betabit

In this episode, we speak with Jessey Johnson, a Cloud Solution Architect and an Advanced Cloud Expert (ACE) at Microsoft, who serves as a bridge between business, IT, and technology. We delve into topics such as digital transformation, the evolving landscape of Azure, and address barriers to inclusion in the tech industry. Jessey shares her journey in assisting Dutch organizations to securely adopt cloud services and what ignited her passion for information security compliance. We explore Microsoft's emphasis on developing user-friendly security tools and discuss how cultural biases can hinder underrepresented groups. 

About this episode, and Jessey Johnson in particular: you can find Jessey on LinkedIn. 

About Betatalks: have a look at our videos and join us on our Betatalks Discord channel 

In this special episode, Rick interviews Oscar. We talk about Oscar’s work at Virtual Vaults. For the people who don’t know, Oscar is the CTO of Virtual Vaults, a platform for M&A transactions. Mergers & Acquisitions, that is. We discuss the development of their SaaS platform, emphasizing security and compliance. Oscar highlights their focus on constant improvement through new features, evolving technologies, and an agile culture. He outlines their plans for the coming year, which include improving reliability, security, and developer experience through initiatives like moving to Azure Container Apps. We also cover topics like cloud adoption, software architectures, database choices, and lessons learned over the company's evolution.

About this episode, and Oscar van Tol in particular: you can find Oscar on @oscarvantol on X and GitHub. 

About Betatalks: have a look at our videos and join us on our Betatalks Discord channel 

In this episode, we talk with Shay Rojansky. He is a Microsoft principal software engineer working on .NET data access and a performance member of the Entity Framework team. And he's a lead developer of Npgsql, the open source .NET data provider for PostgreSQL. We discuss various topics related to data and performance in .NET, such as the evolution of Entity Framework, debates on abstraction usage, database performance optimization, and breakthrough changes in software development. We share stories about improving performance for specific customer scenarios and benchmarking. Overall, we focus on gaining a full-stack understanding of software, using instrumentation to identify optimization opportunities, and emphasizing simple and accessible features over complexity.

About this episode, and Shay Rojansky in particular: you can find Shay on @shayrojansky on X and GitHub. Also, check out his website where you can read all his very interesting blogs.

About Betatalks: have a look at our videos and join us on our Betatalks Discord channel 

In this episode, we talk with Sakari Nahi. He is responsible for the vision, brand, and quality of his company Zure. He is a Microsoft Regional Director and an Azure MVP. He has over twenty years of experience creating custom software and ten years of experience with Azure. He is the founder of the Finland Azure user group and a co-host at the Finnish podcast Ikkunastudio. They talk about the early days of Azure and public clouds, the evolution of services like Cosmos DB, and AI capabilities on Azure. Sakari shares some of his favorite features in Azure over the years. They also talk about the potential of AI and how it can help with productivity but may not replace developers' jobs.

About this episode, and Sakari Nahi in particular: you can find Sakari on @sakarinahi on X and LinkedIn. Also, check out his podcast Ikkunastudio, and the website of his company Zure.

About Betatalks: have a look at our videos and join us on our Betatalks Discord channel 

In this episode, we talk with Gerben van de Wiel. He is a Principal Cloud Security Architect at Betabit, specializing in bolstering security through meticulous pen testing and detailed software assessments at YieldDD. Gerben's proficiency is not just limited to assessments; he is also adept at creating and conducting security-focused training programs to elevate the readiness to counteract cyber threats. They discuss Gerben's work in security assessments and training programs. They talk about how the cybersecurity landscape has changed over time, with more professional attackers and widespread ransomware attacks. Gerben describes the different types of security testing they perform such as white box testing using source code. They discuss challenges such as keeping up with new vulnerabilities and tools as the field changes rapidly.

About this episode, and Gerben van de Wiel in particular: you can find Gerben on GitHub and LinkedIn. Also, check out his many Betatalks videos in which he discusses even more security and development.

