Small Business

Windows 11: To install, or Not to Install

Posted on by GiantsFan
windows 11 start-on-white-tabletop

Windows 11 offers plenty for us to be excited about, from features that support new ways of working to additions designed to keep users secure. And if Microsoft is able to deliver on its promises, Windows 11 will deliver value to businesses of all kinds as they look to capitalize on new opportunities. The Installation Assistant notifies you to install Windows 11 on a compatible PC the moment it releases. At this time, we are recommending to not upgrade to Windows 11. Although Windows 11 will have undergone extensive testing, both in the lab and during early-access, bugs are already occurring post-launch. Users have reported a variety of issues after installing Windows 11; some say they are experiencing poor Wi-Fi performance; some have found the Start menu search function is broken, and others are having problems with File Explorer. Also, it has been reported that Windows 11 suffers from memory issues that will eventually begin to cause slowdown. Like any new software update, Windows 11 will likely have its share of launch issues and bugs which hopefully will get better over time with new features. We are gearing up to enjoy our time with Windows 11, but we wouldn’t call it an essential upgrade just yet — at least not for everybody. With that being said, we’re thinking carefully about whether these benefits are worth the inevitable nuisances that our customers might face as early adopters. Sometimes, after all, the tortoise wins the race while the hare is sleeping.



How Secure is Health Tech?

Posted on by GiantsFan
How Secure is Health Tech

For example, 100% of mobile health apps tested by Approov were found to expose “full patient records including protected health information (PHI) and personally identifiable information (PII).”  Luckily, there are simple ways to safeguard your practice. Read on for tips from the cybersecurity experts at Nerd Crossing.  Secure Your Email  Working from home creates juicy opportunities for criminals to access patient data. For example, your house or apartment network is probably shared with others who should not be privy to patient information. Phishing is the most common cyberattack facing healthcare professionals like you today. And emails are the most common area of weakness. Always think before you click! Hover over links in your emails to make sure they point secure websites. Also, never download files or executables without verifying the source of a message!   Browse Safely  An easy way to keep safe is to access your work email on a private network (VPN) and verify that the websites you are visiting use HTTPS. You should also be using an anti-virus software and avoid creating weak or recycled passwords. Our favorite password managers include Dashlane, LastPass, and Password Safe.   Update Legacy Systems  Before jumping on the health tech bandwagon, a bit of housekeeping might be in order.   Processing data with a legacy system is a huge security risk. The top suspects include Windows Server 2008, Windows 7, and Windows XP.  You should also check whether login information and credentials are truly stored securely. These include computer systems as well as medical devices and facility controls. To manage dozens and up to thousands of devices and endpoints at a time, consider using a mobile device management (MDM) software. This will help your IT team allow for the use of personal devices while keeping patient data safe by locking up or even completely wiping devices if a breach occurs.    Contact Our Health Tech Nerds Feeling lost at exactly what to prioritize when it comes to cybersecurity? Our HIPAA certified Nerds are here to help!   Schedule a Free Consult



Why has Apple put its password manager on Chrome?

Posted on by GiantsFan
typing on laptop

By Robert Davis, Network and Systems Engineer, Nerd Crossing Apple is getting in on password management for the big bucks — and to make password security an actual priority for customers. However, today’s in-browser password managers are still insecure.   Why? It’s simple — if you’re not prompted to provide a secret to verify your identity, then that means it’s available to anyone who is on your device during a given session.   Nerd Crossing still highly recommends using a third-party password application like LastPass, 1Password, and Dashlane.    My other tips include never providing admin access to your personal password manager, not saving passwords in your browser, and using a strong complicated password for all accounts.  As for *online* passwords password manager solutions, those accounts definitely benefit from rotation as websites have their password databases leaked regularly.   Though they are encrypted, once leaked hackers will start to brute force the weakest passwords first, and if they are still current, gain access.   Need tips on more than password managers?   Contact the Nerds Today



