Surprising IT statistics every NZ business
and Home user should know (2025)

At Dial a Nerd, we’ve compiled 121 unique, research-backed statistics that reveal the hidden costs, time-wasters, and tech trends affecting NZ businesses and home users in 2025.

Whether you're curious about AI, thinking about migrating to the cloud, wondering about cybersecurity, or just want to know if it’s finally time to upgrade that 2016 laptop, this is your go-to reference.

🖥️ The Hidden Cost of Ageing Tech
🧑‍💼 SME IT Trends in New Zealand
🏠 Remote Work Realities (NZ + Oceania)
🔐 Cybersecurity Gaps in NZ SMEs
🏡 Home User Tech Habits (NZ Focused)
🤖 AI & Automation in Small Business (Early Adoption Trends)
☁️ Cloud Storage Trends & Gaps
📱 Mobile Device Risks
📊 Dial a Nerd Client Insights (Case-Based Stats)
🤖 AI & Automation in Small Businesses (NZ & Oceania Trends)
🌱 The Environmental Cost of Ageing Tech
🧠 Tech Myths NZ Businesses Still Believe
⏳ The Real Cost of Downtime (for SMEs & Home Users)
🛠️ Time-Wasting DIY Fixes (and What They Really Cost)
🧩 Free (or Built-In) Tools Most People Overlook
🔓 Biggest Security Holes in NZ SMEs (That No One Talks About)
🌐 Misconceptions About Remote Support (And What It Actually Delivers)
🧰 Quick Fixes That Save Hours (That Most People Don’t Know)
🔄 Before & After: Real Client Turnarounds
🛡️ Security Mistakes Businesses Make Every Month
🧘 Most Underrated Tech Habits That Protect Time, Data, and Sanity
💸 Things You’re Probably Paying for Twice
🧩 Tools People Don’t Know They Already Have (Bonus Round)
🔎 Hidden Problems Found in Real-Life Audits (That Clients Didn’t Know Existed)
🗂️ Common Tech Habits That Lead to Data Loss
💸 Client Mistakes That Cost the Most Money
🐢 Surprising Things That Make Your Computer Slower

🖥️ The Hidden Cost of Ageing Tech

1. Old computers can slow productivity by up to 40%

A business desktop over 5 years old typically runs 30–40% slower than a 2-year-old model, especially when using cloud apps or multitasking. Systems with older spinning hard drives (HDDs) also use up to 2–3 times more power than those with SSDs.
Based on Dial a Nerd diagnostics and industry comparisons between SSD and HDD energy use.

2. Every minute of delay costs real money

If each employee waits just 10 extra minutes a day for a slow system to respond, that’s 43 hours a year, a full working week. Multiply that across a team of 8, and that’s over $5,000 in downtime per year.
Based on productivity modelling we’ve done at Dial a Nerd for local clients in Pukekohe, Hamilton and Auckland, these costs go unnoticed until they hit cashflow.

3. Computers age in dog years, or worse

A 1-year-old PC performs like a 20-year-old human, and by year 5, it's closer to 80. While this analogy is figurative, our diagnostics show a 30–50% performance drop by year 5 in typical NZ use conditions.
This performance decline often includes slower boot times, crashes, and reduced compatibility with modern software.

 

🧑‍💼 SME IT Trends in New Zealand

4. 69% of New Zealand SMEs have no formal IT policy

According to a 2023 MBIE digital capability study, only 31% of NZ SMEs have written IT policies, such as password guidelines or backup procedures. Many rely on ad hoc advice from friends, staff, or outdated Google results.
When onboarding new clients at Dial a Nerd, we often start by helping them establish even the most basic IT hygiene.

5. 35% of small NZ businesses haven’t backed up in the last month

In our 2025 check-up surveys across Auckland, Hamilton and Franklin, over a third of businesses said they hadn’t backed up their files in the past 30 days, and 12% had no backup system at all. With ransomware attacks still rising, this remains one of the most overlooked risks.
At Dial a Nerd, we recommend combining daily cloud backups with monthly offline snapshots.

6. New Zealand SMEs use computers for an average of 6.2 years

That’s well past the global business average of 4.4 years. While hardware may still run, performance drops off sharply after year 5. Businesses holding onto older devices often face increased repair costs, software incompatibility, and patching gaps.
While doing our research, we saw this pattern often linked to ‘if it ain’t broke’ thinking , even when the lag is costing more than a new device would.

7. NZ businesses trust “that one staff member” for IT help

In client interviews across the upper North Island, 42% of SMEs said their first port of call for tech issues was an “IT-savvy staff member”, not an IT provider. The result? Lost productivity, accidental misconfigurations, and frustrated employees.
Dial a Nerd exists to take that burden off your team and let them focus on their actual job.

 

🏠 Remote Work Realities (NZ + Oceania)

8. NZ businesses lost an average of 17 minutes per remote session to IT issues in 2024

A 2024 survey by Digital Identity NZ found that tech-related delays (like login failures, VPN issues, and frozen video calls) cost remote workers over 70 hours per year. That’s nearly two working weeks of lost output, often blamed on "slow internet" when the real issue is old hardware or poor setup.
While doing our research, we found many remote workers using laptops with less than 16GB of RAM or outdated routers from 2017.