About Betatalks: have a look at our videos and join us on our Betatalks Discord channel 

In this episode, we talk with Rudy Ooms. He is a Microsoft MVP and he has been working for Deltacom for 22 years as a Cloud Architect. He is also the owner of Call4Cloud. He does a lot of blogging and he might be the Intune engineering team’s worst enemy. We discuss endpoint security and device management with Intune. Rudy shares insights from his experience debugging Intune and finding bugs to report to Microsoft. We cover topics like Windows LAPS, Endpoint Privilege Management, declarative device management using desired state configuration, and services like MMPC that are improving how devices can be managed without requiring Azure AD join. We also dive into the future direction of Intune and related tools for securely managing devices in hybrid and cloud environments.

About this episode, and Rudy Ooms in particular: you can find Rudy on X @Mister_MDM & Reddit. Read all his interesting blogs and more on his website Call4Cloud. 

About Betatalks: have a look at our videos and join us on our Betatalks Discord channel 

In this episode, we talk with Magnus Mårtensson. He is an entrepreneur, an MVP for Azure since the start of the cloud, and a Microsoft Regional Director. He is a consultant, architect, and product development lead, and he runs his own company Lofty Soft. As an international speaker, his passions include connecting with audiences and organizing conferences. We discuss Magnus' background working with Azure for many years and running community events like Global Azure. We talk about the early days of Azure and how it has evolved significantly over 15 years. We also dive into challenges large companies face in optimizing their cloud usage and developing a culture of automation. We touch on Magnus' consulting company Lofty Soft and how he helps customers optimize their cloud usage. We also cover the importance of physical wellness for those in sedentary jobs, and how Magnus uses a fitness tracker and activities like gardening and cooking to stay active.

About this episode, and Magnus Mårtensson in particular: you can find Magnus on Twitter @noopman & GitHub. Read all his interesting blogs on his website. And, don't forget to check out his company website Lofty Soft.

About Betatalks: have a look at our videos and join us on our Betatalks Discord channel 

In this episode, we talk with Willem Meints. He is a software architect who has been working with AI for 10 years. He is the author of the book "Deep learning with Microsoft Cognitive Toolkit Quick Start Guide". With his background in electronics and software engineering, he brings a unique view on how companies can use machine learning with a keen eye for DevOps and continuous delivery that's often overlooked in this field. We discuss where AI currently stands in its development, with Willem saying it is becoming a teenager. We talk about how companies can get started with AI by doing small proof of concepts instead of large projects. Ensuring AI use cases are linked to business goals is important. And we cover the challenges of machine learning operations and explainable AI. Overall, the discussion focuses on practical applications of AI and how developers can start using it as another tool in their toolbox.

About this episode, and Willem Meints in particular: you can find Willem on Twitter @willem_meints & GitHub. Read all his interesting blogs on 'Willem's Fizzy Logic' and find his book here.

About Betatalks: have a look at our videos and join us on our Betatalks Discord channel 

In this episode, we talk with Laïla Bougriâ. She is a software engineer and solution architect with over 15 years of experience in the .NET space. She's a Microsoft Azure MVP and a frequent speaker at conferences around the world. Laïla is busy building NServiceBus at Particular Software and solving distributed riddles. When she's not immersed in code, Laïla enjoys indulging in her favorite pastime - knitting! We discuss critical thinking skills and how they can be developed and applied in software development projects. We talk about the importance of collaboration and getting different perspectives from team members with varied backgrounds and experiences. We also discuss the challenges of choosing appropriate technologies for projects and keeping teams up to date with new tools and languages. Laïla shares her experiences with public speaking and how mentors helped her get started.

About this episode, and Laïla Bougriâ in particular: you can find Laïla on Twitter @noctovis & GitHub and on Mastadon. 

About Betatalks: have a look at our videos and join us on our Betatalks Discord channel 

In this episode, we talk with Sarah Young. She is a Senior Cloud Security Advocate at Microsoft, holds numerous industry qualifications, and has co-authored a few Microsoft Press technical books. She won the Security Champion award at the Australian Women in Security Awards and is a co-host of the Microsoft Azure Security Podcast. We discuss the changing face of security and how it has evolved from being an afterthought to being integrated throughout the development lifecycle. Traditional perimeter-based security approaches are no longer effective in today's cloud and distributed environments. Instead, identity-based security and zero-trust models are becoming more prevalent. We also talk about how security needs to be easy and frictionless for developers in order to be effective. Simply telling developers to implement security controls is not enough - the secure option must also be the easy option. We talk about the trends in cloud security posture management tools and securing AI that can help automate routine security tasks. Overall, the key takeaway is that while security principles remain the same, the approach needs to shift to be integrated, automated, and frictionless in order to be adopted by developers.

