CISO Erdal Ozkaya honored as Microsoft Most Valuable Professional

CISO Erdal Ozkaya honored as Microsoft Most Valuable Professional

Erdal picks up Most Valuable Professional Award from Microsoft

Dubai, UAE, 19 April 2015: emt Distribution, the leading international value added distribution company in the ME region is pleased to announce that Erdal Ozkaya has been awarded as a Microsoft Most Valuable Professional (MVP).

The Microsoft MVP Award is an annual award that recognizes exceptional technology community leaders worldwide who actively share their high quality, real world expertise with users and Microsoft.

In a statement Microsoft stated, “All of us at Microsoft recognise and appreciate Erdal’s extraordinary contributions and want to take this opportunity to share our appreciation with you. MVPs are technology’s best and brightest, and we are honored to welcome Erdal as one of them.”

With fewer than 5,000 awardees worldwide, Microsoft MVPs represent a highly select group of experts. MVPs share a deep commitment to community and a willingness to help others. They represent the diversity of today’s technical communities. MVPs are present in over 90 countries, spanning more than 30 languages, and over 90 Microsoft technologies. MVPs share a passion for technology, a willingness to help others, and a commitment to community. These are the qualities that make MVPs exceptional community leaders. MVPs’ efforts enhance people’s lives and contribute to our industry’s success in many ways. By sharing their knowledge and experiences, and providing objective feedback, they help people solve problems and discover new capabilities every day.

 

To see my MVP Profile at Microsoft :

https://mvp.microsoft.com/en-us/PublicProfile/4025081 

Awarded as Microsoft MVP 7th time

https://www.erdalozkaya.com/awarded-as-mvp-7th-time/

Erdal MVP Reconnect Medal

https://www.erdalozkaya.com/mvp-reconnect-medal/

In summary I am happy to be Awarded as Microsoft Most Valuable Professional 2021 again

CISO definition

The chief information security officer (CISO) is the executive responsible for an organization’s information and data security. While in the past the role has been rather narrowly defined along those lines, these days the title is often used interchangeably with CSO and VP of security, indicating a more expansive role in the organization.

Not every company has a top-level security executive: According to IDG’s 2020 Security Priorities Study, 61% of surveyed companies do, though that rate goes up to 80% for large enterprises. But in companies that employ such an executive, they play an important role: the same study found that companies without a CISO or CSO were more likely to say their employee security training was inadequate and their security strategy was insufficiently proactive than those who had such officers.

Ambitious security pros looking to climb the corporate latter may have a CISO position in their sights. Let’s take a look at what you can do to improve your chances of snagging a that job, and what your duties will entail if you land this critical role. And if you’re looking to add a CISO to your organization’s roster, perhaps for the first time, you’ll want to read on as well.

T0 read the article at CSO :

The Microsoft Security Ecosystem: A CISO Perspective

Microsoft security now encompasses identity management (Entra ID), cloud security (Defender for Cloud), SIEM and SOAR (Sentinel), endpoint detection and response (Defender for Endpoint), email security (Defender for Office 365), and DLP across the entire Microsoft 365 ecosystem. For organisations with significant Microsoft investments, this integrated approach provides visibility and control that would require multiple third-party vendors to replicate. The strategic advantage is integration — when identity, endpoint, email, and cloud security share a common data model, correlation and automated response become dramatically simpler.

Practical Considerations for Security Leaders

While the Microsoft stack offers compelling integration, CISOs should evaluate rigorously. Key considerations include licensing complexity (features distributed across E3, E5, and add-ons), need for Microsoft-skilled personnel, vendor concentration risk, and coverage gaps for non-Microsoft platforms. The most effective approach is often Microsoft-first supplemented by specialist tools where capabilities are less mature. Independent evaluations like MITRE ATT&CK assessments provide objective benchmarks.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Microsoft security stack sufficient standalone?

For predominantly Microsoft environments with E5, the native stack covers most enterprise requirements. Organisations with significant non-Microsoft infrastructure may need supplementary solutions. Evaluate against your specific threat model.

What Microsoft licence provides comprehensive security?

Microsoft 365 E5 provides Defender for Endpoint P2, Defender for Office 365 P2, Entra ID P2, and Sentinel entitlements. E3 includes basic features. Many start with E3 and add components based on priorities.

Related reading: Visit our Zero Trust Hub or download the CISO Toolkit.