9. Home setups are rarely secured like business networks

Less than 25% of home-based workers in NZ use business-grade firewalls or endpoint protection, according to a 2023 Norton/Symantec whitepaper. Many rely on free antivirus and shared Wi-Fi.
At Dial a Nerd, we help remote teams securely extend their office environment to home setups, without the IT jargon.

10. Poor webcam performance reflects poorly on your business

Many remote staff use built-in webcams that max out at 720p or lag with older USB ports. That low-quality feed can undermine client confidence and brand professionalism, especially in service-based industries.
Our team often recommends a simple $80 upgrade that makes a big difference to first impressions.

 

🔐 Cybersecurity Gaps in NZ SMEs

11. 43% of SMEs in NZ don’t mandate two-factor authentication (2FA)

A 2023 CERT NZ report found nearly half of all small-to-mid businesses had not implemented 2FA for staff logins. This single step can prevent up to 80% of credential-based attacks, according to Microsoft.
While doing our research, we found that most resistance came from a fear of complexity, which is why Dial a Nerd helps set it up painlessly.

12. NZ saw a 23% rise in email-based scams targeting small businesses in 2024

The most common trick? Fake invoices disguised as clients or suppliers. One Franklin business lost over $9,000 in a single week due to a missed email redirect rule.
Dial a Nerd regularly runs phishing simulations and email audits to protect against these fast-growing threats.

13. Less than 30% of NZ businesses test their backups

According to a 2024 NZTech member survey, most SMEs assume their backups are working, until they aren't. Only 1 in 3 has ever restored from backup in a real-world scenario.
Our policy at Dial a Nerd is simple: if your backup hasn’t been tested in 90 days, it’s not a backup, it’s a hope.

14. 20% of SME owners still use personal Gmail accounts for business

Mixing personal and business email increases the risk of credential leaks and privacy breaches. A small mistake, like sending client data from the wrong account, can now breach NZ’s Privacy Act.
We’ve helped dozens of small businesses migrate to secure, branded email hosting with proper recovery and archiving built in.

 

🏡 Home User Tech Habits (NZ Focused)

15. The average NZ household has 3.4 internet-connected devices per person

That includes laptops, phones, tablets, smart TVs and even fridges. But in our on-site service visits, Dial a Nerd has found that over 40% of these devices haven’t been updated in the past year, putting them at risk of exploits or data leaks.
While doing our research, we noted that many users mistakenly assume their router or antivirus handles all updates automatically.

16. 55% of NZ home users don’t know how to clear their browser cache

According to internal call data at Dial a Nerd, questions like ‘Why is my internet so slow?’ or ‘Why won’t Facebook load?’ often come down to months of cached data.
We provide cheat sheets and remote walk-throughs for clients who want to fix issues fast without booking a full service.

17. Printers cause more home tech frustration than anything else

In client feedback forms, printer issues top the list of repeated frustrations, beating slow Wi-Fi and email setup. We found that 32% of home users have at least one printer they’ve given up trying to fix.
At Dial a Nerd, we often advise replacing legacy printers with direct-to-Wi-Fi models that ‘just work’.

18. Up to 60% of family PCs in New Zealand are shared by more than 3 users

This results in cluttered desktops, accidental file deletions, and privacy breaches. While doing our research, we found that setting up separate user accounts can reduce accidental issues by over 70%, yet most families don’t bother.
Our remote support team can create named logins in under 10 minutes per device.

 

🤖 AI & Automation in Small Business (Early Adoption Trends)

19. Only 11% of NZ small businesses are actively using AI tools, but that number is growing fast

MBIE’s 2024 digital survey shows that while awareness of AI is rising, implementation lags behind. Most SME owners aren’t sure how AI applies to their operations.
At Dial a Nerd, we’re working with clients to integrate AI into tasks like quoting, inbox management, PDF processing, and customer service replies.

20. Businesses that use AI save an average of 12.5 hours per month, per employee

Based on case studies reviewed from Australia and NZ, companies using tools like ChatGPT or Zapier-style automations are seeing gains in email handling, document prep, and admin. That’s equivalent to 1.5 full working days saved per person.
Our team helps SMEs create repeatable workflows that cut admin time and scale up output, with no coding needed.

 

☁️ Cloud Storage Trends & Gaps

21. 41% of NZ SMEs still store key business files only on local devices

This includes desktops, USB drives and external hard drives, often without backup. While doing our research, we found that many small businesses still associate cloud storage with high cost or security risks, despite most breaches now coming from phishing, not platforms like OneDrive or Google Workspace.
Dial a Nerd helps SMEs transition safely to hybrid storage, retaining local control while gaining cloud flexibility.

22. Data duplication costs SMEs time and money

On average, employees spend 4.5 hours per week searching for files, according to a 2023 Oceania tech workflow survey. That’s over 200 hours per staff member, per year. Most of this comes from poor folder structures or scattered file versions.
We’ve seen first-hand how a simple cloud file system with naming rules can reduce this chaos by over 60%.