About this episode, and Sarah Young in particular: you can find Sarah on Twitter @_sarahyo & LinkedIn. Check out her podcast 'The Azure Security Podcast' and if you want to know more about Sarah and her books go to her website. 

About Betatalks: have a look at our videos and join us on our Betatalks Discord channel 

In this episode, we talk with Azure McFarlane, a BizApps MVP, and a senior consultant at Hitachi Solutions in Washington DC. Her specialty is Microsoft Power Platform and she has an established Flowmance with Power Automate. She serves as Head of Global Partnerships and Growth at TechStylers and she co-hosts a community podcast 'Cloud Conversations'. We talk about her background and how she ended up at Microsoft, where she found her passion in the world of automation and leveraging Power Automate to revolutionize workflows and boost productivity and efficiency. Power Automate is a workflow engine, part of Microsoft's more low-code development platform Power Platform.  It provides an easy-to-use solution for automating tasks and business processes among more than 1,000 different apps and services, saving valuable time. We talk about desktop flows, explore real-world examples and gain insight into the transformative potential of Power Automate, not just for technical people. Furthermore, we talk about mentorship and which cult movies are or aren't a must-watch.

About this episode, and Azure McFarlane in particular: you can find Azure on Twitter @amac_ncheese, LinkedIn and the podcast Cloud Converstations. 

About Betatalks: have a look at our videos and join us on our Betatalks Discord channel 

In this episode, we talk with Ferenc Németh, a senior consulting architect at YieldDD Software Due Diligence. With his decades of experience, he helps companies make the right strategic choices by performing software due diligence, software assessments, and security assessments. We talk about how to correctly assess software quality and provide consulting services. Ferenc tells all about how YieldDD goes beyond automated tools and provides insight and interpretation, allowing clients to fully understand all aspects of the software and eliminate unnecessary risks. Their services are sought after in mergers, acquisitions, and cloud transitions. He emphasizes the importance of considering the broader context when evaluating software. We also dive into the importance of conducting security assessments and testing data quality, as well as security and AI considerations in software development. We discuss the benefits of Open Source software. Ferenc encourages companies to consider making non-critical parts of their software Open Source to improve quality. Balancing technical and business demands to achieve better code and software is discussed. And, we touch upon the role of AI tools in coding.

About this episode, and Ferenc Németh in particular: you can find Ferenc on LinkedIn and visit the website of YieldDD and find out even more about Software Due Diligence.

About Betatalks: have a look at our videos and join us on our Betatalks Discord channel 

In this episode, we talk with Scott Helme, a Security Researcher, Entrepreneur, and International Speaker. He's the creator of Report URI and Security Headers and delivers world-renowned training on hacking and encryption. We talk about how his Nissan Leaf was an eye-opener in how systems could be hacked by someone on the other side of the world. In the automotive industry, they are connecting things, via the internet, that have never been connected before. We discuss what would be the next big wave of access and privacy issues. We discuss what role legislation should have regarding security. Technology improves and evolves faster than governments can legislate. There is a risk that legislation might accidentally stifle innovation. This is a tricky balance. We also talk about his work on Security Headers and Report URI. And, we talk a bit about his love for cars. He is a huge car geek. 

About this episode, and Scott Helme in particular: you can find Scott on Twitter at @Scott_Helme & GitHub. Visit his website and read all his interesting blogs, trainings, and where he is speaking.

