Nerds On Site (CSE:NERD) - Tech Firm Targets Profitable Growth with 60% Cybersecurity Margins

Apr 3, 2025

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Interview with Charlie Regan, Director & CEO of NerdsOnSite

Recording date: 28th March 2025

Nerds On Site (NOS) is a publicly traded Canadian technology services company with a U.S. subsidiary that provides comprehensive tech and cybersecurity services to small and medium enterprises (SMEs). Led by Charlie Regan as CEO, the company currently generates approximately CAD $11-12 million in annual revenue.

Operating with a lean structure of only 7-8 employees, NOS leverages a network of 150 independent contractors who deliver services to approximately 13,000 clients annually across over 117 industry verticals. The company's client base is divided into three main segments: small office/home office (20% of revenue), SMEs (50%), and enterprise clients (20%), including Canadian Tire with 550 locations and a Florida-based bank chain.

NOS's primary offering is a cybersecurity solution with a preventative approach that distinguishes it from competitors. According to Regan, "We fortify the house so that nobody can get in," rather than removing threats after breaches occur. This solution has been deployed for 13 years across millions of devices without a single successful ransomware attack, and is sold with a 60% markup margin.

The company recently launched NOS Technical Services, a U.S.-based division targeting state governments and pharmaceutical companies with specialized technical talent placement. Regan expects this division to match the revenue of their core business within 2.5 years, projecting $4-5 million in revenue by the end of 2025.

NOS's sales approach includes real-time demonstrations of security vulnerabilities, showing clients data being transmitted to countries like North Korea and Russia. The company also recently launched "Nerds Online," a 24/7 support service priced at CAD $39.99 per month, targeting both existing clients and prospects who couldn't afford their higher-priced offerings.

Currently, NOS reports 7.5% revenue growth over the previous year and aims for 10% growth this year. Management is targeting a gross profit margin of 32.5% (currently about 3 points away) to become "comfortably profitable" by the end of 2025.

The company's growth strategy includes pursuing acquisitions of managed service providers (MSPs) in the U.S. whose owners are approaching retirement age. NOS plans to upgrade these clients to a higher-level managed security service provider model by implementing their cybersecurity offerings, with at least one acquisition planned before the end of 2025.

As cybersecurity concerns grow and organizations shift toward specialized technical contracting, NOS appears positioned to capitalize on these market trends with its preventative security approach and flexible service model.