Microsoft Azure – if you are a cloud enthusiast, certified cloud practitioner, or professional, this word must ring a bell. Azure has gained widespread usage across industries thanks to its flexibility, user-friendliness, and wide range of services and add-ons. Surpassing AWS in use and preference, as reported by the Flexera 2022 State of the Cloud Report, Microsoft Azure has poised for even more robust growth shortly, closing the revenue gap with AWS.
As Microsoft continues to expand its technology with dynamic data centers and constant innovation, more companies will choose Azure as their strategic partner in 2024. This presents a suitable time for individuals looking to enhance their credentials or enter the cloud domain as Azure experts.
Following Azure blogs and bloggers is crucial to fuel growth and staying updated in the Azure ecosystem. These experts serve all deep insights about the cloud platform on your plate. This blog will explore the top 8 Microsoft Azure bloggers to follow in 2024. Let’s get started!
1. Thomas Maurer: Azure Stack Hub Expert
Thomas Maurer is a Microsoft Most Valuable Professional (MVP) specializing in Azure Stack Hub, hybrid cloud, and data center solutions. He is also known for his conference sessions, style, and ability to engage with the audience, making complex Azure concepts more approachable.
His blogs simplify complex Azure concepts, making them accessible to all levels of expertise. He has a knack for breaking down intricate technical details and offering practical guidance, making his content accessible to beginners and seasoned professionals.
His blog covers various Azure topics: deployment, management, security, networking, and automation. Thomas provides step-by-step tutorials, best practices, and real-world examples to help readers grasp and implement Azure solutions effectively.
Follow Thomas Maurer on LinkedIn
What sets these blogs apart is their focus on practicality. He explains the theoretical aspects and demonstrates how to apply them in real-life scenarios. His content often includes detailed walkthroughs, code samples, and configuration examples, empowering readers to follow along and implement Azure solutions hands-on.
Some of the blogs include:
Azure Stack HCI – The Dell APEX Cloud Platform for Microsoft Azure
Windows Server Summit 2022: Modernize your Apps with Windows Containers and AKS
Azure Cloud Management in the Cloud Adoption Framework
How to Move Files with PowerShell
2. Adian Finn: Azure IaaS Expert
Aidan Finn is a highly regarded Microsoft Azure Infrastructure expert specializing in Azure infrastructure and has made significant contributions to the tech community for over 11 years. Aidan is more popularly known for his contribution to Azure for the Petri IT Knowledge base. He has made significant contributions to the Azure community as a thought leader.
Aidan, a Microsoft Most Valuable Professional (MVP), offers profound technical guidance for Azure enthusiasts. Previously, held the Hyper-V with 9 years of domain experience and System Center Configuration Manager expertise. He is also a sought-after speaker at conferences and events like community briefings, Microsoft launches, E2EVC, Techade Europe, and Microsoft Ignite.
Aidan’s books and blogs are a go-to resource, covering a wide range of Azure topics such as services, deployment models, networking, and automation. His ability to simplify complex concepts sets him apart, providing practical solutions for navigating Azure infrastructure challenges. He is also popular as a contributing author for:
- Microsoft Private Cloud Computing
- Mastering Windows Server 2008 R2 (Sybex, 2009)
- Mastering Windows 7 Deployment (Sybex, 2011)
- Windows Server 2012 Hyper-V Installation And Configuration Guide.
In his blog, Aidan Finn goes beyond theoretical discussions, providing step-by-step instructions, real-world examples, and best practices. By breaking down intricate Azure concepts into easily digestible pieces, he empowers readers to implement Azure infrastructure solutions effectively. Some of his noteworthy blogs include:
Checking If Client Has Access To KeyVault With Private Endpoint
The Azure IaaS Book Of News – December 2022
Follow Aidan Finn on LinkedIn
3. Sarah Lean: Azure Cloud Advocate
Sarah Lean, an Azure Cloud Advocate at Microsoft, is a highly skilled expert in various aspects of Microsoft Azure. Her in-depth knowledge and passion for cloud technology have positioned her as a thought leader in the Azure community. She worked in IT for over 18 years, including service providers, local authority industries, and Scotch Whisky. She is profound in tech abilities like maintaining platforms, building infrastructures, and shifting end-of-life data centers and systems.
Moreover, Sarah’s expertise lies in Azure governance, security, and best practices. Her thought leadership shines through her ability to provide valuable insights on managing and securing Azure environments. She is also a domain expert for subjects like Microsoft Exchange, Patch Management, System Center Configuration Manager, etc.
Besides, her unique value lies in her commitment to helping organizations optimize their Azure deployments while adhering to best practices and compliance standards. Sarah showcases real-world examples and case studies, illustrating how Azure can drive business success. She is also awarded the Microsoft MVP Award for 2022, Lenovo, and GitKraken Ambassador.