About Betatalks: have a look at our videos and join us on our Betatalks Discord channel 

In this episode, we talk with Eric Berg. He works as Vice President Consulting Expert and Global Alliance Manager for Microsoft at CGI, and he is a member of the Microsoft Community. He regularly writes blogs and produces the GeekSprech podcast and GeekSchau webcast. Eric also runs the Azure Thüringen Meetup and is a well-known speaker at conferences. Besides that, he is also a LinkedIn Learning trainer. His motto is: "The community lives from the community, and only those who join in keep it alive!" We will dive into his motto and why he thinks it is so important to be an active member of the community. We talk about how he started blogging and when he realized that he could really make an impact. We also discuss his role as a Vice President Consulting Expert. We also touch on the new buzzword AI. The most common question today, according to Eric, is whether OpenAI on Azure or any other AI service will be available in your region. Everybody is talking about AI, and that's the thing with the AI Hype Cycle. How good is it actually going to be, and in what ways will it develop? We also delve into ChatGPT and how AI works with that and other tools. We also compare  the AI Hype Cycle to Cloud Adoption.

About this episode, and Eric Berg in particular: you can find Eric on Twitter at @ericberg_de & GitHub. Visit his website and read all his interesting blogs and more. And here you can find a direct link to his podcast GeekSprech on Spotify and his GeekSchau on Youtube.

About Betatalks: have a look at our videos and join us on our Betatalks Discord channel 

In this episode, we talk with Jimmy Bogard. Jimmy is the creator and maintainer of the popular OSS libraries AutoMapper and MediatR. He has received the MVP award every year since 2009.  We talk about AutoMapper and why he created it. It has hundreds of millions of downloads and it is almost scary how many people depend on it. He never imagined that it would grow so big. In his day job as an independent software consultant, he builds custom software for his clients. We talk about how migrating towards a new technology isn’t necessarily an easy path. We discuss how modernization projects can be influenced by governance and forces outside a team.  We also dive into Azure PaaS and compare this to scaling on prem.  Next to that how the cloud opens the door to infrastructure that you wouldn't have the ability to maintain yourself. Last but not least, some "it depends" and beer!

About this episode, and Jimmy Bogard in particular: you can find Jimmy on Twitter at @jbogard & GitHub. Visit his website and read all his interesting blogs and also one about MediatR 12.0 released. Here you can also find the library of AutoMapper.

About Betatalks: have a look at our videos and join us on our Betatalks Discord channel 

In this episode, we talk with Sander ten Brinke. He is a Lead Software Engineer at Arcady and Microsoft MVP for the Developer Technologies Category. He loves working with .NET, Azure, and DevOps and is passionate about HATEOAS. HATEOAS is an acronym for Hypermedia As The Engine Of Application State and Sander will explain what it does and how it works. We also discuss how he started with HATEOAS and how it helps evolve server functionalities. Sander works on a lot of different development platforms like web and cloud, but also mobile and game development. We also look back on him becoming an MVP in December 2022. He loves to share knowledge via speaking, meetups, and blogging.

About this episode, and Sander ten Brinke in particular:  you can find Sander on Twitter at @sandertenbrinke & GitHub. Visit his website and read all his interesting blogs. Here you can also find the links to the library of Risk First.HATEOAS, the Arcady IT GitHub repository.

About Betatalks: have a look at our videos and join us on our Betatalks Discord channel 

In this episode, we talk with Bram de Buyser, he is a freelance technical architect and developer, primarily in data engineering and scalable platforms. Bram talks about his adventures building Drabble.social, how do you start a Twitter alternative? We talk about the key features of Drabble and concepts like how to design a timeline for the user. Bram explains how Azure PaaS services are helping him to build a seriously scalable architecture on a starter budget and how not having to invest upfront keeps options open to redesign when needed. We also talk about the influence of AI and Large Language Models and where Bram expects this to be most useful for a social network.

About this episode, and Bram de Buyser in particular:  you can find Bram on Twitter at @chton & GitHub. Visit his website and also take a look at his drabble.social which is now in public preview.

