Author: IT For Non Profits

Content Filtering DNS For Charities

As you undoubtedly know, running a charity or non-profit in Vancouver isn’t always easy. There’s a ton of work to be done, and it can be tough to stay focused on your mission when there are so many distractions out there. That’s where content filtering DNS comes in. Combined with effective IT Support, these tools can help keep you and your team on track, so you can focus on doing good in the world.

What is Content Filtering DNS?

Content filtering DNS is a fancy way of saying “software that controls what websites your employees can access on their work devices.” It’s kind of like a bouncer at a club, but for the internet. You set up some rules (like “no social media during business hours” or “no adult content ever”), and the system makes sure that those rules are followed. That way, your employees can stay focused on their work instead of getting sidetracked by cat videos or whatever else is out there on the web.

Why Use Content Filtering DNS and IT Support for Charities and Non-Profits in Vancouver?

There are plenty of good reasons to use content filtering DNS and seek IT support for your Vancouver charity or non-profit:

  1. Productivity boost: By blocking access to non-work related websites or distracting content, your employees will be more likely to stay focused on their tasks and be more productive. And when your team is more productive, your can do more good in the world..
  2. Protect against security threats: Some websites or types of content may pose security risks to your organization, such as phishing scams or malware. Content filtering DNS can help protect against these types of threats, while IT support can provide additional security measures to keep your charity safe.
  3. Comply with industry regulations: Depending on your industry, there may be regulations or guidelines that require certain types of content to be blocked. Content filtering DNS can help ensure that your charity is in compliance with these regulations.
  4. Employee morale: By providing a safe and appropriate online environment for your employees, you can improve employee morale and create a positive work culture. And when your team is happy, they’ll be more likely to do their best work.

How to Implement Content Filtering DNS and IT Support for Charities and Non-Profits in Vancouver

Implementing content filtering DNS and seeking IT support is pretty straightforward for Charities and Non-Profits in Vancouver. Here are the steps to follow:

  1. Determine the types of content and websites that should be blocked or allowed based on your organization’s needs and industry regulations.
  2. Choose a content filtering DNS provider and sign up for their service.
  3. Configure the content filtering rules according to your group’s needs.
  4. Research and compare IT support companies in Vancouver to find the best fit for your organization.
  5. Implement the content filtering DNS service on your company-owned devices and sign up for IT support services.

Content filtering DNS and IT support are essential tools for charities and non-profits in Vancouver looking to protect their data and assets, comply with industry regulations, and improve employee morale. By using these tools, you can keep your team focused on their work and ensure that your group is running smoothly.

If you’d like a hand getting started, or finding some help deciding which content filtering option is best for your charity or business, then just send us a message and we’ll help you find an option that meets your requirements and budget. So don’t wait – start protecting your charity and boosting productivity today!

 

Looking Into The Crystal Ball – 2023

Hi everybody Jeremy here managing director of the Human IT Company, Vancouver’s most responsive IT company and your number one choice for a small business computer support.

As I record this, it’s the middle of December 2022. And surprising to absolutely no one is that all the media outlets are putting out articles with predictions for technology in 2023. The problem though is that many of these articles are geared towards companies that have hundreds or even thousands of employees… According to the Canadian government, in December of 2020 there was approximately 1.2 million businesses in Canada. Of that number, just under 98% of them were small businesses with between 1 and 99 employees. That makes it difficult for these articles to have meaning and context for your average Canadian small business or charity. To that end, I’d like to give you our suggestions for technology in 2023, focused on small businesses

Number one on the list is efficiency. When we have conversations with our customers they’re wanting to make sure that they’re getting the greatest bang for their buck. They want to get the greatest use out of what they already have instead of just throwing money at problems. Of course, with everything going on in the economy and with rising interest rates it’s not surprising that businesses are wanting to make sure that, if they have to spend money, it’s being done wisely.

Item number 2 on the list is scalability. Traditionally when you think of scalability you only think of getting bigger. But our customers are asking us about solutions that can scale quickly and easily both upwards and downwards, based on economic factors market conditions or other factors. A lot of these discussions are around cloud-enabled tools

The third item we get a lot of questions about is flexibility. When the pandemic hit in the spring of 2020, a lot of businesses had to do a hard pivot just to survive. The question that we often see from our customers now when we propose a solution is “how flexible is this solution? Can this solution be adapted to work in other ways, or are we going to be locked into this one path?”.

