Are you passionate about Microsoft Security products and services? Do you love sharing your knowledge and expertise with the community? Do you want to be recognized as a leader and an influencer in your field od Microsoft Security? If you answered yes to these questions, then you might be interested in becoming a Microsoft Security MVP.

I often get asked how people can become a Microsoft MVP, in this blog post I am sharing my experience, how you can become a Microsoft Security MVP.

On 1st March 2024 in 09.00 AM I received amazing email from MVP Award Team:

I was very proud and beyond excited to tell my family, colleagues and friends about this, what felt like an amazing achievement. After reading the email multiple times to be sure I wasn’t dreaming

📢Exciting News! I’m honoured to share I’m now a Microsoft Security MVP in two categories:
– Cloud Security and
– SIEM & XDR! 📣

I’m happy to reveal that I’ve received the esteemed Microsoft Most Valuable Professional (MVP) award! 🏆 I’m very thankful and joyful to share this accomplishment with all my contacts.

How do you actually become a Microsoft Security MVP? It’s a simple 3-step process.

You need to be nominated for the award by another Microsoft MVP (or Microsoft Employee), so the first step is for the community to notice your contributions.
After nomination, you’ll receive an email that you have been nominated for the award.

Microsoft asks you to fill in a form with questions and submit your contributions to the community from the previous 12 months.

After submission, the Microsoft MVP committee will decide if your efforts made enough impact in the community to earn you the MVP award and title. You’ll receive the result between 3-6 months; in my case, this took a longer more than 9 months.

Here is the list of currently available activities.

User Group owner-Azure Serbia meeting group:
https://www.meetup.com/microsoft-azure-serbia-meetup-group/
Azure User Group Serbia:
https://www.linkedin.com/groups/9360974/
Azure Serbia Cloud Community blog:
https://uros-babic.cloud/
Github repo:
https://github.com/uros-babic
YouTube Channel:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCTIgOB-nbXAqOMkn4YIQCzA/videos

Types of contributions

• Forum and online communities
• Blogging
• Podcasts/Webcasts/Videos
• Social Media activities: Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, etc.
• User Groups/Meetups
• Serves as a moderator
• Invites new members and socialize with user group meetings.
• Authoring/publishing E-books / Books
• Publication interviews – online and offline magazines
• Provide feedback to Microsoft product
• Keynote speakers on Microsoft and third-party conferences, etc.

The Security Award Category recognizes individuals who excel in these Technology Areas by sharing their knowledge, guiding the community in best practices, and providing invaluable feedback to enhance Microsoft’s security offerings.

Their contributions not only safeguard Microsoft products
and services but also elevate the broader cybersecurity community by championing best practices, sharing insights, and driving innovation:

MVP desired characteristics

• Advanced Expertise: Have deep knowledge and expertise in cybersecurity, encompassing Microsoft’s security offerings and the broader security landscape.
• Influence and Impact:
  Microsoft’s customers, partners, and technical communities to shape perceptions and drive the adoption of security products.
• Collaborative Mindset: Actively engage with Microsoft’s security product groups, providing valuable feedback and collaborating on the development of security solutions.
• Community Building: Dedicated to fostering a vibrant cybersecurity community by exchanging knowledge, and helping others succeed in securing their digital environments.
• Advocacy and Sharing: Generously share insights with the broader community through various channels such as speaking engagements, written articles, webinars, and advocacy.
• Problem Solvers: identifying and addressing security challenges. Can spot issues within existing security solutions while providing valuable insight and feedback for future enhancements.
• Education and Training: Organizing workshops, webinars, and training security awareness sessions designed to enlighten others with effective strategies for enhancing cybersecurity and promoting secure practices.
• Inclusivity and Collaboration: Actively engage with diverse communities and promote cooperation in addressing security challenges.
• Passion for Cybersecurity: Driving their commitment to continuously learn and stay updated with the latest security trends and threats.
• Leadership and Mentorship: Mentor and guide others in the cybersecurity community, helping them build their skills and expertise.
• Continuous Learning: Committed to lifelong learning, recognizing that cybersecurity is an ever-evolving field.
• Communication Skills: Excel in communication, effectively conveying complex security concepts to both technical and non-technical audiences