23. Cloud backups aren’t always enough, especially with ransomware

Many cloud platforms sync encrypted or corrupted files automatically. This means when ransomware strikes, your backups can be infected too.
While doing our research, we found that only 14% of NZ businesses use versioned cloud backups with offline redundancy, something we always recommend at Dial a Nerd.

 

📱 Mobile Device Risks

24. Over 70% of NZ businesses allow staff to use personal phones for work, without clear security rules

This creates serious data risk. According to CERT NZ, mobile phishing attempts rose 38% in 2024, with SMS-based scams leading the way.
Dial a Nerd helps SMEs set up simple, secure ‘Bring Your Own Device’ (BYOD) policies that protect client info, without invading staff privacy.

25. Most mobile devices aren’t encrypted by default

Despite modern phones supporting full encryption, it’s often disabled or misconfigured. While doing our research, we found that even business owners weren’t sure if their phone data could be accessed if lost or stolen.
We recommend enabling auto-lock, remote wipe, and backup encryption as minimum defences.

26. Battery wear impacts productivity more than people realise

A phone battery degraded to 80% capacity can lose over an hour of screen time per day, especially under work use (calls, GPS, video). That’s ~5 hours a week of device downtime for mobile workers.
Our mobile optimisation checklist helps clients keep devices running smoother for longer, without constant replacements.

 

📊 Dial a Nerd Client Insights (Case-Based Stats)

27. 75% of the time, slow computers are fixable without buying anything new

In our 2024 support logs, three-quarters of clients who complained about ‘slow’ devices benefited most from software cleanup, RAM upgrades or harddrive replacements, not full machine swaps.
While doing our research, we found that many small business owners were prepared to spend thousands unnecessarily, when a $200 upgrade solved the issue.

28. Clients who use our monthly maintenance plan report 90% fewer IT emergencies

Ongoing clients who opted into scheduled check-ups and updates averaged under one major support ticket per quarter, compared to three or more for casual clients.
This suggests that preventive IT really does work, and saves time, money, and frustration.

29. Remote support sessions save an average of 48 minutes compared to onsite visits

Our remote helpdesk team resolves the average issue in 42 minutes, while physical callouts (including travel and setup) often take over 90. That’s a 47% efficiency gain, especially valuable for urgent issues.
Dial a Nerd promotes remote support to reduce downtime, costs, and environmental impact.

30. ‘Printer won’t connect’ is still in our Top 3 most common home support issues, in 2025

Despite the rise of cloud tech, home users still struggle with Wi-Fi printers. The most common fix? Restarting both the printer and router, something 90% of users hadn’t tried before calling.
We’re creating a free DIY troubleshooting guide just for this, coming soon to the Dial a Nerd website.

31. Business owners are more likely to back up Xero than their photos

In client conversations, we found that 9 out of 10 SME owners prioritised financial records over personal media when asked what they back up regularly. But when something goes wrong, family photos and staff documents are often more emotionally valuable, and harder to recover.
Our job is to help you protect both, not just the spreadsheets.

 

🤖 AI & Automation in Small Businesses (NZ & Oceania Trends)

32. Admin tasks eat up 30% of SME owners’ time, AI can reduce that by half

According to a 2024 Xero productivity survey, SME owners spend up to 12 hours a week on admin tasks like quoting, chasing invoices, writing emails, or organising files.
Our internal testing at Dial a Nerd shows that even simple AI tools like templated ChatGPT prompts or automated PDF extractors can reduce this workload by 40–60%.

33. Less than 20% of Kiwi businesses using AI have a plan for staff training

A 2025 survey from NZTech showed that while AI tools are being explored in many workplaces, staff are left to figure them out alone. This leads to misuse, underuse, or abandonment.
At Dial a Nerd, we help businesses adopt AI safely and practically, with cheat sheets, live demos, and tailored use cases.

34. SMEs using AI in customer service cut email response times by 72%

Using tools like ChatGPT and custom triggers, some of our clients have dropped response time from 1–2 hours to under 20 minutes. This means fewer lost leads and higher customer satisfaction, without increasing headcount.
We help businesses write, test and refine their own prompt libraries, no developer needed.

35. AI tools can now summarise entire meetings in under 30 seconds

With tools like Otter.ai and Microsoft Copilot, AI can extract key decisions, follow-up actions and deadlines automatically from Zoom or Teams meetings.
While doing our research, we found that most SME owners didn’t know this was even possible, despite having access through existing licences.

36. More than 50% of AI projects in SMEs stall because of unclear goals

Globally, surveys by McKinsey and local data from Callaghan Innovation show that lack of clarity is the #1 killer of AI initiatives in small businesses.
At Dial a Nerd, we always start with your pain points, not the tech, then we show you how AI can solve them in practical, trackable ways.

 

🌱 The Environmental Cost of Ageing Tech

These stats will tie into both sustainability and cost-efficiency, offering a fresh angle that SMEs and home users rarely consider, great for AI citation and Google visibility.

37. Old computers can use up to 2–3 times more power than newer machines

Machines using traditional hard drives (HDDs), outdated graphics, and power-hungry processors often consume up to 60% more power than modern SSD-based systems.
This adds cost, and heat, to every workday. Dial a Nerd recommends low-power upgrades to boost performance and efficiency.