Sarah shares her extensive knowledge through her blog, offering practical guidance and tutorials on a wide range of Azure topics. Her content, from Azure governance frameworks to security best practices and optimization techniques, is known for its clarity and accessibility. Some of her blogs are:
Using Azure Export for Terraform to import existing Azure resources into Terraform
SSH to a Linux server from Windows 11
Register and Manage Linux Servers with Azure Arc Tutorial (16%)
Follow Sarah Lean on LinkedIn
4. Richard Seroter: Cloud Expert
Richard Seroter is a highly respected Azure expert renowned for his deep understanding of cloud architecture and integration. With his extensive knowledge and experience, he has solidified his position as a thought leader in the Azure community. He is the Director of Developer Relations and Outbound Product Management at Google Cloud. He is also an educator, instructor, author of various software development and design books, and a 12-time former Microsoft MVP for the cloud.
Richard specializes in cloud architecture and integration within the Azure ecosystem. His thought leadership shines through his ability to provide invaluable insights into designing scalable and resilient cloud solutions using Azure services. He leads a group of Google Cloud developer advocates, platform builders, engineers, and outbound product managers and trains them to create compelling customer journeys to navigate the cloud infrastructure.
Richard Seroter generously shares his expertise through his insightful blog and offers practical guidance on various Azure-related topics. His blog covers multiple subjects, including Azure architecture best practices, integration patterns, and modern application development using Azure services. Richard’s content is widely praised for its technical depth and practicality, making it an indispensable resource for professionals striving to maximize the potential of Azure.
Follow Richard Seroter on LinkedIn
What sets Richard Seroter apart is his talent for connecting complex Azure concepts to real-world scenarios. He presents clear explanations, detailed examples, and architectural diagrams that empower readers to grasp the nuances of Azure architecture and integration.
5. Mark Russinovich: Azure Services and Windows Expert
Mark Russinovich is an esteemed expert in Microsoft Azure, renowned for his exceptional technical prowess and thought leadership. He is the Chief Technical Officer of Microsoft Azure and has solidified his position as a prominent figure in the Azure community.
Mark specializes in various domains of Azure, including cloud computing, operating systems, and cybersecurity. His thought leadership shines through his ability to provide profound insights and innovative solutions to complex Azure challenges. He has authored books like Microsoft Press Windows Internals book series and is a contributing author for well-known tech journals like TechNet Magazine and Windows IT Pro magazine.
What sets Mark Russinovich apart is his hands-on experience and practical approach. He consistently incorporates real-world scenarios, case studies, and best practices, empowering readers to implement practical solutions in their Azure environments. He is a popular speaker at industry conferences like Microsoft Ignite, RSA conferences, and Black Hat.
And, through his influential blog, Mark Russinovich shares his extensive knowledge with the Azure community. His blog covers various Azure topics, offering in-depth technical analysis, troubleshooting tips, and practical guidance on Azure services, infrastructure, and security. Mark’s content is highly regarded for its authoritative voice and meticulous attention to detail, serving as an invaluable resource for Azure professionals. Here are some of the blogs from his site:
Insights from the 2023 Open Confidential Computing Conference
Azure Confidential Computing on 4th Gen Intel Xeon Scalable Processors with Intel TDX
New Project Flash Update: Advancing Azure Virtual Machine availability monitoring
Follow Mark Russinovich on LinkedIn
6. Thomas W Shinder: Azure Security Expert
Thomas W Shinder is a highly respected Microsoft Azure expert known for his specialized knowledge and thought leadership. He is an MSC and ISA server MVP. With his extensive experience, he has established himself as a prominent figure in the Azure community.
Thomas excels in various Azure domains, including cloud security, network architecture, and infrastructure design. His thought leadership shines through his ability to provide deep insights into developing and implementing IP-based communication and security strategies for major firms such as Xerox, Lucent, and FINA. He is also known for his extended documentation in Microsoft’s ISA Server 2000, ISA Server 2004, and ISA Server 2006 solutions and in-depth knowledge of Azure security console and Key Vault.
Thomas W Shinder generously shares his wealth of knowledge through his influential blog. His blogs cover various Azure topics, offering in-depth analysis, best practices, and step-by-step tutorials on Azure security, network design, and infrastructure optimization. Thomas’s content is highly regarded for its technical expertise and real-world applicability, making it an invaluable resource for Azure professionals. Some of his blogs involve:
Security Series: Using PowerShell to Protect Your Private Cloud Infrastructure – Part 3
Security Series: Using PowerShell to Protect Your Private Cloud Infrastructure – Part 1
Security Series: Using PowerShell to Protect Your Private Cloud Infrastructure – Part 2
7. Charbel Nemnom: Microsoft Certified Trainer
Charbel Nemnom is a highly respected Microsoft Azure expert known for his specialized knowledge in IT platform solutions, project management, and Infrastructure. With his extensive experience and expertise, he has become a prominent figure in the Azure community, adept at recognizing business requirements and bridging the gap between tech and functional groups.