About Betatalks: have a look at our videos and join us on our Betatalks Discord channel 

In this episode, we talk with Erwin Staal. As an Azure Architect and DevOps consultant he loves helping companies deliver their software to customers using DevOps practices and cloud-native architectures. He believes in the power of both the monolith and microservices and prefers to run his workload on the Azure cloud and/or Kubernetes. We talk about Azure Landing Zones; what they are, why you want them, and the cloud adaption framework. An Azure Landing Zone is the output of a multi-subscription Azure environment that accounts for scale, security governance, networking, and identity. It enables application migration, modernization, and innovation at enterprise scale in Azure. Erwin has been involved in building and reviewing various Azure Landing Zones over the last couple of years. And he sees them as one of the pillars underneath a proper cloud adoption. Microsoft makes a distinction between two types of Landing Zones, which we will dive into. It’s a whole architecture, a structure of subscriptions, that allows you to host your workloads in a scalable, manageable way. We discuss the pros and cons of Azure Landing zones and how to get the proper permissions. We also dive into Infrastructure as code, which he wrote a book about. The book focuses on how to deliver your resources on Azure using infrastructure as code and then specifically Bicep. Erwin is in the process of writing an article and creating a new session on ‘Infrastructure as Code on Azure: Bicep vs. Pulumi vs. Terraform’. He found that a lot of people were asking which tool he prefers and when to use which, so he thought ‘why not’ write that down? Next to all this, we talk about which book changed his life and his participation in the Marathon of Rotterdam.

About this episode, and Erwin Staal in particular:  you can find Erwin on Twitter at @erwin_staal & GitHub. And, visit his website and read all his interesting blogs. You can also find his book here.

About Betatalks: have a look at our videos and join us on our Betatalks Discord channel 

In this episode, we talk with Daniel Paulus. He is a serial conference organizer and meetup runner, a principal consultant at Bryte Blue, a Microsoft Azure focused consultancy company, and a Microsoft Azure MVP. He is helping companies succeed with Cloud Native technologies and DevOps practices. We talk about Bryte Blue, what it is, and what he does there. We dive into his love for Containers and where his interest in containers came from. He once started as an engineer at a firm using mainly Apple. After that, he worked at a consultancy where he worked with Red Hat and Open Source Linux. Here he came in contact with virtualization and sandboxed applications, in the pre-container time. After that, Docker came around and he saw the landscape shift. He also saw Microsoft investing in Open Source and moving to embracing Linux and containers. From the beginning, he was on top of the Container technology. We talk about his thoughts on the adoption of AKS by consumers and Windows Containers. He also tells his story about his burnout and what he did to overcome it. The advice he got was to go out into nature and be active. That is what helped him. And, he still makes sure that he is walking outside every morning and evening. Being surrounded by technology is good, but always take good care of yourself and go out.

About this episode, and Daniel Paulus in particular:  you can find Daniel on Twitter at @PaulusTM & GitHub. And, visit his website and read all his interesting blogs. Or, visit his meetups Go Azure and AKS Meetup

About Betatalks: have a look at our videos and join us on our Betatalks Discord channel 

In this episode, we talk with Joe Carlyle, a Microsoft MVP and head of Azure at eir evo in Dublin. He has a passion for creating Azure content, from blogs and new feature commentaries to deployment guides and troubleshooting help. We discuss the key role of communication for developers, especially in roles that need to bring customers and tech together. The simplification of deep technical knowledge, explaining a complex solution in a way that will get business case buy-in, is essential. Your ability to communicate nearly outweighs your technical capabilities, because it doesn't matter how good you are in terms of implementation or design, if you can't explain yourself, it doesn’t help anyone. And we dive into the fact that sharing your knowledge, at conferences or online, helps you simplify deep technical knowledge. Because you show extra diligence about putting all the right details there to help someone, and yourself. Furthermore, we talk about GitHub Copilot and especially ChatGPT, how it’s being used (and tricked), its use cases, its limits, and how it's able to take multiple queries, put them together, and give you an answer that can be quite comprehensive and beneficial. Is it inspiring and an advancement, or does it threaten your ability to retain information because you lose the experience of writing code? We conclude with a discussion about Azure PaaS, networking, VMS and serverless. He really likes Azure networking, because everyone is involved in one way or another. And how it is impossible to be an expert in all areas; jack of all trades, master of none.

About this episode, and Joe Carlyle in particular:  you can find Joe @wedoAzure and read his blogs here on wedoazure.ie.

About Betatalks: have a look at our videos and join us on our Betatalks Discord channel