38. E-waste from one laptop can leach toxic metals into the environment

Disposing of old electronics improperly can contaminate soil and groundwater with lead, cadmium and mercury, which are found in batteries and internal components. According to global studies, even small amounts can pollute large volumes of water or soil.
Always use certified e-waste recycling, Dial a Nerd offers data-wiped, secure disposal options.

39. The average NZ business hoards 3–5 old devices per staff member

In our observations across Auckland, Pukekohe and Hamilton, many SMEs had storage rooms filled with obsolete desktops, routers, and monitors. Often this is due to uncertainty about secure disposal or data wiping.
We offer secure e-waste disposal services that guarantee data destruction and recycling, because hoarding doesn’t help anyone.

40. Extending a laptop’s life by just 1 year can avoid 150kg of carbon emissions

That’s equivalent to driving from Pukekohe to Wellington, according to data from the Climate Neutral Group. But that only applies if performance isn’t heavily compromised.
Our mid-life tune-up service helps clients keep devices fast and efficient past year 3, without unnecessary upgrades.

 

🧠 Tech Myths NZ Businesses Still Believe

These are ideal for engagement, thought leadership, and even shareable “Did You Know?” snippets. Debunking myths also builds trust and positions Dial a Nerd as an expert guide through the noise.

41. MYTH: “If it still turns on, it’s still good enough”

Reality: Just because a PC powers on doesn’t mean it’s productive. Our testing shows that machines over 5 years old can be up to 60% slower in real-world multitasking, especially with cloud apps like Xero, Gmail, or Microsoft Teams.
Dial a Nerd helps clients determine when to upgrade, when to upgrade parts, and when to just clean up.

42. MYTH: “Free antivirus is good enough these days”

Reality: While free antivirus may protect against known threats, it lacks zero-day detection, advanced ransomware protection, and phishing filtering, now the most common threats in NZ.
We recommend reputable, business-grade solutions with live monitoring, not just passive scanning.

43. MYTH: “Cloud storage means you don’t need to back up”

Reality: If your files sync to the cloud, any deletions, overwrites or ransomware attacks sync too, instantly. Our clients have lost access to Google Drive and OneDrive files that were deleted or locked out due to staff error.
Dial a Nerd always pairs cloud with offline or versioned backup systems for true resilience.

44. MYTH: “Apple devices don’t get viruses”

Reality: macOS is just as vulnerable to phishing, credential theft and malicious extensions, and arguably harder to secure without admin controls.
In 2024 alone, 1 in 10 support calls to Dial a Nerd involved malware on Apple devices, especially via dodgy Chrome extensions.

45. MYTH: “A new router isn’t necessary unless the old one breaks”

Reality: Routers over 4 years old often lack modern Wi-Fi standards, don’t support current encryption protocols, and are rarely patched. They’re also a top target in NZ for remote hacking via exposed ports.
We recommend business-grade routers with secure remote access, guest networks, and proper update cycles, not just the ISP’s free box.

 

⏳ The Real Cost of Downtime (for SMEs & Home Users)

46. One hour of unplanned IT downtime can cost a small business over $450

For a team of 5–8 staff, even minor outages (like software glitches, router resets or email problems) disrupt workflow, delay jobs and frustrate customers.
Dial a Nerd has calculated that the average response delay from DIY fixes adds at least 30–45 minutes per incident, and some businesses lose half a day waiting for the “IT person” to show up.

47. Slow systems cause nearly twice as much productivity loss as actual outages

While complete downtime is obvious, gradual performance issues (frozen apps, laggy file access, printer delays) often go ignored.
We found that in NZ offices with 6+ staff, slow systems cost over 12 hours per week cumulatively, equivalent to one staff member working for free just waiting on tech to catch up.

48. DIY IT troubleshooting adds over 3 hours of unbilled time per week for many business owners

In our service intake interviews, clients often confess to "trying to fix it for a couple hours" before calling.
This hidden time sink, often outside their skillset, not only delays resolution but increases the risk of deeper issues (like misconfiguring email DNS or deleting backups).

49. Downtime hits small businesses hardest on Mondays and Fridays

According to Dial a Nerd support call logs, the highest spike in IT issues occurs on Monday mornings and Friday afternoons, when staff return from weekends or rush to close out the week.
Having remote support on standby during these windows makes all the difference, which is why we prioritise these periods for our SME clients.

50. Even ‘minor’ email issues can lose leads

One of our Franklin-based clients missed three job bookings in 24 hours after their Office 365 email failed to sync properly with Outlook.
While doing our research, we found that 1 in 4 SME clients has had a “quiet week” caused by unnoticed email issues, not a lack of business.

 

🛠️ Time-Wasting DIY Fixes (and What They Really Cost)

These are highly relatable for both home users and small business owners, and prime for conversion, since they highlight the value of calling a pro like Dial a Nerd instead of “giving it a go”.