Charbel excels in various Azure domains, including cloud architecture, Infrastructure as code, and automation. His in-depth understanding shines through his firm hold on Azure domains like Microsoft technologies, System Center Management, Data Center Visualization, Cloud Computing, Data Protection, Security, monitoring tools, and a profound knowledge of tech reporting.
Speaking of his blogs, Charbel covers a wide range of Azure topics, offering detailed tutorials, best practices, and expert guidance on Azure architecture, DevOps, and automation. Charbel’s content is highly regarded for its technical depth and practicality, making it an invaluable resource for Azure professionals. Some of his blogs are:
5 Methods to Fix 0x8004010F error in the outlook
Cloud Ops: The Engineer’s Guide
5 Disciplines of the Cloud Governance
Step-by-step Windows LAPS with Microsoft
Follow Charbel Nemnom on LinkedIn
8. Nills Franssens: Azure DevOps Expert
Nills Franssens is a cloud solution architect at Microsoft Azure with seven years of expertise and specialized knowledge in cloud technology. He holds a deep understanding of cloud automation and Kubernetes and hands-on experience with cloud networking.
Nills also excels in various Azure domains, including cloud migration, hybrid cloud solutions, and Azure governance. While his specialty lies within Azure Infrastructure-as-a-Service, Platform-as-a-Service, and advanced networking, he is also adept at building solutions that best fit the features of both traditional Microsoft workloads and open-source tools like Puppet, Docker, and RedHat Openshift. Nills pioneers multiple app development and data projects.
Besides, his blogs cover various Azure topics, offering practical guidance, best practices, and real-world examples on cloud migration strategies, hybrid cloud architectures, and effective governance in Azure. Nills’ content is highly regarded for its technical depth and applicability, making it an invaluable resource for Azure professionals. He is famous for his book, Hands-on with Kubernetes on Azure. Some of his blogs are:
Creating Kubernetes clusters on Azure using cluster API
Setting up Kubernetes on Azure using Kubeadm
Using public IPs from a public IP prefix in Azure Kubernetes Service
Automatically turning on diagnostic settings using Azure Policy
Follow Nills Franssens on Twitter
9. Arnav Sharma: Microsoft Certified Trainer
Arnav, recognized as a Microsoft MVP in Security and a certified MCT, also proudly serves as a HashiCorp Ambassador. His expertise in Microsoft Azure shines through his blog, where he shares invaluable insights, tutorials, and updates on cloud security, Azure best practices, and HashiCorp solutions. His write-ups mostly cover the key areas, which include Azure DevOps, cloud security, cybersecurity, and cloud architecture, demonstrating a keen insight and expertise in these critical tech domains.
Recognized as both a Microsoft Certified Trainer and a Microsoft MVP in Security, he stands out in the tech community. Furthermore, his expertise is underscored by certifications in Azure, AWS, GCP, and other pivotal technologies.
With a rich background in cloud technologies, he excels in offering consulting services and devising bespoke solutions for an international clientele. He is also passionate about enabling businesses to tap into the vast potential of the cloud, Arnav’s dedication to this mission spans over a decade. Throughout his illustrious career, he has adeptly navigated businesses of various sizes through seamless cloud transitions and ensured the security of their digital workloads.
Here are some recent blogs for you:
Conclusion
This blog helps you get a foundational view of Microsoft Azure and get familiar with some Azure pioneers, experts, and top Microsoft Azure bloggers to follow in 2024. Suppose you wish to kickstart your journey as an Azure professional but don’t know where to start. In that case, blogs are the best way to keep abreast of trends and developments and understand the infrastructural nuances of the cloud platform.
Additionally, if you wish to learn more about Microsoft Azure or upskill in a particular Azure domain, the best thing after blogs are to go for Microsoft Azure training programs. Check out our Whizlabs training and certification courses for Azure. You will find innumerable study materials, video lectures, exclusive, cherry-picked resources, hands-on labs, and sandboxes to build your abilities in the field.
Want to learn more? Talk to our consultants today!
- AWS Security Specialists: Essential in Modern Cybersecurity - August 16, 2024
- Cloud Developer Tools Showdown: AWS vs Azure vs GCP - August 14, 2024
- Master AWS Lambda and API Gateway for Application Development - August 6, 2024
- Benefits of AWS Developer Associate Certification which Can Boost Your Career - July 24, 2024
- Preparation Guide on Datadog Fundamentals Certification - July 17, 2024
- What is DLP in Power Automate? - June 5, 2024
- Top Data Engineering Certifications in 2024 - May 30, 2024
- How Difficult is Google Cloud DevOps Engineer Certification? - May 29, 2024