Colocation Services

Hurricane Irma vs. Miami IT Support

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When Hurricane Irma finally left South Florida, over 2 million people were left without power. The structural damage, fallen trees and broken power lines left absolute shock and despair across South Florida.  But for Companies managed by Nerds Support, there were many things to be thankful for. During Hurricane Irma, Nerds Support’s cloud maintained a 100% working status. This meant that none of our clients lost important company information. Most importantly, if companies needed to run their business from the cloud, they were able to. At Nerds Support, we believe being able to access your business from anywhere is a right, not a privilege. Hurricane season doesn’t end until November and with more hurricanes bound to appear over the Atlantic, our Miami IT Support experts outline why Nerds Support is one of the best IT Consulting Companies in Miami to work with. Their Disaster protection and data security plans are also some of the best in South Florida.

Disaster Protection Basics

To avoid any possible setback, you must do the following to protect your business:

  • Secure Your Passwords
  • Move Your Most Important information to the cloud
  • Secure your equipment on high ground
  • Conduct regular data backups

No matter what event, following these steps are essential to keeping your business safe. Securing your passwords will make sure that the right people are in control of your business applications. Moving your equipment to higher ground will protect your equipment from possible water damage and conducting regular data backups will keep your latest company information safe. However, the most important of these steps is moving your information to the cloud. Doing that will mean that valuable company information will not be lost if there is a flood or a theft. Business owners will always know that their information cannot get lost when their company information is on the cloud.

Your Business on the Cloud

When you move your business from a server to the cloud, you do a lot more than just put your business online. You use cloud services to access your business from any place, at any location, on any device. When the power goes out in our business location, this can be incredibly useful. If a business owner would want to resume their business operations, but find themselves unable to return to their location due to flooding, damage or no electricity, that business owner can easily instruct employees to work on any device from a remote area. Throughout the entire hurricane, from preparation to landfall, Nerds Support’s cloud servers maintained 100% availability. This meant that even during the storm, companies managed by Nerds Support could have resumed company operations during the storm. Companies were also able to resume business operations from a remote location immediately.

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Disaster Protection is Everything

When we say “disaster protection”, Our IT Support Miami experts understand that business owners might only think compromised passwords and rouge employees. Shockingly enough, disaster protection is so much more than that. Disaster protection helps us from anything like a hurricane to a simple power outage. Nerds Support’s disaster protection plans keep your business running 24/7. At Nerds Support, our award winning Miami IT Support experts believe that being able to access your business is more than a privilege, it’s a necessity. From a hurricane to a simple power outage, there is no reason why a business owner should have to shut down their business. It is simply a loss of time and revenue. Nerds Support’s mission is to keep South Florida businesses open. When employees evacuate or a business location is unfit for work, business owners can allow employees to work from home.

More Hurricanes are on the way

Our IT support Miami team believes that we will have more hurricanes to worry about. South Florida is currently monitoring Hurricane Maria and Tropical Depression Lee. During this time, our Miami IT Support team wants you to know that Nerds Support is at the forefront of IT Support and Cloud Solutions in Miami. Our Business Recovery and Disaster Protection plans are some of the best in the region. Finally, we would like to reaffirm that all of our clients were able to resume their business operations during any point in the storm. Today, 55,000 homes and businesses across South Florida are still without electricity. With the possibility of two more storms on the way, we understand that business owners may become concerned or frustrated.

During the rest of the month, Nerds Support is offering to waive the startup fees of businesses that are still without power. This Miami IT Consulting Company is also willing to take 20% off startup fees for businesses that are looking for the best IT Support in Miami. To schedule a consultation, you can call (305)-551-2009 or you can fill out a contact form here.

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Prepare for Hurricane Irma with IT Support in Miami

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Hurricane Irma is one of the most dangerous hurricanes to hit Florida in over a decade. As people are lining up for supplies, we understand that the Miami-based business owner is concerned about their company. As of September 8th, the National Hurricane Center has reported that Hurricane Irma will be in Florida as late as 2 am on Sunday morning. Our Miami IT support experts predict that given the conditions are safe, Miami Business owners may re-open businesses by Tuesday. But to keep your business safe, our support team recommends that you take the following precautions to protect your business.

Remember Your Data Backups

Data backups are an essential part of every business. In the most basic sense, data backups take all the information that keeps your company running. On a regular day, our IT Support team recommends conducting a data backup for your business at least once a day. However, while preparing for a hurricane, our team recommends monitoring your data a little more closely. Before landfall, be sure to keep an eye on your systems and make sure that backups are available. It is best to back up your data a second time to affirm that your data is safe.