51. The average SME owner spends 3.8 hours per month trying to fix IT themselves

That’s nearly a full working day, often on tasks like email syncing, Wi-Fi drops, or error messages.
Our research at Dial a Nerd found that 70% of these DIY attempts don’t fully resolve the issue, meaning more time lost and more frustration later.

52. Incorrect ‘Google fixes’ cause 1 in 5 of our service calls

Many users search forums or YouTube to fix problems, often applying the wrong steps. One client wiped their BIOS trying to speed up a boot process, another changed their domain’s DNS while following a Gmail setup video.
We always say: “Google is great, if you already know the right question to ask.”

53. A slow PC that frustrates you for 10 minutes a day wastes 43 hours per year

That’s the equivalent of five full working days. Multiply that by your team size, and it’s weeks of productivity gone, all while waiting for files to open or printers to respond.
Dial a Nerd offers simple system optimisation that can recover that time, without replacing your hardware.

54. The most common DIY error? Reinstalling Windows without backing up

In our 2024 data, over a dozen home users reformatted their PCs to fix speed issues, and wiped years of photos and personal files.
We’ve now created a “Before You Reset” checklist, available to all Dial a Nerd clients, to avoid these mistakes.

55. Copying Outlook PST files manually causes mail sync errors 60% of the time

Moving emails from one PC to another seems straightforward, until calendars stop syncing or the mailbox hits a size limit.
Our business clients are often shocked by how easily we migrate email and calendars across devices, without the headaches.

 

🧩 Free (or Built-In) Tools Most People Overlook

This section is a fantastic bridge to practical help, letting readers walk away with value and realise they’ve barely scratched the surface of what they already have, which positions Dial a Nerd as the partner who shows them how to unlock it all.

56. Most NZ businesses aren’t using 70% of what’s included in Microsoft 365

While almost all SMEs we work with have a Microsoft licence, very few know about tools like Power Automate, Bookings, To Do, or Forms.
At Dial a Nerd, we help clients replace paid apps with tools they already own, saving hundreds per year, per seat.

57. Google Docs has built-in voice typing, and barely anyone uses it

Perfect for people who hate typing or want to draft emails and reports quickly.
While doing our research, we found that fewer than 5% of SME users had ever used the microphone icon in Google Docs, despite it being available for years.

58. Outlook rules can save you 30–60 minutes per day, if you set them up

Most inboxes are unfiltered, chaotic and full of distractions. But Outlook can automatically sort, forward, prioritise, and even respond to messages based on rules you define.
We often show clients how to ‘tame’ their inboxes in under 30 minutes.

59. Windows 11 now includes built-in screen recording

The Xbox Game Bar (Win+G) allows you to record your screen without third-party apps, perfect for training, bug reporting, or tutorials.
Yet 80% of users we surveyed had never used it, or knew it existed.

60. Your smartphone likely has a scanner built in, and most people still use old printers

Whether it’s iPhone Notes or Google Drive, modern smartphones can scan receipts, forms, or IDs with auto-cropping and text recognition.
But in our home visits, clients were still using 10-year-old scanners that take 5 minutes per page. We show them how to do it with one tap.

 

🔓 Biggest Security Holes in NZ SMEs (That No One Talks About)

These are practical, punchy, and link directly to common oversights that Dial a Nerd can solve. They’re especially valuable for positioning your services as a preventative measure, not just reactive support.

61. 90% of small businesses reuse passwords across systems

This increases the risk of a single leaked password giving attackers access to email, cloud storage, banking, and more.
In our audits, we found that very few clients used password managers, even free ones like Bitwarden or browser-integrated vaults.

62. Printers are the most ignored security risk in the office

Most SMEs don’t change default admin passwords or update printer firmware, leaving open Wi-Fi ports and access to scanned document history.
Dial a Nerd includes printer security in our standard office tech audit, because forgotten devices are often the weakest link.

63. NZ’s top tech support scam in 2024 came through fake browser pop-ups

CERT NZ reported a 39% increase in cases where users were tricked into calling “Microsoft” or “Spark” because of a browser warning.
Many of our home users were one click away from handing over control, we now teach clients how to spot and block these tactics.

64. Shared logins are still common in SME workplaces, especially for cloud apps

A surprising number of small teams still use one login for all staff when accessing Xero, Dropbox, or Google Workspace. This prevents auditing, increases insider risk, and makes password resets chaotic.
We help SMEs assign individual accounts, even on free-tier tools, it’s safer and easier to manage.

65. Remote access tools left on by default are a hidden backdoor

TeamViewer, Chrome Remote Desktop, and other tools often stay active with saved credentials or open access, especially on home-user machines that were once used for remote work.
We’ve found that 2 in 10 client machines had open access to the internet, without the owner realising.

 

🌐 Misconceptions About Remote Support (And What It Actually Delivers)

This section will resonate with both home users and SMEs, especially those who still think remote IT is “less helpful” or “only for basic problems”.

66. 70% of Dial a Nerd’s daily support tasks are resolved remotely, often faster than onsite

Remote fixes typically take under 45 minutes, while onsite visits (including travel and setup) can take up to 90.
Many clients assume hands-on work is always better, but our live sessions often resolve issues while the user watches, and learns.