The 4th the point we often get asked about is connectivity. Business owners are wanting to make sure that their staff have the ability to work from anywhere… Not just work from home, but work from anywhere, whether that be a conference, a customer location, home, or the office. We’re seeing that business owners are wanting to make sure that their team has access to all their data regardless of the location. We’re also seeing questions being asked about connection speeds at the office. Whether it’s new faster types of Wi-Fi, or taking advantage of faster Internet connection speeds offered by the ISPs, being able to connect to the data, the Internet, or each other is generating a lot of interest.

The final item we get asked about a lot is sustainability. A number of business owners have expressed concern to us about making sure that parts are properly recycled, as well as finding ways to reduce their overall carbon footprint. Some of those questions are around refurbished equipment, or remanufactured consumables like printer cartridges. Even when businesses talk to us about hybrid work models for their teams, sustainability and environmental factors are often part of the driving force behind these questions.

So there you have it, our list of small business technology priorities for 2023. Of course this is just coming from our conversations with our existing customer base… No one has a crystal ball, no matter how much they might think they do. But if you’d like to have more discussions about any of the above points, feel free to leave us a message in the comments, or send us a message at www.HumanITCompany.ca, or give us a call at 604-336-8133 and we’ll be happy to look into the crystal ball with you. Thanks for watching and have a great day.

Warm, Fuzzy, Feelings

Hey everybody, Jeremy here, Managing Director of The Human IT Company, Vancouver’s best outsourced IT company, and one of the few outsourced tech support companies that specializes in charities, non-profits, and associations.

I’m recording this today a few days before U.S Thanksgiving, which means we’re also about a week away from Giving Tuesday. First we have Black Friday, then we have Cyber Monday, but then we have Giving Tuesday. And as an organization that deals with a lot of Charities, non-profits and associations, and as a board member myself of a non-profit, I can tell you that Charities are in fact different. To work at a charity, the people are different, the people care in a different way. Charities are there to make the world a better place. They’re trying to right the wrong, they’re trying to help the downtrodden, they’re trying to address the injustice, they’re trying to be the voice for those who have none, and the work that they do is invaluable.

Realistically, if we look around the world at the economy, world events, business, politics… I mean, let’s be honest, it’s a bit of a shit show out there right now. And so we need these organizations more than ever, because really that’s all they’re trying to do is make the world a better place, they’re trying to help us all so that we have maybe one less thing to worry about, or maybe we have to worry not quite as much, because we know that somebody is looking out. Looking after trying to do work in support of those initiatives that matter to us.

So here’s my ask this year… instead of blowing your entire budget on Black Friday or Cyber Monday maybe put aside $20 maybe $50, maybe $75, or more if you can afford it, and hold on to it to giving Tuesday. Find an organization that’s doing something that’s meaningful to you, whether it’s social work,  whether it’s environment, animals, human rights, children, medicine… There’s so many organizations that are trying to make the world a better place. Give them a few bucks. 

If you’re not sure who to talk to leave us a message in the comments, visit us on our website www.humanitcompany.ca send us a message there, or give us a call at 604-336-8133 and we can hook you up with some Charities that are doing amazing work. We can help you find a group that is doing something that’s meaningful to you. So this year maybe we can all make the world just a little teeny tiny bit of a better place. Thanks for watching have a great day.

 

We often get asked why we enjoy working with charities, non-profits, and associations so much. The answer is very simple… Because helping them makes us feel good. Back in 2012 as part of a strategic planning process we decided to make charities and non-profits one of three key verticals. And the simple truth is that at the end of a day working with charities we feel like we’ve accomplished something positive. In fact, we even made that part of our 10 year vision statement… That by December 31st of 2031, we will have made the world a better place by helping those who help, champion, or support others. They are the stars, and we will work to be the best possible supporting cast for 250 charities, associations, and nonprofit groups.

So for any charity, nonprofit, or association in Greater Vancouver, the CRD, the Mid-Island area, the Fraser Valley, or in fact anywhere in BC or even anywhere in Canada… you have an ally. We’ll provide the tools so that you can do what you do best, which is to make the world a better place. We’ll do what we do best, which is to provide outstanding IT support that’s fair, easy to understand, and completely transparent. Because that’s The Way IT Should Be Done.