Keep All Your Passwords in a Secure Location

It is common knowledge that cyber attacks thrive off of natural disasters like Hurricane Irma. That is why the best way to stop a cyber attack is to prevent it from happening. Our IT Support experts strongly suggest that if you choose to concern yourself with only one thing, it should be your company passwords. Before you close your business, be sure that your company passwords are in a secure location and are safe from potential cyber attacks. Our Miami IT Support team recommends that you keep your company passwords in a locked file on your company’s cloud.

Check Your Servers

The most important thing to do is to keep your server in a secure location. You must move your servers to high ground immediately. Many news sources have confirmed that Hurricane Irma will result in flooding. You will lose all your company’s information if your server touches the water. It is known that 80% of companies that lose their information, never recover.  To keep your servers safe, put them on a rack at least 6 feet off the ground. Secure any loose wires to ensure maximum security. Keep a backup of your server’s information, because if your server breaks down, at least you will have a copy of your company’s information.

If you can, Move Your Most Important Files to a Cloud Storage

Hurricane Irma is poised to hit South Florida as a strong Category 4 hurricane. A hurricane this powerful almost guarantees that power will go out. At that point, residents and business owners will have no choice but to wait for FPL to restore South Florida’s electricity. If your business has generators and backup internet, be sure to keep your most important files safe by moving them into the cloud. Back in 2004, Nerds Support was established as one of the first IT Support companies to embrace cloud solutions and 13 years later, the company is still a leader in cloud solutions in Miami. Once your files are in the cloud, your employees will be able to access their work from any place, anytime on any device.

Take Care of Your Equipment

Keeping all your files in a secure location is more useful if you have devices to access your information from. Before closing your business, you must make sure all your equipment is accounted for. Be sure to turn off your computers and all your monitors before you leave your office on Friday. After you turn them off, store them in a safe place. Our IT support experts agree that your equipment needs to be stored in a secure area. A secure area will make sure your equipment will not get lost in flood or winds. In fact, they suggest a closet with high and sturdy shelves.

Nerds Support is Your Number One Resource to Contacting IT Support via Chat, Email or Phone

Most people don’t know, but when a local disaster struck Aventura, over 50 businesses were shut down for nearly three weeks! Only one business, out of 50, was able to stay open. The reason why that business stayed open was because Nerds Support had the resources needed to keep Miami businesses open. This weekend, however, a small disaster will not mildly inconvenience Miami. The Magic City will go silent. People will lock themselves in their homes and brace for one of the biggest disasters in over 10 years. Nerds Support is a 24/7 IT Support Company that will be there to help with operating systems and disaster recovery. Our thirteen years of experience has given us the insight to know how to prepare for Hurricane Irma. So, when you walk into your business on Tuesday morning and find that your need immediate IT support, call Nerds Support immediately at 305-551-2009, or fill out a contact form right here.

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Donating Responsibly With Data Protection in Miami

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From Houston to Corpus Christi, the effects of Hurricane Harvey were felt over the weekend. Hurricane Harvey has become the first major hurricane to hit the United States since Hurricane Wilma in 2005. Houston recorded record levels of rain as a result of the storm. Homeless shelters are expecting an estimated 30,000 people. Needless to say, the pictures of the damage are heartbreaking. Like every disaster, people feel the need to unite and take action. It’s incredibly understandable if you would like to donate to the victims of the hurricane, or help in any sort of way. Many sources has said that the best way to help, for those outside of Texas, is to give cash. While giving money is an effective way of lending aid to those in need, there are always a group of people who are willing to take advantage of a person’s compassion.

At Nerds Support, we have recently learned that there are fraudulent emails going around from hackers looking to capitalize off hurricane Harvey. Because it is common knowledge that most cyberattacks happen through email, our IT support experts would like to remind you to keep data protection in mind as you read your inboxes in these next few weeks.

Signs of a Potential Cyberattack

Earlier this week, the Department of Homeland Security issued a statement regarding awareness of Hurricane Harvey cyberattacks. You are allowed to view the link here, but our Miami IT support experts have left a list of the most important ways to keep your data protected from email cyberattacks.

  •  Do not follow unsolicited web links in email messages.
    • You should do a web search to make sure the links in your email are real.
  • Use caution when opening email attachments.
  • Keep antivirus and other computer software up-to- date.
  • Review the Federal Trade Commission information on Charity Scams.
  • Verify the legitimacy of any email solicitation by contacting the organization directly through a trusted contact number. You can find trusted contact information for many charities on the BBB National Charity Report Index.