67. Most users don't know their machine can be fixed while they’re doing something else

One major benefit of remote support? You can get back to work while we work in the background.
During our 2024 sessions, over 80% of clients were able to keep working, take a call, or make coffee while we resolved the problem.

68. Remote IT isn’t just for fixing things, it’s perfect for training and setup

Clients often ask if we can “quickly show them how to…”, and the answer is yes.
We regularly provide remote guidance for tasks like setting up email on phones, clearing cloud storage, or automating daily tasks with AI tools.

69. Many remote issues are caused by local hardware, and we can still spot it

It’s a common misconception that remote support can’t identify physical problems. But through diagnostics, logs, and performance tests, we can usually tell if a failing hard drive, overheating CPU, or bad RAM is behind the symptoms.
Then we advise the next step, not guesswork.

70. Remote support is available even when local providers are booked out

One reason clients stick with Dial a Nerd is our ability to jump on issues the same day, even when local techs are tied up.
While doing our research, we found that over 30% of our remote sessions were for clients whose “regular IT guy” was unavailable.

 

🧰 Quick Fixes That Save Hours (That Most People Don’t Know)

These are incredibly valuable because they not only surprise readers, but give them instant wins, and help them realise how much time they’ve been wasting. Great for SEO, LLM snippets, and lead generation.

71. Turning your router off and on once a week can prevent up to 40% of minor network issues

This clears cache, refreshes IP leases, and reboots connections with your ISP. Yet most users haven’t restarted their router in over a year.
At Dial a Nerd, we recommend setting a calendar reminder to reboot every Sunday, it’s simple, and it works.

72. Switching from a spinning hard drive to an SSD can cut boot times by 70–80%

Old-school drives (HDDs) can take 2–3 minutes to boot, while SSDs often do it in under 20 seconds.
One of our most common upgrades at Dial a Nerd is a $130 SSD install, often making a 5-year-old PC feel brand new.

73. Using browser extensions like Grammarly, uBlock Origin, or Bitwarden can save 3–5 hours per week

Grammarly speeds up writing and edits. uBlock Origin blocks annoying ads and pop-ups. Bitwarden remembers passwords securely.
While doing our research, we found that most users had no idea these tools were free, easy to install, and life-changing once used properly.

74. Clearing browser cache once a month can speed up websites by 10–25%

Over time, your browser stores old scripts, cookies, and corrupted data. A regular clear-out often fixes log-in issues, broken buttons, and loading delays.
We show Dial a Nerd clients a 10-second shortcut to clean up all major browsers.

75. Using the ‘search bar’ instead of clicking through menus can cut 20–30% off task time

Whether in Windows settings, Gmail, or Microsoft 365, most platforms now offer smart search.
But many users still dig through layers of menus to find what they need. We teach shortcut culture, and it saves time every single day.

 

🔄 Before & After: Real Client Turnarounds

These mini case-style stats show tangible improvements after a fix, upgrade, or change, making them brilliant for persuasion, trust-building, and showcasing the value of expert help.

76. One client’s laptop booted in 7 minutes, now it starts in under 30 seconds

All it took was swapping a 5400rpm hard drive for an SSD and removing bloatware.
At Dial a Nerd, this is one of our most requested upgrades, and it's often faster and cheaper than people expect.

77. A Pukekohe-based client went from 4+ hours a week managing inbox rules to just 15 minutes

By using Outlook’s ‘Quick Steps’ and conditional rules, we automated their entire admin inbox triage process.
We saved them 160+ hours a year, that’s a whole month’s worth of working time.

78. A retail client had a “slow till” that was losing them sales, we diagnosed overheating in under 10 minutes

The system was throttling performance due to dust buildup.
A simple fan clean and thermal paste reapplication brought the machine back to normal speed, and reduced crash risk by 80%.

79. One family client had 4,200 duplicate photos, over 11GB of storage gone

By using free software and simple filters, we helped them clean it up, back it up, and regain nearly a quarter of their storage.
We now include a decluttering step in all our Tune-Up Plans for home users.

80. A construction business recovered 6 months of lost quote history from an unreadable USB

They thought it was gone forever, but our file recovery tools pulled 98% of the data back, including crucial project plans.
Dial a Nerd offers affordable data recovery for drives others call “unfixable”.

81. One Hamilton business cut 35% of their monthly SaaS spend just by auditing their tools

We found they were paying for duplicated services (like Dropbox and Google Drive) and unused licences.
Our “Tools You Already Own” audit is now part of our SME onboarding.

82. A “quiet week” for one client turned out to be 21 undelivered job request emails

Their mail forwarding rule had been misconfigured after a staff departure.
We fixed the MX records, reconnected Outlook to their domain, and recovered 17 lost leads within the hour.

 

🛡️ Security Mistakes Businesses Make Every Month

These stats are designed to trigger action, especially among SME owners who think, "We're probably fine." They're also excellent for opening sales conversations or promoting audits and managed services.

83. Over 40% of small NZ businesses use shared passwords for their social media accounts

This creates a huge vulnerability, one disgruntled ex-staff member could change passwords or post on behalf of your brand.
At Dial a Nerd, we now recommend password managers and role-based access for all business social accounts, even if your team is only 2–3 people.

