‘generalists’, we also have nerds with very specific skills who make themselves available to other nerds. Industry Certifications are a great compliment to real-world experience… but that’s not to say that there are those who have learned by doing and know their stuff. Finally, Nerds have got to LOVE working with people, because that’s our business! First and foremost, our business is about building relationships with our clients through heightened communication and always putting their needs first.

Interested in joining? Check out iwanttobeanerd.com, then apply to become an EntrepreNERD!

[this post is from the SME section of our website.]

If you own and operate a small business, lowering costs is an important part of keeping your company in the black. Cutting costs on your IT budget could inadvertently compromise your company’s security. Even though small businesses may not have all of the resources that large corporations do, they are still just as vulnerable to the same security threats. Here are ways to help secure your small business:

Purchase Anti-virus Software

Every computer is vulnerable to the wide variety of viruses, trojans, and worms that are on the Internet. These malicious software programs can do anything from damage your computer and files to steal your password and other important information stored on your computer. Purchase a good anti-virus software program and make sure that it is always up to date. Also, check to see that your anti-virus software checks for spyware, adware, and any other type of malware that could be hiding on your computer.

Avoid Phishing Emails

It is important to discuss with your employees the importance of not opening spam email, attachments or forwards that could possibly contain viruses. Make sure that your email has a filtering system that helps to filter out spam and other malicious email. Responding to phishing emails can be another costly mistake. Phishing emails are disguised as legitimate emails that then request login and password information. Changing passwords monthly can help to lessen the damage should an employee accidentally respond to a phishing email.

Minimize Damage From Dishonest or Disgruntled Employees

It is often difficult to predict if one of your employees will become disgruntled or dishonest, but you can put some safeguards in place to help minimize the damage should you find that you have one. Thoroughly screen your employees before hiring them, especially if they will have access to any confidential or financial company information. Limiting the number of employees that have access to this confidential information and changing your company passwords often can help to prevent former employees from accessing company computers.

Secure Your Wireless Network

Make sure that your wireless router is encrypted, and that your business is using WPA2 wireless security. A firewall is another important key to protecting the security of your small business. A firewall will allow access only to authorized users while blocking unauthorized access to the computer.

Have An Internet Use Policy

Aside from the obvious lack of productivity that personal Internet use can cause for your business, it can often be too easy to click on websites that contain malicious software that could easily infect your company computer and shut your system down temporarily or even permanently.

Avoid Having Everything on One Computer

Purchasing computer equipment is costly, so many small businesses will try to get away with fewer computers in order to save money. If you have your financial information on the same computer that your employees are accessing their company emails, you could risk losing everything that is vital to running your business should an infected email slip through.

Have a Data Backup System

Be sure to have some type of data storage and backup system in place in the event that your current system goes down. Having all of your files readily available to you in case of an emergency can ensure that your business will retain customers and continue to run smoothly no matter what the disaster.

Minimize Damage From Stolen Equipment

It difficult to prevent break-ins or equipment from being stolen from your home or office building, but you can have some security by ensuring that all of the information on your computer is encrypted and password protected.

Trying to scrimp when it comes to your small business’s computer security can be a costly mistake. Arm yourself with the knowledge of what your business could be up against and take steps towards prevention. The investment will give your company the security necessary to keep your information secure

Our team is truly global, and here are just a few photos of our Nerds in action all around the world. Check out the rest of our photos at NerdSpotting.com.

[this article is from our Small and Medium Sized Enterprise website.]

If there is one thing most small businesses can agree on – it’s that time equals money. Small business owners are in a position where they have to be a jack-of-all-trades, often spending most of their day wearing different hats. This is the nature of the small business and while expected is not always the best way use of time.

In order for a small business to be successful and remain competitive in an industry, there must be designated time for the owner to focus on growing and building the business. In many cases small businesses fail as a result of being unable to handle emergencies or other situations that are simply beyond the control and expertise of the owner.

Any business that relies on technology, which covers almost every business operating today, can benefit from managed services. Managed services providers understand that not every business has the ability to pay for an internal IT department which can be very expensive yet necessary to ensure all aspects of technology are supported. Without this backup, many small businesses find themselves in a position where they have to foot a very expensive bill to recover from a disaster or emergency. In other situations, using out-of-date or ineffective technology is simply a waste of both time and money on the part of the small business.

Here are ways small businesses can make the most of their time and money by hiring a managed services provider, like Nerds On Site.

Focus on running the business – One of the major benefits of outsourcing your technology needs to a company like Nerds On Site is that you as a business owner and your employees can focus 100% on their individual duties to keep the business moving in the right direction. This is the most valuable use of time for all parties involved, instead of hours or even days lost when trying to deal with technological issues that in-house employees are not trained to handle.

We can offer expert advise – there are many small businesses that simply do not know what they need to improve the functionality of their business. The old adage, “what you don’t know can’t hurt you” does not apply in all cases. By consulting with a managed services provider, you may discover areas of your business which can be improved that you previously thought were working “just fine”. Expert advice may be able to help you improve the efficiency of your business while positioning you better within the industry.

Support when you need it – Managed Services providers are not only there in the event of an emergency or recovery but also provide monitoring, which can invaluable in preventing problems before they can impact your business.

It is important for every small business to carefully examine their technical needs in order to see what services will be most beneficial to the company. Nerds On Site can offer services that not only reduce technology costs over time, but also improves functionality, which in turn saves time. When this balance is achieved, a small business is in the perfect position to thrive and grow

This is a reminder that at 2am EDT (Toronto/New York) tonight our data center team will be taking our Linux shared hosting system offline in order to install some hardware upgrades.  This upgrade is in direct response to the outage that we suffered last week, and will address a deficiency in our server.  Thank you for your understanding, and we apologize if this outage causes any inconvenience for any client.  We will do everything we can to keep the downtime to an absolute minimum.

While having an online presence in today’s business market is vital, giving your clients comfort while they are on your website is equally as important. New designs that are user-friendly both in looks AND functionality are key to the success of any online marketing campaigns. Marketingtech goes in depth into the subject:

Trust is something that is very important in today’s online business world. People no longer make purchases on impulse like they once did years ago from random ranking web pages. The game has changed folks and having an outdated website with little to no social reach is something that is going to hurt you as a business when it comes to brand building and online influence.

Read the article on marketingtech

Earlier this month, TechWorld posted a fantastic article on mobility in business. They describe the important of on-the-go access to your work, and with the surge of smartphones internationally, the new wave of business strategies is upon us.

With the advance of mobile technologies creating converged mobile devices, specifically the Apple iOS-powered hardware of the iPhone and the iPad, we have small yet powerful devices with a big impact in the city. The next wave is already upon us.

Read the full article on TechWorld