In 1999, I left the only company I’d worked at since graduation. After 5 and a half years (plus a year or so during my degree), I moved on from ICL and followed a colleague to Capita, to be part of a new Microsoft practice. I still remember the conversation on the night before I started: “so, what’s it like to be unemployed, Mark?”. Leaving a place where I was comfortable and respected to start again elsewhere was a big deal for me so I wasn’t amused. Even more so as I’d taken out a mortgage on a house a year or so earlier.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I can’t remember the timings but it soon became clear that a recent re-organisation had changed the focus. The Microsoft practice was no longer a priority. My colleague left Capita soon afterwards. I remained, in a strange organisation, like a fish out of water. I made the most of it, built up my technical skills, and annoyed a few people by taking an outsourced client through the Technology Adoption Programme for Exchange Server 2000. (I was told that “our standard is Exchange 5.5. – you can’t just put in a new version”. Well, I did.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I stuck it out for 18 months before I left to travel and work in Australia. That was a shorter trip than originally intended (a different story, which involved returning to the UK to settle down with Mrs Wilson). The point is that I learned not to build my career around other people. If I moved jobs again, it would be for me (or in one case, redundancy).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
So why tell this story? Well, I’ve written on previous posts about my journey into my current team – and I feel like I’ve found a place that suits me and where I can make a difference. But June was an unsettling month as we prepared for a change of leadership for the Node4 Office of the CTO. It’ll all work out – but I won’t pretend I found it easy. And it reminded me that, however much respect I have for my outgoing CTO, there’s only one person responsible for where I take my career – and that’s me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Right, enough of the career history lesson. What did I get up to more recently?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Work highlights included:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I\u2019m taking a couple of days out to go back to my collaboration\/unified comms roots at @Commsverse<\/a>. Yesterday was brilliant first day, with lots of fascinating sessions and catching up with contacts I\u2019ve not seen in a while. Come and see me today if you\u2019re there too! #commsverse<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/rYtG1cyOmv<\/a><\/p>— Mark Wilson (@markwilsonit) June 27, 2024<\/a><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
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- I managed to get a couple of posts published on the Node4 site, even if my own blog has been a bit quiet:\n
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- <\/a>An updated approach to Virtual Desktop Infrastructure: Azure Virtual Desktop on Azure Stack HCI<\/a>. This one is all mine, written earlier this year, after Microsoft released Azure Virtual Desktop on Azure Stack HCI. This filled a gap in our End User Computing options for hosting applications, which means we’re no longer torn between complex and expensive server farms, or desktops running in the cloud \u2013 we can have the best of both worlds. It’s timely too, with the changes in the landscape that have affected VMware and Citrix VDI products in recent months. <\/li>\n\n\n\n
- <\/a>Unveiling the real treasure: moving beyond ERP to unleash (and protect) the power of data<\/a>. I wrote this last year with Gregg Mearing (in\/mearingg)<\/a> for TNP’s Ultimate Guide<\/a> but it wasn’t used. It’s still just as valid today, as we look at harnessing the power of the data in business systems, protecting it from ransomware, and getting ready to exploit it using AI. Lots to think about in there…<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- I also got my paws on this one, though only as an editor:<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Here's an article by my @Node4Ltd<\/a> colleague Mairead O'Connor about Hybrid Cloud. Read the post to learn why it's more about an evolving mindset, the fact that one size does not fit all, and a need to be pragmatic #Node4<\/a> #HybridCloud<\/a> #PragmaticCloud<\/a> https:\/\/t.co\/VPt9dzV8Dd<\/a><\/p>— Mark Wilson (@markwilsonit) July 3, 2024<\/a><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
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- A trip to the North East, to help a client define their future technology direction, including facilitating a workshop with around 15 of their team to identify the challenges that they face.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Preparing for the audit (and hopefully renewal) of Node4’s Azure Expert Microsoft Solution Provider competency in a few weeks’ time.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Time spent together as a team, planning the future for the Node4 OCTO.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
At home (the tech)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
CCTV<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
I’ve been looking to install some CCTV at home for a while. Whilst many would recommend I go down the Ubiquiti route (UniFi Protect), I decided to save some money, using Reolink cameras with my existing Synology NAS.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
So far I’ve installed an RLC-811A<\/a>, which was also my first foray into PoE-powered devices (with a UniFi PoE adapter). Despite the low price, it’s remarkably good camera, both day and night, with the added bonus that it’s supported by Home Assistant. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Latest addition to the home network. My goodness that was simple to set up. Fixing it to the house and running the PoE cable might be less so\u2026 time to go and borrow a ladder! ? #reolink<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/tWnQPPfdlv<\/a><\/p>— Mark Wilson (@markwilsonit) June 30, 2024<\/a><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
Correlation or causation?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Sadly, it wasn’t enough, but was it really just a co-incidence that, as I changed my addressable LEDs from blue to red and white, England scored a goal in the Euros final?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I changed the Man Cave lights to red and white and England scored!!! ??????? #EURO2024<\/a> #ESPvENG<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/kGGU0hq0He<\/a><\/p>— Mark Wilson (@markwilsonit) July 14, 2024<\/a><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
And some writing<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
One blog post that did make it out of the door:<\/p>\n\n\n\n