Small Client Archives - Nerd Crossing

How Secure is Health Tech?

March 25, 2021 | Healthcare, Security, Small Business, Small Client, Web

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

An Insurance Company’s Guide to a Safer Workplace

March 22, 2021 | Insurance, Medium Client, Small Business, Small Client, Web

Your agents and customer service support are likely feeling the strain of working from home. As you start transitioning to a hybrid or fully remote mode, there are a few things you should be clear about.

Below is a breakdown of the role business leaders and employees both have in creating a safer workplace from the IT experts at Nerd Crossing.

Create Comfortable Workstations

Establishing a safe distance between employees can be done in a variety of ways. First, connect with your landlord about options that they can build in.

Depending on your needs you can also consider the following:

Screens and desk dividers that are easy to clean
PPE stations and supply kits
Handwashing stations
Clear signs for maintaining social distance
Updating air filtration and HVAC systems

Fixed Scheduling

Once you’ve figured out a workable layout and environmental controls, you may want to add a bit of structure to who goes in and out of the office. Consider staggering schedules and establishing work pods to ensure that team members can collaborate on vital tasks.

For contact tracing guidelines, visit the Google/Apple Bluetooth Exposure Notification (GAEN) platform.

You can also check out the following:

As a guideline, make sure that you are transparent with users on how their data is to be used for contact tracing. Minimize the data collection needed and be upfront about the type and frequency of communications that are to be received.

Reconsider BYOD

As you start scaling up purchases to maintain a safer office, your technology may also be due for an upgrade. For example, your client-facing employees are likely to use personal devices for work.

The pandemic has opened up a Pandora’s box of risks for insurers of all sizes. While working from their own devices may be convenient, your employees could be unwittingly exposing company secrets to bad actors. Even on a secure network, your employee is likely using business-critical applications in addition to those that are prone to breaches. These include email clients, social media accounts, and more.

According to Allianz Global Corporate and Specialty, organizations have experienced a 72% increase in the average cost of cybercrime over the last 5 years. That’s about 13 million dollars!

The cost of purchasing laptops and phones for employees could actually save you precious time and money. At minimum, here are the policies all insurance companies should implement when managing employee devices:

Mandating the use of a VPN (virtual private network)
Discouraging the use of work accounts for social media and personal purchases
Implementing a password manager and 2-Factor Authentication
Using only approved communication channels to interface with clients

Need an IT Nerd for Your Insurance Company?

Here at Nerd Crossing, we’ve helped insurance companies at all scales implement safer offices for remote, hybrid, and in-person collaboration. We believe that an adequately equipped and staffed IT support team will help you employees navigate these challenging times.

Contact us today to learn about our discounts for physical as well as digital safety.

Why has Apple put its password manager on Chrome?

February 23, 2021 | Security, Small Business, Small Client

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

Hybrid Learning Essentials for Educators

February 2, 2021 | Schools, Security, Small Business, Small Client, Web

By Jim Hammack, CEO, Nerd Crossing

Even with the COVID-19 vaccine rollout underway, there’s still much uncertainty around safeguarding students this upcoming school year.

Exactly what hybrid or blended learning model learning should educators adopt? It really depends on your level of readiness and of course, the needs of individual students, teachers, and administrators.

Here are some essential planning questions you should be asking:

Are Student Basic Needs Being Supported?

Young learners and their families have experienced a range of emotional, financial, and physical strain. A hybrid learning plan can help school districts deploy the resources so many rely on during the year.

Here are a few ways that tech can enhance hybrid learning:

Live collaboration and real-time student engagement and goal monitoring
Transparent communication — allowing educators to monitor disease levels

How Strong is Your Wireless Connectivity?

Students need fast, reliable Wi-Fi — and that’s challenging when they are working from home full-time or slowly getting back to the classroom. Whenever you deploy devices en masse, make sure you have enough access points.

Keep in mind that a school environment where hundreds may be accessing the network will need much more support than at home. Contact us about some of the best alternatives to store-bought access points.

Are You Cybersecurity Ready?

It’s no secret that schools with outdated IT are sitting ducks for cybercrime. Having a disaster incident response protocol is just the first step. You’ll also want to implement at least a bi-annual security screening.

The most common areas of cybersecurity weakness today include:

Lax bring-your-own device (BYOD) policy
Insecure data and document storage
Improper administrative access
Password mismanagement

How Robust is Your Infrastructure?

Pivoting to online learning overnight probably came with quite a few tech headaches. And this time around, schools may want to take a much closer look at exactly what resources and staffing will be needed to achieve their learning goals.

