MVP Insights: Alex Meyer Discusses Security and Permissions, Dynamics 365 Niche, Summit NA Sessions
Welcome to “MVP Insights,” a podcast that explores the universe, ideas, and opportunities of the brightest stars in the Microsoft business applications ecosystem.
In episode 16, John Siefer is joined by Alex Meyer, Principal Software Development Engineer, Delinea, Microsoft MVP. The two explore how Alex became an MVP and Alex offers details on the five sessions he’s participating in at Community Summit NA 2024. He also shares tips for the community.
This episode is sponsored by Community Summit North America, the largest independent gathering of the Microsoft Business Applications ecosystem, taking place Oct. 13-17, 2024, in San Antonio, Texas. Register today to connect with thousands of users across the Microsoft business applications ecosystem at the for user, by user event.
Key Takeaways
- MVP overview: The journey to becoming a Microsoft MVP was organic for Alex, starting with an area of interest in the ecosystem and expanding to sharing insights through a blog, podcasts, webinars, and conferences. His path was driven by a desire to fill a content gap in security, licensing, and audit compliance, and to ease the learning curve for others in the field. This niche, which was lacking in content, provided the opportunity to carve out a unique space and contribute significantly to the field.
- Data and compliance: In the Microsoft Business Applications world, data security and compliance must be maintained across multiple applications, as data generated in one application often travels through several others. Ensuring consistent security measures for data at each stage is complex but essential.
- Toughest project: The combining of Dynamics 365 Finance & Operations with the Power Platform is an ongoing challenge, requiring strategic decisions to future-proof solutions and avoid rework. It involves ensuring that developments align with Microsoft’s evolving direction and that client systems are prepared for easy upgrades, which is something Alex is finding to be common in his discussions with clients.
- Summit NA sessions: Alex will be taking part in 4 sessions at Community Summit NA 2024 and co-presenting one Academy class on October 13 with Peter Ramer. He shares details on his Academy class, “D365FO Administrator & Developer Overview,” which aims to provide an in-depth understanding of security and licensing within the Microsoft Dynamics ecosystem. Another session he’s co-presenting with André Arnaud de Cavalon, “Common D365FO Security Mistakes and How to Avoid Them,” focuses on setting up real-world security scenarios commonly encountered in the industry to demonstrate the ease of security missteps and provides strategies to address and prevent security and compliance issues.
- Tips for the community: In closing, Alex shares two tips for the community. In the world of technology, and specifically within the Finance & Operations environment, it’s important to remember that no one is alone in facing challenges. There are abundant resources available, such as MVP blogs, Microsoft Learn, and community forums to provide support. As it relates to Community Summit NA, networking is key at an event where engaging with presenters and building connections can greatly enhance the experience.
Stream the audio version of this episode here: