Welcome to my technology blog. My name is Steve Buchanan I’m from the Twin Cities and I’ve been in Information Technology for 20 + years. My journey began back in high school, when I landed a role building computers, configuring servers, and working on networks for a small computer company. My interest in tech grew from there leading to me holding various roles throughout my career from internal IT, consulting (Avanade / Accenture), and product at big tech (Microsoft as a Principal PM Manager). Today, I lead a Cloud Engineering team responsible for Azure, Kubernetes, and Cloud Native technologies that power SaaS used by thousands of customers worldwide. In addition I am a book author x9, a Pluralsight Author x29, O’Reilly Author, a speaker, a Docker Captain, and a former 10-year Microsoft MVP.
I consider myself a cloud native enthusiast and technology generalist who enjoys architecting solutions that solve problems. I have an Associate in Applied Science degree as a Network Support Specialist and a Bachelor of Science degree in Information Technology. I hold the following certifications: A +, Linux +, MCP, MCSA, MCITP: Server Administrator, MCSE: Private Cloud, MCTS, ITIL Foundation, MPP: DevOps, 70-535 Architecting Azure Solutions, AZ-400 DevOps Expert, AWS Cloud Practitioner, Docker Certified Associate, and GitOps Fundamentals. I was honored with the Tekne Exceptional Technology Leadership Award in 2024. I have been featured in several publications including the Star Tribune (the 5th largest newspaper in the US) & Dice.com Insights. I also have presented at technical conferences including Microsoft Ignite, O’Reilly Open Source Convention (OSCON), DevOps Days, BITCon, Experts Live Europe, Open Source North, Inside Azure management, and Midwest Management Summit (MMS).
On this blog site, you will find my thoughts, ideas, and tip’s about technology. In my current role, I work mainly with Cloud Native technologies, Kubernetes, AI, and Microsoft products. The Microsoft technologies I work with the most are Azure, AKS, GitHub, Log Analytics, Bicep, PowerShell, ARM, Bicep, Automation, and Azure DevOps. I also work with many Open-Source technologies such as Linux, Docker, Containers, Kubernetes, Apache, Drupal, WordPress, MySQL, Terraform, JavaScript, PHP, and Python. On my blog, you will find a mix of posts around Open-Source, AI, and Microsoft technologies.
If you have questions about my blog, are interested in having me speak at a conference, interview me on your podcast, or write for your publication feel free to contact me on Twitter or on Mastodon.
Other places you can catch me blogging / producing content:
- “DevSecOps in Kubernetes” post on the Microsoft Open Source blog: https://cloudblogs.microsoft.com/opensource/2019/07/22/devsecops-in-kubernetes
- 4sysops: https://4sysops.com/members/steve-buchanan
- MSDN Profile: https://social.msdn.microsoft.com/Profile/Buchatech
- TechNet Profile: https://social.technet.microsoft.com/profile/buchatech
- Microsoft Channel 9: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/events/speakers/steve-buchanan
- “What is Kubernetes, and why is its popularity exploding in the cloud?” post on the Microsoft UK blog: https://cloudblogs.microsoft.com/industry-blog/en-gb/technetuk/2020/09/17/why-is-kubernetes-exploding-in-the-cloud/
- Steve on Microsoft Azure Friday: Containerize and deploy your app with automated deployments for AKS – https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/shows/azure-friday/containerize-and-deploy-your-app-with-automated-deployments-for-aks
- Steve on Microsoft Azure Friday: Safeguard your containerized workloads using AKS backup – https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/shows/azure-friday/safeguard-your-containerized-workloads-using-aks-backup
User Groups I am/have been involved in:
- Minnesota Azure User Group: http://www.mnazureusergroup.com
- Minnesota System Center User Group: http://www.mnscug.org/blogs/steve-buchanan
Docker Captain Profile:
MVP Profile:
Amazon Author Page:
O’Reilly Author Page:
Pluralsight Author Page:
Acclaim Page:
Sessionize Profile:
Places I have been featured:
- Interview on Star Tribune – Twin Cities ‘technologist’ sees expanding future for young minorities in IT
https://m.startribune.com/twin-cities-technologist-steve-buchanan-sees-a-more-inclusive-expanding-future-for-young-minorities/600019839 - Featured my commentary on starting out in DevOps, Cloud, & getting DevOps Certifications in a Dice.com Insights article
https://insights.dice.com/2022/09/20/devops-certifications-what-to-know-about-earning-them - Blacks In Technology BIT Tech Talk podcast ep. #127 Steve Buchanan – PC Tech to Microsoft MVP
https://www.blacksintechnology.net/bittechtalk-ep-127-steve-buchanan-pc-tech-to-microsoft-mvp/ - Featured on Lisa at the Edge podcast EP13 “Career Development, Containers 101 and Diversity in Tech”
https://anchor.fm/lisaattheedge/episodes/EP13—Career-Development–Containers-101-and-Diversity-in-Tech-with-Steve-Buchanan-efnjrp - Featured on Tech.MN podcast EP16 “Something in the Water”
https://tech.mn/news/2019/12/17/the-tech-mn-podcast-something-in-the-water-with-steve-buchanan/ - Featured on CloudSkills.fm podcast “Managing Your Cloud Career”
https://cloudskills.fm/015 - Day Two Cloud” podcast episode 033 with Ned Bellavance titled “Cloud Governance – Bringing Order To Your Cloud Chaos
https://packetpushers.net/podcast/day-two-cloud-033-cloud-governance-bringing-order-to-your-cloud-chaos - #WomenInLinux Podcast: Steve Buchanan – Technical Author
Womeninlinux Podcast Buchatech Episode Link - AnexiPod: Episode 28 Azure Stack MVP Roundtable
AnexiPod: Episode 28 Azure Stack MVP Roundtable - Interview on AzureCrazy.com
https://azurecrazy.com/steve-buchanan-interview/ - Avanade.com Q&A Spotlight: Steve Buchanan, Microsoft MVP and Author
https://www.avanade.com/en/blogs/inside-avanade/employee-stories/q-and-a-with-steve-buchanan - Interview on Tech.mn: Blacks in Technology Conference (BITcon 2019) Kicks Off Today
https://tech.mn/news/2019/10/09/blacks-in-technology-conference-bitcon-kicks-off-today - Betting on Azure Stack: Why it can be a game changer
http://techgenix.com/interview-betting-on-azure-stack - Cherwell’s 25 IT Service Management Experts to Watch in 2017
https://www.cherwell.com/library/blog/25-it-service-management-experts-to-watch-in-2017 - Featured on Mary Jo Foley‘s IT Unity Community column (petri.com)
https://www.petri.com/community-champs/steve-buchanan
NOTE: The views and opinions on this blog site are my own and are not that of my employer.