Below are a few areas that may be lacking in your IT plan:

Maintaining data privacy and compliance
Responsive tech support for staff, students, and families
Communication plans for deploying critical messages, gathering and implementing feedback

What’s On the Horizon for Hybrid Learning?

California’s schools will face mounting risks in 2021, but many still lack a functional policy for hybrid learning. We hope that educators, students, and their families can stay safer online with the above tips.

Here are some emerging areas that you should focus on this school year:

Data, device, and identity management
Phishing, ransomware, and cyberbullying
DDoS, backdoor threats, and zero-day exploits

About Nerd Crossing

Nerd Crossing works with private schools, charter schools, and public institutions of all scales in the California Bay Area and beyond. We specialize in working with educators that are just beginning their transition to hybrid and fully-remote learning.

Our friendly tech experts address all current technology issues while also planning for future needs when kids are finally back in class. We combine distance and onsite learning solutions that meet the long-term goals of school districts.

Our specialties include Tech Support for Parents and Teachers, Wi-Fi Setup and Connectivity, Safe Browsing and Web Filtering, Educational Apps and Software, Data Storage and Disaster Recovery, Infrastructure Setup, and IT Roadmapping.

Self Care for Small Business Owners

November 24, 2020 | Small Business, Small Client

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:

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.

Tech Tools to Keep Students Motivated and Engaged

October 30, 2020 | Schools, Small Client

By David Sua

Are your students tuning out during the day?

There are a variety of ways that technology can help them stay motivated. Read on for easy-to-use tips for teaching during the COVID-19 lockdown. We will break down how to optimize your workflow — and continue inspiring your students to keep learning during these challenging times.

Here are some tips to keep your online class engaging and inclusive:

Schedule a Healthy Snack Time

Research shows that hunger may impact a student’s emotional development and academic performance. Create a 15-minutes snack break in the morning or afternoon to ensure that they have the nutrition and energy to power through your lesson.

Host a Stretch Break

Just as we make time for meals, students can benefit from the opportunity to take a breather — especially in-between long remote sessions. Think about hosting these stretch breaks at the same time as lunch or recess.

Keep Saying Please and Thank-You

As millions of students adapt to new tools and technologies, that doesn’t mean that common courtesy gets thrown out the window. During online sessions, many students — and adults may speak rapidly and use a louder or more assertive tone of voice. Ask all students to raise their hands before speaking. They can even schedule a private chat after the lesson for specific questions that may not need an immediate answer.

Let Everyone Have A Turn

During group sessions, the loudest people tend to dominate the conversation. Consider asking these individuals to turn the question over to another peer and limiting answers with a timer to allow everyone to speak.

You can even prevent students from talking over each other by muting speakers and encouraging them to use emojis or polls to indicate what they may be feeling about specific topics. For large groups, you can also use breakout rooms to allow more personalized and in-depth interactions.

Change Out of Your Pajamas

While it may be tempting to roll out of bed in the same clothes you slept in, that wouldn’t be setting the best example for young learners. Encourage students and parents to show up to your lessons just as they would for an in-person class or parent-teacher meeting.

Use a Sturdy Desk

Ask parents to set up their child’s learning station at the same place each day. If possible, they should also remove toys, games, and other items that may serve as a distraction. Encourage a straight posture and eye contact throughout the lesson as well to show your respect for each other and the importance of classroom time.

Put Up Virtual Backgrounds

These can take pressure away from students and parents to share their personal space. They can further protect their privacy by removing family pictures and other personally-identifiable information from the background. When choosing a virtual background, a good rule of thumb is to use images that are not distracting to the eye and appropriate for an educational context.

Host a Virtual Field Trip

If attention is waning during your lessons, it may be time for your classroom to go on a journey. Here are a few virtual visits you can take today:

- The Exploratorium — featuring online activities in the sciences, arts, and mathematics.
- The Conservatory of Flowers Adaptation Field Trip Program — offering third thru fifth-grade students an engaging overview of how tropical plants adapt for survival.
- The Monterey Bay Aquarium — delivering narrated feedings for a diverse range of animals — from moon jellies to sea otters.

Take a Survey — What are your top concerns this school year?

Enhance Remote Classes with Games

Are certain concepts just not sticking with your students? Consider implementing gamification in your lesson plan. Gamification is incorporating a sense of play, questioning, and experimentation to help individuals solve problems collaboratively and creatively. You can create a sense of friendly competition with cooperative games, flashcards, pop quizzes, and more.

