cloud computing

After a decade of loyal use, I explain why I’m finally migrating away from Dropbox due to growing concerns over data privacy, vague storage locations, and the lack of client-side encryption options. I share my journey in finding a suitable alternative that meets my requirements for EU-based storage, sufficient capacity, and reliable mobile accessibility.

If you are interested in learning about our new venture, I am thrilled to announce the official launch of North Advisors, a Helsinki-based consulting firm specializing in Microsoft Azure and Power Platform solutions. Founded by six partners, we are a bootstrapped, remote-first company dedicated to delivering high-value advisory services while prioritizing a sustainable, employee-centric culture over rapid expansion.

I examine the suspicious silence and widespread service disruption during Garmin’s recent outage, highlighting why the shutdown of communication channels suggests a potential ransomware attack rather than a simple technical failure. By analyzing reports of the WastedLocker malware alongside my own experience of uninterrupted local data storage, I discuss the likely emergency measures Garmin had to take to protect its infrastructure and user data.

Read on to see how I leveraged Azure Logic Apps to create a cost-effective, serverless prototype that tracks and resolves AKA.MS short links from Twitter. By automating the process of extracting, verifying, and storing these URLs in a database, I demonstrate a practical approach to rapid learning and data collection without significant overhead.

If you are struggling to transition from on-premises Active Directory to a fully cloud-only identity model, this post explores the challenges of migrating those identities without a massive, disruptive overhaul. I revisit my previous advice on retiring local AD by addressing the complexity of breaking the synchronization tie with Azure AD Connect, offering a gradual approach to moving users out of on-premises management and into native cloud identities.