Self Care for Small Business Owners 

Posted on by GiantsFan
Smiling Man listening through headphones

By Jim Hammack  Busy holding things together at your small business? Don’t forget to take time off for you! This year has been especially difficult, and you may have overwhelming worries about keeping the doors open while keeping yourself and your employees safe. No matter how you are coping, Nerd Crossing has a few tips which we hope will help you during these unprecedented times:   Slow Down and Reclaim Space    The holidays are approaching, and we hope you block out some much-needed space to get re-energized for the next year. Guided meditation is a great option for you if you’re feeling especially disconnected from others. It can also reduce stress, tame anxious feelings, and even boost your creativity.  Here are some of our favorite mediation apps:  Calm  Headspace  Smiling Mind  Stop, Breathe & Think (Great for parents! Invest in a Comfy Chair  Working from home indefinitely? A high-quality chair will help preserve your posture. The back has a natural curve, so choose one with lumbar and backrest adjustment options and an armrest that allows your shoulders to be relaxed. Our favorite places to shop are Wayfair, Amazon, Staples, Target, and Overstock.  Break Up Your Break Time  Has the 9-5 turned into a 12-hour workday? It may be hard to keep up with your regular break times, but they are crucial for your physical and mental health.    If you simply can’t take a 30-minute lunch break, try breaking it up into two 15-minute walks around the block. You can even get creative with burpees, pushups, and other stationary exercises.   Rest Your Eyes  Staring at a computer screen for too long can result in eye strain — resulting in soreness and even vision loss! To prevent yourself from increased sensitivity, you may want to consider the following:   Purchase an anti-glare monitor and document holder  Take breaks in-between computer sessions  Adjust the lighting in your workspace  Reduce the circulation of dry air with a humidifier  Use an eye compress and artificial tears  Maintain Healthy Eating Habits  Skip the sad desk lunch at home and try planning out your meals during the weekend or your off-days. Yes, this means actually taking a lunch break! Sticking to a regular eating schedule will help you maintain consistent levels of energy throughout the day.    Below are some of our recommended apps for meal planning:   Mealime   Paprika   PrePear  Working from home shouldn’t make you feel like a workhorse. And as an entrepreneur, I’ve found that giving our bodies time to heal is just as important as being productive throughout the day. Take time to stop, breathe, and cherish the small moments!  We hope that these tips help you navigate these challenging times with a clear mind and nourished spirit. 



Work From Home Guidelines

Posted on by GiantsFan
Given the state-wide shelter in place, we are getting a lot of requests to support your employees’ efforts to work from home.  We wanted to share some guidelines that we are recommending to all of our clients as they allow more and more employees to telecommute.  These are not only to make sure your employees are able to work as productively as possible, but to also make sure your company is protected from the additional risks of telecommuting.
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IT for Construction Companies

Posted on by GiantsFan
tech for construction

As a leader in the Construction field, it’s important to protect your employees, customers and business through technology. Our construction-specific cybersecurity, encryption and technology services can help you with safety and productivity. Please let us know if you have any questions about the specific technology that can help protect your construction business, please don’t hesitate to contact us for a free technology consultation. Improve your company’s technology today! Keeping Paperwork in Order We help construction companies with the organization and secure storage of paperwork, including licensing, supplier contracts, and more. OSHA Requirements As technology changes, construction companies need to ensure that they are continuing to follow OSHA requirements. Monitoring Productivity Our technicians are familiar with software and applications, such as Fieldlens, to help monitor your job sites and productivity. Cybersecurity Cybersecurity is extremely important to maintain, as it helps protect your employees, customers, partners, and business. Contractor Licensing Our technicians can help organize, moderate and back up construction and contractor licenses, agreements, and much more. Infrastructure Our technicians can set up or improve both the technology infrastructure for your administrative office and temporary job sites. Data Storage Whether you use a server or the cloud, we can help manage your data storage and provide you with the most cost-effective data storage solutions. Construction Software & Applications Our technicians are thoroughly familiar with software and applications used for construction companies.



The Importance of Data Backups

Posted on by GiantsFan
data backups walnut creek
We can't stress enough how much data backups are crucial for businesses of all sizes. Data is often considered the most important element for small to medium enterprises. And there's no doubt that it's an absolute necessity for enterprise corporations. Protecting your data is not only protecting your company's past, present and future, it is protecting your customers' as well. There are so many ways that companies can lose data, so it's important to always have backups of all information.
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