Here are some popular gamification tools used in classrooms today:

BrainPop — playful and reflective activities, available in major languages such as Spanish, French, Mandarin, and English
ClassDojo — an online communications platform helping teachers keep in touch with students and parents through interactive activities and digital portfolios
Socrative — dynamic tools for tracking student engagement in real-time

Make Things Visual

Graphic design tools like Canva, Figma, and Crello are great for creating eye-catching worksheets, presentations, lesson plans, and other handouts. With a bit more effort, you can also be on your way to leveraging these teaching materials on marketplaces like Teachers Pay Teachers and Teachers Notebook.

Update Your Technology

Our final piece of advice is to lean on technology to keep your lesson planning and teaching as stress-free as possible. When the tech you use becomes overwhelming, it may also be time to consider expert IT consultation on what blend of software, devices, and apps are needed to help your students achieve their goals.

This is where Nerd Crossing comes in. With over ten years of experience with charter schools, public and private educational institutions, we know a thing or two about how to optimize virtual classrooms at all scales. Whether you are looking to limit student distraction, streamline administration, or looking for faster device performance and connectivity — we are here for you!

Contact the Nerds for a Free Consultation

Tackling IT Headaches for Charter Schools

October 16, 2020 | Schools, Security, Small Client, Web

Are you a teacher who is overwhelmed by having to be tech support and an educator at the same time? It’s hard enough getting your students to pay attention — much less use technologies you may have never used before.

Across the country, millions of educators just like yourself are adjusting to the challenge of teaching remotely. And the Nerds at Nerd Crossing want you to know that you’re not alone.

With over 25 years of experience helping educators, we can help you navigate this fundamental shift in teaching with ease.

Why IT is Critical for Schools

As a professional educator, you may be aware that the digital divide has gotten much worse during the pandemic. Studies show that students of color and young children are especially prone to falling behind.

The friendly experts at Nerd Crossing can address common problems you may be having right now — from wireless access to device updates.

Is your Charter School Tech Savvy?

Can all teachers and administrators implement tech without connectivity issues?
Do you have an on-going plan to deploy devices to your students and to keep them updated?
Do you have a 12-18 month IT and Cybersecurity Roadmap?
Is funding readily available for necessary tech upgrades?

If your answer is “no” to any of the above questions, your charter school might need an IT consult.

Nerd Crossing Services for Educators

Are new tech and personnel training not covered in your current budget? No worries! With Nerd Crossing, you can request a free one-time consultation to get your IT needs in order.

Our IT for Schools Offers

BYOD (Bring Your Own Device): Nerd Crossing helps schools maintain a secure BYOD policy that deters viruses from overloading the network.
Educational Apps and Software: Integrate the latest software for real-time student and parent collaboration, including RenWeb, Zoom, and much more.
iPads and Chromebooks: We manage mass rollouts of common devices for diverse remote learning needs.
Security and Web Filtering: Help students navigate the web without viewing unwanted content — while also preventing the theft of their personal records.
Locking Down Systems: Prepare for the unexpected with a clear protocol for shutting down networks and computers if necessary.
Reliable Wi-Fi: Ensure that students are always connected and prepared for remote learning. Eliminate dead zones and ensure uptime, allowing for maximum student and staff productivity.
Robust Infrastructure: Boost your technology stack for seamless office management and student services.
Data Storage: Manage data in the comfort of your home office, efficiently and cost-effectively.

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With Nerd Crossing, you don’t need to make a huge upfront investment or slow down operations at your charter school to get your IT and web needs in order. We’re here to help you grow and be successful!

Contact the Nerds today if you are ready to start protecting your critical data and want to train your staff on the latest tactics to stay secure, wherever they are.

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Work From Home Guidelines

March 20, 2020 | Nerd News, Small Business, Small Client, Web

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. Continue reading “Work From Home Guidelines”

The Importance of Data Backups

April 9, 2018 | Medium Client, Nonprofit, Small Business, Small Client, cybersecurity, Data Backup, Data Recovery, Malware, tech, Tech tips, technology

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.

Continue reading “The Importance of Data Backups”

Utilizing the Right Social Media Platform for Your Business

February 6, 2018 | Insurance, Medium Client, Nonprofit, Schools, Small Business, Small Client, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, marketing, Marketing tips, Social Media, Twitter, YouTube

While most businesses understand the importance of social media to build and maintain their customer base, many do not understand which social media platforms to utilize to fulfill their goals. Finding the right social media platforms is a great way to take advantage of free marketing opportunities. You don’t need to purchase ads or boost posts to generate new leads. However, you do need to create posts and content that are not only calls-to-action, but informative, engaging, and appropriate for the platform itself.

Continue reading “Utilizing the Right Social Media Platform for Your Business”