TechEd-IT Forum : Day 3 (Mini Update)

On my way to "DAT01 - SQL Server Upgrade Best Practices, Tips, and Tricks" last night I walked passed a huge room crammed with people and pumping with techno music. This of course immediately drew my attention so I looked at what was being presented.

The session was "SEC307 - It's 11:00 PM. Do You Know Where Your Data Is?" and it was being presented by Steve Riley. Steve is a senior strategist and worldwide security evangelist in Microsoft's Trustworthy Computing Group and is also one of the judges for this years IT Forum Speaker Idol. Steve is renowned for doing things different and being very entertaining; so I decided to see what he was like (sorry Paul and Kimberly).

Well, I now know what all the fuss about Steve is. His session was unbelievable and by far the best session I have ever attended at any event. This guy is awesome! He's funny, entertaining, whity and not to mention knowledgeable. He kept me on the edge of my seat for the full 75 minutes and all for a topic that I have never really paid much attention too in the past (EFS, Bitlocker and data security).

As you can see from the picture, Steve is also a bit of a trendsetter which helps him connect with his audience. Gone are the black pants, shinny shoes and tucked in shirts that 99% of presenters wear; they've been replaced with cargo pants, deck shoes, and unbuttoned and untucked shirts. He's not afraid to be different and this definitely came through in his presentation.

So, now I'm faced with the dilemma that everyone has been telling me about since I've been here. Once you've been to one of his sessions you can't get enough. He's like a drug and even if he's presenting a session that's not on your radar, you find yourself drawn to him just to see whether his next session is going to be just as awesome!