Cybersecurity First Principles: Lessons from a 20-Year Microsoft MVP

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Cybersecurity First Principles: Lessons from a 20-Year Microsoft MVP

Your Complete Zero Trust Starter Kit - Actionable Steps for Identity Professionals

Merill Fernando

Jan 04, 2026

Nicolas Blank, Founder of NBConsult and a 20-year Microsoft MVP, joins the show to dismantle the complexity around Zero Trust.

Most Zero Trust conversations fail because they start with technology. Nicolas flips the script by using powerful everyday analogies (locking your car, protecting your newborn) to land the three core principles with executives.

Essential watching for anyone implementing Zero Trust, securing Microsoft 365/Entra ID, or needing leadership support in 2026.

Subscribe with your favorite podcast player or watch on YouTube 👇

About Nicholas Blank

Nicolas is the founder, as well an architect, author and speaker focused on Office 365 and Azure at NBConsult in South Africa, England and Hong Kong. Nicolas is a Microsoft Certified Master, Dual Microsoft MVP - Microsoft Office Apps and Services, Microsoft Azure since March 2007.

Nicolas has co-authored the Microsoft Zero Trust Adoption Framework https://aka.ms/zero-trust-adopt, published by Microsoft; “Microsoft Exchange Server 2013: Design, Deploy and Deliver an Enterprise Messaging Solution”, published by Sybex and available on Amazon; as well as authoring “Azure Site Recovery: IaaS Migration and Disaster Recovery”, published by Pluralsight.

Nicolas can be found on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicolasblank/

Or via his Company Website: https://www.nbconsult.co