On June 4, our colleague Ferry Braeken (Solutions Architect at Valid) visited Experts Live, the event where IT professionals, experts and visionaries come together to discuss the latest trends and technologies within the IT world. In this blog article, Ferry gives a brief recap of the event.

Windows' revolution into the 'Leading Operating System'

Our day began with an inspiring keynote by Christiaan Brinkhoff and Nadia Aimé, on the evolution of Windows and becoming the "Leading Operating System. From the first IBM to the Copilot PC, soon to be released. It was fascinating and intriguing to hear how Microsoft is preparing for future technological challenges and opportunities.

Cloud Development with Azure CLI (AZD)

Cloud Development with Azure CLI (AZD) by Jonah Andersson of Solidify from Sweden. A seminar on the possibilities of coding with the AZD module in Azure. With azd you can develop consistently across the terminal with Azure, integrate with your DevOps CI/CD pipelines such as GitHub Actions and more.

Sentinel Playbooks, Logic Apps and Managed Identities

In this session, Koos Goossens of Wortell took us through the power of Azure Managed Identities to improve the security of Logic Apps and Sentinel Playbooks. An interesting session with practical insights.

Building a threat intelligence program: strategies and best practices

Alexander Benoit took us through a roadmap for organizations looking to develop or improve their threat intelligence. What are the key components of a successful threat intelligence program, what tools are appropriate and how do you set up the processes as efficiently as possible?

Architecting a SOC on top of Microsoft Defender XDR and Microsoft Sentinel

Implementing Defender and Sentinel is relatively easy, but how do you implement it according to best practices, pair it with the right products and integrate it within your environment? In this session, Thijs Lecomte and Robbe van den Daele showed the decisions they made in their own Security Operations Center and the problems they encountered.

Priviliged Access Strategy

Morton Knudsen, Microsoft MVP from Denmark, gave us the best practices around deploying PIM in Azure and even a look at PIM for AD. Furthermore, Morton gave specific examples of Priviliged Access designs for platforms such as Power BI, Azure Landing Zones, Intune and more.

Closing note by Erik Scherder: technology is both a triumph and a challenge for our brains

One of the most impressive speakers at Experts Live Netherlands 2024 was undoubtedly Professor Dr. Erik Scherder. What a hero. A professor of neuropsychology at VU University Amsterdam, Professor Scherder is known for his enthusiastic and accessible way of speaking about complex scientific topics.

During his session at Experts Live, he took us into the fascinating world of the brain and the impact of technology on our cognitive functions. With his characteristic energy and passion, he captivated the audience from the very first moment. He talked about the impact of modern technologies, such as artificial intelligence and digital tools, on our brain function and mental health.

One of the key points of his presentation was how technology can be both a blessing and a challenge to our brains. He stressed the importance of a balanced approach: while technology can enrich our lives and boost our cognitive ability, it is also crucial to be intentional about the time we spend with it and the way we use these tools.

Professor Scherder also addressed the role of physical activity and mental challenges in maintaining a healthy brain, especially in an age where we are increasingly dependent on digital solutions. His insights were not only scientifically based but also practically applicable, which made it easy for attendees to take this knowledge and apply it in their own lives and work.

His lecture was a perfect balance between humor and serious science, ensuring that even the most complex concepts became understandable and memorable. It was a session that both inspired and challenged, and one that will certainly be remembered as one of the highlights of Experts Live Netherlands 2024.

Networking

In addition to the sessions, there was ample opportunity to network with other professionals and experts in the field. The expo area provided a great opportunity to check out the latest tools and solutions from different vendors. So I made some new friends, and what fun it was to see old acquaintances again as well.

Conclusion

Experts Live Netherlands 2024 was a fantastic experience that brought me many new insights and knowledge. The combination of informative sessions, practical workshops and valuable networking opportunities made it an event I will definitely attend again. I look forward to applying the knowledge and ideas I gained in my daily work and participating again next year. Compliments to the organization of Experts Live Netherlands 2024!

Do you have questions or challenges in implementing new technologies and/or innovations within your organization? If so, I would love to get in touch with you to discuss your challenges.

This article was written by Ferry Braeken, Solutions Architect at Valid. The article has been supplemented with information from Experts Live.