Finally, if you believe you may become the victim of a cyberattack, you are urged to seek out a data protection plan right away.

How to REALLY Help

Despite those out there looking to donate to their own “charities”, there are still a lot of great, verified organizations that will need your help in the next few weeks.

  • Catholic Charities USA, the official domestic relief agency of the US Catholic Church, is taking donations to provide support for Harvey victims. They are accepting donations through text and through a webpage they created. You can access the page and find more information here.
  • Feeding Texas, the Texas chapter for Feeding America, a network of the state’s food banks, is accepting donations here. Like its parent foundation, Feeding Texas uses their network of food banks to feed the hungry. You can also find a list of food bank locations that might need help here.
  • The Texas Diaper Bank is seeking donations to provide diapers to families that have been displaced due to Hurricane Harvey. The bank has set up an Amazon wishlist for donors who would like to buy diapers for the diaper bank. The bank has also set up an FAQ highlighting the many ways you can donate . You can find both of these on the organization’s facebook page.
  • The Houston Coalition for the Homeless, which helps coordinate shelters and outreach for the city’s vulnerable homeless population, has a paged dedicated to shelters in heavily affected areas. To find out how you can help, click here.
  • Portlight is a local organization that offers relief to the disabled and older adults, has released an announcement asking for support. You can read the announcement, along with information on how to help, here.
  • GlobalGiving, a crowdfunding site, has launched a hurricane relief fund aimed at gathering funds for local nonprofits in the storm-stricken region. You can visit the page, and donate, right here.
  • Heart To Heart International is currently giving out hygiene kits to displaced families and need more donations in order to get more kits. The organization is also giving out water and minor medical care. To donate, click here.
  • Austin Pets Alive! has many stray pets that have lost their owners, to find out how you can help click here.

Give Responsibly

There are many great verified charities out there that are motivated to give to victims of Hurricane Harvey. At Nerds Support, our Miami IT consulting team would like to remind you to do the following before you donate to any type of charity.

  • Verify the charity – Conduct an online research on the charity that is reaching out to you. Make sure they have a website and are active on social media.
  • Stay away from suspicious links –  before you click a link, run an online search on the link name. (i.e. A link like saveharveyvictims.com/donate would require an online search).
  • Make Sure Your Data is Safe – 37% of cyberattacks can be avoided if the computer user stays careful. Only open emails from people you know and immediately delete emails from strangers.
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Cloud Computing with Google Cloud vs. Cloud Computing With IT Services in Miami

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These days, cloud services have become more than a corporate luxury, it has become a necessity for every business. Commercial clouds, like Google Cloud, seem like a great way to run your business. But once you do the research, you might find that having cloud computing, mixed with a great IT consulting team can increase your business productivity and help you grow in the long run. Our Miami IT Service Providers have listed key differences between running your business on Google Cloud and running your business with a reliable IT consulting team.

 

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Hosted Solutions

To have hosted exchange services in Miami means to have support with software systems and application support. Nerds Support can host just about any business application you need because we offer just about every business application you need to have a full-functioning business. As a proud partner of Microsoft, our cloud services include Office 365 for your business’ fundamental needs. We also include other great services, like Quickbooks hosting and even Adobe, to help your business become more efficient.  Hosting solutions are not included with Google Cloud. This means you will have to pay an additional charge for Google’s email option, G-Suite. Eventually, you will have to pay more money to have space saved in Google Drive. Contrary to popular belief, Google Drive and Google Cloud are two separate things. Google Drive carries all the tools needed to keep a business organized. However, after filling up the free space, you must begin paying for Google Drive for space. Google does not keep all its business applications in one place, so organization can be difficult, especially for a business.

Client Support

Did you know that when you purchase cloud services from Google, some plans will have you wait up to four business hours to receive support for a critical issue? That means that if your business network is down at 3pm, your business might as well just close for the entire day, because according to Google’s 9-5 business hour wait, the earliest time you might receive help will be at 11am, the next business day. If you choose not to wait, then you may attempt to figure out the solution to your issue by yourself. As a business owner, you know that finding a solution can cause downtime, which is bad for business. But waiting for support to help you can cause a complete business shut down, which is worse for business. When faced with a critical issue that can slow down your business, Nerds Support’s IT help desk is a 24/7 immediate IT support service that will always answer your call and have your business issues handled within the hour. When you hire an IT services team, you get professionals that are committed to keeping your business running. Having Managed IT services in Miami means that your business will always have the help and support that builds successful, long-lasting businesses.