Becoming a Microsoft MVP is not easy, but it’s an exciting journey. There are five simple steps that you need to follow (recommended by Thomas Maurer https://www.thomasmaurer.ch/2023/04/how-to-become-a-microsoft-mvp/)

1. Be an expert. You need to have a high level of technical expertise and experience in one or more Microsoft products or services, or related open-source technologies. You need to demonstrate your skills and knowledge through various online and offline activities, such as blogging, speaking, answering questions, creating content, organizing events, etc. You need to keep yourself updated with the latest trends and developments in your field of interest.
2. Be a leader. You need to show leadership and influence in your technical community. You need to facilitate the sharing of knowledge and best practices with others, promote inclusive and diverse activities, and advance social good and positive impact. You need to generate awareness and adoption of Microsoft products and services through authentic connections and engagement. You need to collaborate with other community leaders and Microsoft teams to support the growth and success of the community.
3. Be an advocate. You need to use your technical expertise and influence to advocate for the community and for Microsoft products and services. You need to provide constructive feedback and suggestions to Microsoft teams through official channels, such as GitHub, Tech Community, etc., or work on open-source extensions within the ecosystem. You need to help improve the quality and usability of Microsoft products and services based on your insights and experience.
4. Be consistent. One of the things I have seen is that people are highly motivated and creating and delivering content. However, after a couple of months they stop doing the work. Becoming a Microsoft MVP is not a sprint, it is a marathon, so make sure you keep doing the work consistently. Even if you don’t get awarded or you might need multiple applications, keep on doing the work. I think in my opinion, don’t just do the work to get the award, to the work to help others.
5. Be helpful and share. One thing all MVPs have in common is that they love to help others. The goal needs to be helping others by creating solutions and helping them out. Make sure you share the great content and work of yourself and others to get the visibility you deserve for your work. Collaborate with others on projects and get different perspectives.

This wouldn’t have been possible without the encouragement of my mentors Jiadong Chen, motivations and support amazing people in MVP community Martin Tatar,Vukasin Terzic, Martin Dimovski, Dwayne Natwick, CRISC, CISSP, CCSP, CGRC, CSSLP, MVP, Jonah Andersson, Fabian Bader,Dr. Nestori Syynimaa, Sathish Veerapandian, Rod Trent, Thomas Maurer, ☁️ Gregor Suttie – Azure MVP, Morten Waltorp Knudsen [MVP], Thomas Thornton, Tiago Costa , Thomas Naunheim, Sasha (Sasa) Kranjac, Dr Milan Milanović, Milan Jovanović, Aleksandar Grasic and many others.

I almost forgot to mention that you’ll receive the MVP Award Crystal Kit:

I received amazing badge from Microsoft MVP Program and Cradly:

The Microsoft MVP Program recognizes outstanding members of technical communities for their community participation and willingness to help others. Above all else, it is a people-powered program, made up of individuals whose passionate commitment to innovation has made its dynamic growth possible. This award is for the Award Category Security.

and MVP certificate:

After I signed an NDA with Microsoft, I got some benefits:

• Azure credit 1000 usd/monthly
• GitHub Pro and Copilot
• Linkedin premium: The 12-month subscription
• Microsoft Office 365 Enterprise subscription for Microsoft MVPs
• Microsoft 365 Copilot
• MCP exam voucher
• Visual Studio Enterprise, etc.

As a Microsoft Security MVP, I am eager to continue contributing to the tech community, sharing insights, knowledge and learning together. Here’s to the future of innovation and knowledge-sharing!

I am an active member and contributor to the Microsoft Azure private community. I enjoy learning new technologies, solving complex challenges, and collaborating with other experts in order to share knowledge and experience with passion through Microsoft community.

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

Becoming a Microsoft MVP is a rewarding journey that requires passion, dedication, and hard work. But it is also a fun and fulfilling experience that allows you to connect with other amazing people, learn new things, and make a difference in the world.

Thank you my family, Microsoft Community, Crayon team and thank you all for being a part of this exciting chapter in my professional journey.

Finally I am onboarded on MVP portal:

Let’s keep inspiring and empowering each others.

Microsoft Security aspires to make the world a safer place for all.