Network security is a serious business – literally and figuratively. But when all is said and done, everything’s safe and secure, you can find a moment to meet new, like-minded people who just so happen to share the same passion for technology as you. He may not feel like a hero, but he’s an Extreme Hero through and through. Let’s give it up to Yves Weyns from Orange Cyberdefense!
What is your dream job? Did you always know that you wanted to work as a Solutions Architect? And did you always want to operate in the Security field?
Since my grandfather was a farmer and I grew up around the farm there was always an itch for me. But then I got to play with my dad’s older computers and that was it – I was hooked from the start! During college we had all the different aspects of IT explained to us. I immediately pulled towards the network infrastructure side. During my internship I got a confirmation that this is something I want to do for my career. With Orange Cyberdefense I feel like that I have found my dream job.
Tell us something more about your professional journey and moving up the ranks in one of the Europe's leading go-to security services provider!
Well, the hospital where I did my internship was a customer of SecureLink at that time. During my internship I had my first experience with, at that time, Avaya networking equipment. SecureLink was the reseller for the hardware and I had some consultancy days at my disposal. When using up those consultancy days, I met some technical experts from SecureLink and was hooked on their knowledge. During the internship I stated that if I could ever work for a company like that, that would be a dream come true for me. And so it continued from getting to know some people during an internship towards a fulltime contract.
I spent the following 6 years as a technical consultant with multiple vendors, but most of my time went to Avaya which by then was acquired by Extreme Networks. Two years ago I moved towards the solution architect role within the company. That, at that time, was taken over by Orange Cyberdefense. So that’s how it all came to be.
Your job is to understand the business and business objectives of the customers and to know how to translate them into a functional and technical security architecture. And since you have a lot of technical and commercial knowledge, you’re a part of both “worlds”. Which component do you like the most? And why?
I really enjoy coming up with a new design based on the customers issues and needs. It really gives me joy to provide them with solution for a problem that sometimes they’ve been facing for many years. Sometimes the answer is not that straightforward and I really enjoy trying out different possibilities in the lab and continuing the discussion with our customers to get the best solution in a cost-effective way.
When you are implementing something that the customer has bought you get some satisfaction when it is implemented. However, when you come up with the solution together with them and can win a deal against the competition, now that feeling is priceless! Knowing that you truly helped the customer, solving a business need and releasing pressure on their IT team – it all gives me tremendous satisfaction.
If Yves Weyns could relay specifically three pieces of security advice to the businesses and organizations worldwide, what would they be? :)
Inventory, inventory, and inventory. :) It is too often that when I am with customers, the following questions cannot be answered precisely: “How many devices do you have connected?”, “Where are your devices connected?”, “What are the devices that are connected and who is connected to them?”.
These answers are crucial if you want to have a truly secure network. Security based on the location of a device is something that should be avoided nowadays. It worked in the past, sure, but these days we should focus on security by identity!
We suspect that Extreme Networks solutions come in handy with this task. :) Do you have any personal “go to” solutions that make your life easier?
The automated campus concept with the SPBM fabric behind it allows for true flexibility with customers. This is my go to solution when the customer wants connectivity.
The single pane of glass that XMC provides really accommodates the smaller IT teams that we are seeing in Belgium. They only need to know one GUI / platform, not a different one for every single piece of their network. Thirdly, the automation possibilities really allow you to integrate the other components with the Extreme Solution. Letting other components “talk” to each other and share information is something that is key in a secure network. If a human being needs to process input from the network and based upon that information needs to configure the security enforcement point, it will always be too late.
Combine Extreme Control (NAC engine) with your identity and access management and you can really trust that no one gets to the network without proper access.
When everything’s secure, everyone can breathe easily. What about your plans for this year’s summer? If there was no coronavirus whatsoever, and you had a holiday starting next week, where would you want to go?
Actually, I had no major plans. We waited out last winter in New Zealand, where me and my family went for a few sunny weeks. The main plan during this summer was attending some music festivals and concerts, but they all have been cancelled due to obvious reasons. I fully understand this decision in an attempt to stop the virus. Organizing a concert or festival with the precautions in mind is practically impossible.
Speaking of which… last May we were all supposed to meet in Warsaw for TechTalks 4.0, but we went online instead. Do you miss physical events? :)
When working with my direct colleagues, doing everything virtual is no big deal for me. I see them on a regular basis and therefore a video call is sufficient for the time being. However, on those events you are meeting people that you only see once in a year or even less. Connecting with them in a virtual way is never the same as meeting them in person.
Another important thing at those events are the dinners and drinks where you connect with people in a whole different way. The virtual meetings are focused on the knowledge transfer, but learning about the hobbies of other people can also help you connect with them. If you have something in common, share similar interests and passions, you will trade knowledge and experience more easily than if you had nothing in common except for your work.
What was your journey to the Extreme Hero program like? What made you want to join this club?
Pretty much the same as everyone that got interviewed before me. You are part of a group of people that all know what they are talking about. Sharing ideas and experiences. You can only learn so much from white papers, datasheets and presentations. Knowing the issues that some of us run into and learning about their solution is the key.
Do you feel like a hero sometimes? :)
Not really. :) I do, however, like that the network and connectivity part has received some more attention during the COVID-19 pandemic. The attention is raised that not only security is key, but flexibility in expanding and redundancy when one component fails still cannot be forgotten.