Data Recovery

Data Recovery is undisputedly one of the most important factors to look for when looking for an IT consulting team. As the term implies, data recovery is a service that saves a backup copy of your data. So if some type of disaster happens, you will have another copy of your information so you can keep working. Our IT support experts backup your company’s data at a recommended rate of once a day. Should your business be caught in a horrible situation where your company information becomes lost, you can count on Nerds Support to have backups your systems and data in multiple locations so that your business can get up and running again as soon as possible. When you run your business through Google Cloud, you don’t get the constant monitoring that an IT services team provides. Rather, you would have to do the data backup yourself. Your only guidance would be a webpage with directions that you could only hope you would do right. If you do not follow those instructions carefully, you could end up losing all of your business information. Losing all your data would known as a business owner’s worst nightmare. At Nerds Support, we understand that these things can be nerve wracking and our Miami-based IT experts are well-versed in small things like backing up data and files, so you would not have to worry about completing that task.

Finding Cloud Services in Miami

When you start out on business, you are most likely one person, or a team of people, with one idea. You may still be looking for a solid marketing plan and you might not have a clear execution in place. For that moment of time, keeping your business in Google Cloud seems like a great idea. However, as your business grows, so will your ambitions and your business model will mature with your business. When that time comes, your business is ready to seek out an IT service provider. With IT consulting by your side, your business will have everything it needs in order to become efficient and successful. From Data protection to Hosting Solutions, if you are looking to build a better business by gaining an experienced, reliable IT support team in Miami, FL, then call Nerds Support today at 305-551-2009 or simply fill out a contact form here.

Wanna Cry Protection

With IT Services in Miami, You Don’t Have to Worry About Ransomware

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Since its sudden increase in 2015, Ransomware has become more than a cruel petty crime…it has become a full blown illegal business model. The profits crypts have taken from this crime have turned Ransomware into a billion dollar business and if your company has not experienced any sort of attack yet, then our Managed IT Support team recommends that you take the time to read this article and follow the necessary precautions to prevent a Ransomware, or other cyber security, attack. Since its sudden increase in 2015, Ransomware has become more than a cruel petty crime…it has become a full blown illegal business model.

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How Do I know if I have Ransomware:

Warning signs of ransomware is not an easy thing to detect, but that does not mean they are impossible to detect. Our IT support team has found some of the following to be common signs of a Ransomware attack:

• Slowdown
• Pop-Ups
• Running out of hard drive space
• Unusually high network activity
• New browser homepage, new toolbars and/or unwanted websites accessed without your input
• Unusual messages or programs that start automatically
• Your friends tell you that they are getting strange messages from you
• New, unfamiliar icons on desktop + battery life drains quickly

However, some malware is so advanced, that most companies don’t even know they are in danger of a ransomware attack until the attack has already been carried out. If your computer has experienced any of these symptoms, our IT consulting experts advise that you do not touch the laptop and that you call your IT support team for help. With a great engineer team, like the one at Nerds Support, Inc. you can assure that your cyber security plan will be the most secure one in Miami.

How Does Ransomware Spread?

Another way that ransomware can spread is through spam emails. Once a computer becomes infected with a type of ransomware, like wannacry, the virus goes through your computer to see the people you have interacted with, typically through email, and they begin sending the virus to your contacts, in the form of spam email. With Nerd Support’s expert Managed IT team, you can assure yourself that your inbox will be monitored and you will be made aware of any suspicious emails. In all cases, it is important that you delete every suspicious email that you get. To protect your email, you should try to delete any strange emails that appear to look like spam. You should also try to stay off of strange or inappropriate websites, to further decrease the risk of a virus. However, the simplest way to assure your internet security is to call a great IT consulting firm to monitor your servers, or move you into the cloud.

How You Can Prevent a Ransomware Attack?

The easiest way to prevent a ransomware attack is to have a great security protection plan in place. A great IT company, like Nerds Support, would already know the perfect plan to protect your company, no matter what size, and their 24/7 IT Support would mean that a cyber attacker would never take your business by surprise. Finally, the best way to prevent a cyberattack, whether it is ransomware or a Trojan horse, is to have the right software on your computer.

Nerds Support engineers pride themselves on having the most important certifications and years of experience to provide companies with the IT support that they deserve. Our company knows the importance of having a secure company and works non-stop to make sure that your company is safe from all types of malware, including some of the most dangerous viruses. If you’re looking for a Miami IT support company that can make your company the most secure company, then you need to consider Nerds Support, Inc. You can leave us message on our website or you can call 305-551-2009.