Taking on new clients in the Philadelphia region

Every setting,
dialed in.

NerdKnobs is an independent IT consultancy for businesses that want their Apple devices, networks, cloud services and custom apps set up right the first time, and documented so they stay that way.

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Chester County, PA Remote & on site Replies within 1 business day
chris@nerdknobs — new-client-setup
One engagement, start to finish0 / 6
Platforms & tools
Apple Business ManagermacOSiOS & iPadOSMicrosoft IntuneJamfMicrosoft Entra IDExchange OnlineMicrosoft 365CloudflareSwift & SwiftUIKotlinReactTypeScriptNode.jsVLANs & firewallsWi-Fi designNAS & SANBackup & DR

Services

From the device in your hand
to the app running on it.

Consulting, hands-on build, or both. I can do the work for you or alongside your team so they can run it themselves.

01 / DEVICES

Apple device management

Zero-touch deployment for Mac, iPhone and iPad. Unbox it, sign in, it's ready.

  • Apple Business Manager enrollment and setup
  • MDM selection, design and rollout
  • Profiles, app deployment and OS update policy
  • Security baselines, FileVault and compliance
02 / IDENTITY

Microsoft 365 & identity

One sign-in across Apple and Microsoft, and email that lands in the inbox.

Entra IDSPFDKIMDMARCConditional access
03 / INFRASTRUCTURE

Networking & storage

The foundation everything else depends on, designed to be boring in the best way.

  • Switching, routing, firewalls and VPN
  • Wi-Fi surveys, design and troubleshooting
  • NAS and SAN storage, file services and backup
04 / SOFTWARE

Custom app design & deployment

Web and mobile apps built around how your business actually works.

  • Web apps, internal tools and dashboards
  • iOS and Android, from design to store release
  • Private distribution through Apple Business Manager
05 / STRATEGY

IT consulting

Practical advice from someone who has built and run managed IT services.

  • Environment assessments and roadmaps
  • Managed services strategy and vendor selection
  • Runbooks and documentation your team will actually use
06 / PROCUREMENT

Hardware & software

The right gear, already enrolled before it ships.

  • Mac, iPhone, iPad, networking and accessories
  • Devices assigned to your Apple Business Manager account
  • Licensing that matches how you work

Process

Small engagements.
Clear outcomes.

No long contracts required. Start with a single project and keep going only if it's working.

01

Assess

A short call and a look at what you have today: devices, network, identity, email, apps and the pain points.

02

Build

A written plan with a fixed scope, then the work itself, tested before anything touches your users.

03

Hand off

Documentation, a walkthrough and admin access that stays yours, plus ongoing support if you want it.

“Nerd knobs” are the advanced settings most people never touch. Turning the right ones is the job.

NerdKnobs LLC is an independent consultancy run by Chris Nickl, who has spent years building and leading managed IT services, and building web and mobile apps along the way.

The focus is simple: devices, networks and software that are secure, well documented and ready to work, built on the identity and email systems a business already runs.

Based in Chester County, Pennsylvania. Working remotely and on site across the Philadelphia region.

Contact

Let's dial it in.

Tell me a little about your environment and what you're trying to do. I'll reply within one business day.

Email me
How many devices & usersWhat you use todayWhat's not workingYour timeline