Celebrating a Milestone: 100 Subscribers Strong and Growing! Microsoft Security Blog
Marcus Burnap - Microsoft Security - Sentinel - Defender XDR Gets to 100 Subscribers
Hello fellow Microsoft security enthusiasts! Just a brief post to extend my genuine thanks to each and every one of you for pressing the subscribe or share button. We've reached the milestone of over 100 subscribers, with the majority joining in just a little over 20 days.
I'd like to take this chance not only to express my gratitude to everyone but also to introduce myself and share my brief journey in blogging so far. Thank you!
About me
Hi everyone, so I'd like to introduce myself - I'm Marcus, just an ordinary Geek from the "UK South", with a passion for technology, particularly when it's used for positive purposes. I'm the proud parent of two beautiful cats and have a young family. For me, 2024 is all about concentrating on family, health, and personal development.
I have a singular goal with this blog and all the content I produce. For this reason, all of my blog posts are, and will always remain, free of charge!
“share knowledge, increase security, and solve problems with the latest technology”
Marcus Burnap - MB Cloud Teck - 2023
Connect with me on LinkedIn! There, you'll find more details about my professional experience and areas of focus.
The Journey so far
It's January 2024, and my journey & focus into the wider Microsoft security community, outside MISA, CCP, Private Preview etc is just beginning.
Rewind to the 12th of July 2023, at precisely 12:25, following some gentle nudging from various professionals and friends, my first SubStack post was published!
This initial post was driven by a frustration that I had wasted my time, well used time up, as I could not find relevant docs. – a situation I couldn't allow others to fall into. Sharing the knowledge seemed the only right thing to do.
But then, questions arose: Where should I post this? How will anyone find it? I decided on a combination of keywords, SEO, and the Microsoft Q&A page!
To be honest, I was apprehensive. I'm not an expert writer, my grammar can be rather questionable, and sometimes I feel my articulation only make sense to me.
Would anyone appreciate it? What if I receive negative feedback? Despite these worries, I posted it and then forgot about it. Fast forward 12 days...
The first comment
Then, on the 25th of July 2023, came my first comment – an expression of appreciation from a very courteous gentleman from Portugal. I recall the moment I read the notification; the sense of achievement was great. I had saved him some time! I was elated! Mission accomplished: someone had saved time and resolved a problem.
I’m hooked.
The Lull
After my first comment, things moved slowly. I didn't expect much traction. I was mainly looking at what others were doing and trying to figure out how to make useful content in an organized way, without duplicating other great posts.
Motivation
Following this encouraging start, I was all set to go. I began to think about other valuable information that I could share. There's an abundance of topics, so I decided to focus on my primary field of work, where I spend 95% of my working day: all things related to Microsoft Security, including Sentinel and Defender XDR, Azure DevOps more recently Security Co-pilot .
This focus quickly led me to discover other top contributors in this area. I would like to take this opportunity to give them a shout-out and express my gratitude for their support & recommendations so far. Go ahead and subscribe to them also!
What’s next?
Time is indeed a significant challenge. Like many working professionals, I find there simply aren't enough hours in the day. However, I am committed to doing my best to maintain regular posts, in keeping with the goal of this blog.
2024 is shaping up to be an incredibly exciting year, particularly in the AI space, with the the next AI model’s, and specifically, Security Co-pilot. So, keep an eye out for content on that!
Still reading?
In conclusion, I'd like to extend my thanks once again to all who have subscribed. Please keep supporting and sharing, and most importantly reaching out! Its great to hear from people. The next post like this will be when we hit 500 subscribers – no telling when that might be, but I'm looking forward to it!
If you're considering starting a blog and have knowledge to share, I strongly encourage you to take the plunge. Substack is easy and free! It's a rewarding experience, and the community, especially in the Microsoft security community, is incredibly supportive.
For anyone planning to attend any Security or Microsoft Security events in the UK this year, please do reach out. It's always great to have a face-to-face conversation. Alternatively, feel free to message me on LinkedIn to discuss the latest Microsoft Security releases, or even just for a thorough geek-out chat!
Keep learning – no one can stay ahead of the rapid changes in Cyber Security or the Microsoft Security Stack (not to mention name changes ;) ) so keep on reading and staying informed!
See you soon, and thanks !
Marcus
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