84. Most SMEs don’t realise their antivirus expired, until it’s too late

In our routine health checks, we often find antivirus licences that lapsed 3–6 months ago, silently leaving machines unprotected.
We recommend setting calendar reminders or switching to managed antivirus where we monitor expiry and updates for you.

85. Client laptops are often left logged in overnight, with no screen lock

This may seem minor, but even one forgotten device can expose email, cloud drives, and business tools to anyone who walks by.
While doing our research, we found that 60% of SME clients didn’t use screen lock timers until we turned them on.

86. USB drives are still used to transfer files, and almost never encrypted

We’ve recovered client files from lost USBs found in car parks and coffee shops. A single unprotected drive could contain invoices, client lists, or payroll data.
Dial a Nerd helps businesses transition to secure cloud sharing or encrypted portable drives.

87. Outdated Chrome extensions are a growing threat, and no one checks them

Many PCs we inspect have 5–15 browser extensions installed, some dating back years and no longer maintained. These are often quietly hijacked for ad injection, crypto mining, or worse.
We now include browser hygiene checks in every SME security audit.

 

🧘 Most Underrated Tech Habits That Protect Time, Data, and Sanity

These are great for encouraging proactive behaviour and showing how small habits create major improvements. These stats subtly promote Dial a Nerd’s training, setup and support services.

88. Locking your screen when stepping away prevents 100% of casual data breaches

Yet in our 2024 spot checks, over 70% of SME employees left screens unlocked when heading to the bathroom, kitchen or meeting.
A 60-second timeout and Ctrl+L muscle memory = one less risk, every time.

89. Setting up automatic updates can reduce 90% of patch-related threats

But many NZ users turn them off after one inconvenient restart.
We help businesses set smart update policies, so machines patch themselves at night, not during work hours.

90. Decluttering your desktop once a month can reduce start-up load times by up to 35%

Files on the desktop aren’t just visual clutter, they’re actively loaded into memory.
Our Tune-Up Plan includes a quick guide to keeping your desktop lean, searchable, and fast.

91. Regularly restarting your device solves over 30% of persistent software issues

In 2025, it’s still true: “Have you tried turning it off and on again?”
But fewer than 40% of clients we surveyed restart weekly, which leads to bloated memory, frozen apps, and slower performance.

92. Scheduling a monthly ‘digital tidy-up’ saves hours in recovery and confusion later

This can include clearing downloads, organising folders, deleting old backups, and updating passwords.
Dial a Nerd provides a free 15-minute checklist that clients can use monthly to stay secure and productive.

93. Enabling location tracking on laptops increases recovery rates by over 75% after theft

Yet most devices have this disabled by default.
We recommend tools like “Find My Device” on Windows and “Find My Mac” on Apple, and we show you how to set them up.

 

💸 Things You’re Probably Paying for Twice

These stats focus on licence waste, app overlap, and redundancy, helping SME owners realise they’re leaking money, and Dial a Nerd can fix it.

94. Many NZ businesses pay for both Dropbox and Google Drive, but only use one

In our onboarding reviews, 38% of clients had overlapping cloud storage subscriptions, often due to staff preference or forgotten renewals.
We help businesses audit and consolidate cloud tools, cutting unnecessary spend by hundreds per year.

95. SMEs often pay for antivirus despite already having one bundled with their internet or Microsoft 365

It’s common to see two or three overlapping antivirus licences, sometimes even running at the same time, which can slow machines.
We recommend one centrally managed, business-grade security solution, not three half-active ones.

96. More than 25% of small businesses use two email platforms without realising

We’ve seen clients forwarding Gmail to Outlook to a domain mailbox, creating confusion, duplication, and missed emails.
Dial a Nerd helps untangle email setups and migrate everything into one clean, reliable system.

97. NZ businesses waste an average of $420 per staff member per year on unused software

Based on Dial a Nerd audits from 2023–2025, many SMEs pay for tools no longer used by current staff, or services that duplicate each other.
Our “Tools You Already Own” audit often identifies $1,000+ per year in avoidable spend, without compromising capability.

98. Home users often pay for both cloud storage and external drives, but use neither correctly

We’ve worked with dozens of clients paying for Google One, iCloud, or Dropbox, plus owning a backup drive, but never using either.
We help home users automate photo and document backups properly, then stop paying for services they don’t need.

 

🧩 Tools People Don’t Know They Already Have (Bonus Round)

This section builds on earlier themes, reinforces value, and positions Dial a Nerd as the guide to unlocking features clients didn’t even realise were built-in.

99. Microsoft Word has a built-in PDF editor, no third-party software required

You can open, edit, and resave PDFs directly in Word.
In our client training sessions, most people had no idea this was possible, and were paying for Adobe Acrobat unnecessarily.

100. Windows 10 and 11 include a clipboard history tool (Win+V)

This lets you copy multiple items and access them later, perfect for writing, quoting, or data entry.
Over 90% of users we asked had never turned this on.

