Amanda Herstek, Author at Herstek & Associates, LLC

Is AI Making Us Dumber? Or Are We Just Using It Wrong?

By Amanda Herstek January 27, 2026Articles, Copilot, Guides, Microsoft365

Artificial intelligence is becoming the go‑to assistant in modern workplaces. Tools draft emails, summarize meetings, brainstorm content, troubleshoot problems, and even help us write policies. And while AI can absolutely…

The Ultimate Copilot Guide for SMB & Nonprofit Leaders

By Amanda Herstek January 19, 2026Copilot, Guides, Microsoft365

Daily, Weekly & Monthly Prompts to Maximize Time, Clarity & Impact Senior leaders in small organizations often juggle what feels like three full‑time jobs: strategic planning, daily operations, and constant…

🌄 10 Problems NEPA Small Businesses Don’t Realize Microsoft 365 Already Solves

By Amanda Herstek January 14, 2026Guides, Microsoft365

…and how you can stop overpaying, overcomplicating, and over-stressing. Running a small business in Northeastern PA means wearing… well… all the hats. 🎩🎩🎩From emails to invoices to onboarding to customer…

NEPA SMBs, Nonprofits & Leaders Guide: Which Pill Should You Take? Microsoft 365 + Copilot vs Google Workspace + Gemini

By Amanda Herstek January 7, 2026Guides, Microsoft365

You’re juggling clients, donors, board meetings, and snow‑day schedules in Northeast PA. You don’t need tech‑speak—you need tools that help your team write, meet, share, and protect sensitive info without…

The Cloud vs. Local Servers: A Futuristic Guide for Modern Businesses

By Amanda Herstek November 14, 2025Articles, Backup, Guides

Cloud vs. Local Servers: Which is best for your business? Explore this Star Wars-inspired guide to IT infrastructure, security, and scalability

Why “We’ll Just Hire Experts When Needed” Is Costing Your Business More Than You Think

By Amanda Herstek November 5, 2025Articles

Thinking of hiring IT experts only when something breaks? Discover why this reactive approach costs more than proactive managed services—and how MSPs save time, money, and stress.

Your Staff Are Still Emailing Attachments… And You’re Paying for SharePoint

By Amanda Herstek October 8, 2025Articles, Guides, Microsoft365

It might surprise you how often this happens. Businesses invest in Microsoft 365, which includes powerful tools such as SharePoint and OneDrive. Yet staff still send files back and forth…

Welcome to M365 – The “Why Didn’t We Do This Sooner?” Tour – (Week 1)

By Amanda Herstek September 30, 2025Articles, Guides, Microsoft365

🧠 Author’s Note: Legacy, Change & the AI Elephant in the Room Yes, I know—I’ve been pushing AI a bit hard lately for #NEPA. And no, I have no intention…

🎭 The Cost of Impersonating a CEO — And How to Train Your Team to Spot a Fake

By Amanda Herstek September 18, 2025Microsoft365

In an era where artificial intelligence can mimic voices, faces, and even personalities, impersonating a CEO is no longer a high-tech fantasy—it’s a real and rising threat. From deepfake video…

Work Mode vs. Web Mode: How Microsoft Copilot Handles Data and Why It Matters for SMBs

By Amanda Herstek September 11, 2025Articles, Copilot, Microsoft365

Knowing the Difference As AI tools like Microsoft Copilot become more integrated into business workflows, understanding how they operate in different environments is key to maximizing their potential. One common…