Articles Archives - Herstek & Associates, LLC

🎶 Okay… so you’re DIY. Yeah, yeah… that don’t secure you much. 🎶

By Amanda Herstek February 18, 2026Articles, Backup, Cybersecurity, Guides, Microsoft365

Let me guess. You built your own network.You’re the “admin.”You’ve got a backup.And you’re feeling pretty confident about your cybersecurity situation. Cool story. But confidence without protection is just optimism…

You’re Not Retiring Yet—But Your Business Should Be Able to Run Without You

By Amanda Herstek February 17, 2026Articles, Guides, Microsoft365

A practical guide to business continuity, legacy, and future‑proofing for NEPA business ownersLet’s set the scene. You’re not packing the golf clubs and moving to Florida tomorrow. You still have…

Micromanaging: The Good, The Bad, and the Ugly

By Amanda Herstek February 10, 2026Articles, Guides, Microsoft365

If you run a small business, you’ve probably micromanaged at least once.Or twice.Or… every Tuesday. No judgment — we get it. When your team is small, your margins are tight,…

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 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…

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…

How Long Should a Computer Really Last? A Practical Guide for Small and Medium-Sized Businesses

By Amanda Herstek July 14, 2025Articles, Guides

If you're running a small or medium-sized business, you’ve probably asked yourself: “Do we need to replace our computers, or can we just upgrade them?” It’s a common question—and the answer depends…