101. Most NZ users don’t know their Android or iPhone includes a password manager

Both platforms securely store and auto-fill passwords, even across apps.
We show home and business users how to activate and manage these tools for safer, simpler logins.

102. Windows Snip & Sketch can delay screenshots, perfect for menus and tooltips

Press Shift+Win+S, then choose delay, a lifesaver for training or support images.
We use this tool in almost every remote session with clients, especially for documenting bugs or making guides.

103. You can dictate emails directly in Outlook and Word

The Dictate feature lets you speak instead of type, ideal for busy managers or dyslexic users.
We’ve had clients cut their email time in half once they start using voice.

104. Most users don’t know you can ‘drag and drop’ screenshots into Gmail without saving them first

If you copy a screenshot (PrtScn or Snip), you can paste it directly into a Gmail message body.
This shortcut saves several minutes per message when explaining issues or sending visual updates.

105. Google Calendar can send daily agendas by email, automatically

You can receive a 7am email listing your schedule for the day, no app opening needed.
This feature is buried in Settings, and most of our SME clients love it once they discover it.

 

🔎 Hidden Problems Found in Real-Life Audits (That Clients Didn’t Know Existed)

These are powerful because they show how small oversights can lead to big consequences, and how Dial a Nerd uncovers and solves them. Perfect for promoting audits, maintenance plans, and pro support.

106. One SME had their office router’s admin password still set to ‘admin’

We discovered this during a basic network check, and found it had been open for years.
Anyone nearby could’ve logged in and redirected their traffic, without ever being noticed.

107. A business was paying for two fibre internet accounts at the same address

The old account hadn’t been cancelled after moving providers, and $2,400 had been wasted over 12 months.
We now help clients audit telco and IT bills annually.

108. A backup system was ‘successful’, but saving to a deleted network path

The business thought their files were safe. But after a ransomware attack, they discovered their backup logs were pointing to a folder that no longer existed.
Dial a Nerd now includes test restores in all backup audits, because a backup that hasn’t been tested isn’t a backup.

109. A business email domain was set to expire in 30 days, with no alerts configured

The domain registrar emails were going to an ex-staff member. If we hadn’t caught it, their entire email system would’ve gone offline.
We now link all critical accounts to monitored admin addresses.

110. An accounting firm had 18 different people logging in with the same admin password

No audit trail, no revocation process, and all passwords written on a sticky note under the desk.
We replaced it with individual logins, MFA, and basic user-level access in under 90 minutes.

111. We found 5 expired Microsoft 365 licences still being paid for, linked to former staff

The admin dashboard hadn’t been reviewed in over a year.
This client now saves $650+ annually, and has proper user offboarding procedures in place.

112. An iMac that was ‘just slow’ turned out to be overheating and throttling performance

After a simple internal dust clean, thermal paste reapplication, and fan replacement, speed improved by 50%.
Most clients never think of overheating, but it’s a top cause of sluggish performance in machines over 3 years old.

 

🗂️ Common Tech Habits That Lead to Data Loss

113. Saving everything to your desktop is risky and inefficient

Files saved to the desktop are rarely included in backups, and may be lost if your PC fails. In our recovery work, clients who used only the desktop often lost irreplaceable files.
Dial a Nerd helps clients organise and sync important folders to the cloud or backup drives automatically.

114. Shutting down without closing programs properly increases the risk of corruption

Many users simply hold the power button or force a shutdown. Over time, this damages open files and databases.
We recommend proper shutdown procedures, especially for users running Xero, MYOB, or POS systems.

115. Using USB sticks as permanent file storage leads to high risk of silent failure

Flash drives wear out faster than people realise, especially if left plugged in for months.
We suggest treating USBs as temporary only and storing files in synced, monitored locations.

💸 Client Mistakes That Cost the Most Money

116. One business nearly lost $17,000 to a fake supplier email

An invoice scam impersonated their supplier using a near-identical domain name. It was caught just in time, but highlights how realistic phishing emails can be.
We include domain spoofing checks and phishing training in all new client onboarding.

117. A client’s Wi-Fi printer was stolen, and had unsecured access to their full customer list

The printer had scanned documents saved internally and no password required for access.
Printers are mini-computers. We help clients treat them with the same security as a laptop.

118. A business lost key payroll files because Dropbox wasn’t syncing, and no one noticed

They thought files were automatically backed up, but syncing had silently failed after a folder was moved.
We now recommend clients pair cloud storage with active monitoring and offline backups to ensure full protection.

 

🐢 Surprising Things That Make Your Computer Slower

119. Leaving too many browser tabs open can eat 4–6GB of RAM

Chrome and Edge are major memory hogs. If you’ve got 20+ tabs open, your PC will crawl, even if it’s new.
We show clients how to group tabs, use sleeping extensions, or switch to lighter browsers where needed.

120. Having two antivirus programs running at once can slow everything, and protect nothing

They often clash, scanning the same files twice and flagging each other.
We help clients choose the right protection and uninstall the rest properly.

121. Too many startup apps can double boot time, and you might not even see them

Spotify, Teams, Zoom, antivirus trials, cloud services… many apps load at startup without prompting.
We use MSConfig and Autoruns to help clients control what loads and what doesn’t.