Blog Update: Reflecting on Our First 30 Days
A huge thank you to each and every one of you
A Personal Note
I'm truly humbled by the number of people who have joined me on this blog's journey. What began as a modest personal project has blossomed into something far beyond what I could have envisioned.
To everyone who has visited, shared, or connected with me—thank you. Your interest has transformed a simple blog into a resource that reaches security professionals across 84 countries. The response has been extraordinary, with my LinkedIn connections growing by 1000% in just the last 40 days. Whether you read every post or just drop by occasionally, you've helped create something truly meaningful, and I'm genuinely grateful for that.
Global Reach
What I am amazed by is how far this blog has reached. As of today, visitors from 84 countries across six continents regularly access these pages. The United States and United Kingdom lead (each with approximately 17%), followed closely by India at 11.2%). There is the diverse spread—from Australia (5.6%), the Netherlands (5%), and Canada (4.5%) to Thailand, Iceland, and Cyprus, reflecting a truly global interest in security topics.
The blog's audience spans broadly across Europe, with German (3.4%), Norwegian (2.4%), French (2.3%), and Italian (1.8%) visitors leading the continent's strong 25% share of our global audience. The Asia-Pacific region shows equally impressive diversity, stretching from Japan (1.2%) and Singapore (1.1%) to Vietnam, Malaysia, and New Zealand (1.2%). I find it remarkable to see this blog reach such unexpected places around the world—from Latvia and Mauritius to Kenya and Costa Rica. It shows that security challenges truly transcend borders, connecting professionals across continents who share similar concerns despite their different contexts.
Seeing this worldwide interest in security topics has been genuinely surprising and inspiring. It's clear that despite our different locations and work environments, we all share similar challenges when it comes to securing our digital environments.
Why I am Launching a Supporter Tier
Managing this blog has become a true passion, and watching it grow has opened up exciting new possibilities that I'm eager to explore. I am committed to always providing high-quality content, whether you're a supporter or not. Your support helps cover the running costs of maintaining this platform while enabling me to develop new functionality that benefits everyone. As the blog continues to grow, your contribution ensures I can keep the lights on and invest in improvements that enhance the experience for our entire community.
Whether you choose to become a supporter or continue enjoying the free content, please know how deeply I value your interest and time. The simple act of you visiting these pages means the world to me. As you can see from the growth chart below, this blog has expanded in ways I never imagined possible.
I'm genuinely excited about what's next for this blog and deeply grateful that you've chosen to be part of this journey.
What You'll Get as a Supporter
Early Access to New Content
As a supporter, you'll enjoy early access privileges, receiving our latest posts up to one week before they're available to the general public—ensuring you're always ahead of the curve with fresh content. You'll also gain access to occasional exclusive posts that will only be available to supporters. But don't worry if you're not a supporter, you'll still have access to the vast majority of content, just a little later.
Direct Email Delivery
Never miss a post again! Each new blog will be delivered straight to your inbox the moment it's published, ensuring you're always up to date with our latest content.
Exclusive Commenting Privileges
I value your voice! Supporters receive exclusive commenting privileges across all blog posts, allowing you to share your thoughts and ask questions.
Behind-the-Scenes Access
Curious about what's coming next? As a supporter, you'll gain exclusive access to a special request form where you can suggest topics and content ideas focused on Microsoft Security subjects. Want a deep dive into Defender for Endpoint? Curious about the latest Azure security features? You can help shape future content by submitting your requests directly. I'm still refining how this process will work, but I'm committed to creating content that addresses the Microsoft Security topics you care about most.
Sustain This Blog
Perhaps most importantly, your contribution directly supports the ongoing operation of this blog. From hosting costs to research tools, your support makes it possible for me to dedicate more time and resources to creating the content you enjoy.
Exclusive Stickers for Annual Supporters
Show your support in the real world! These custom blog stickers ship free to all UK and EU addresses when you become a supporter.
Sticker Postage Costs
For subscribers located further afield (outside UK and Europe), I kindly request a small donation to cover the postage costs:
I'll be visiting the United States from May 3rd-9th, 2025! For my US readers, this presents a special opportunity: sign up for an annual subscription before May 9th, and I'll mail your stickers directly while I'm stateside - no international shipping donation required. It's my way of saying thanks to my substantial American readership (17.4% of you!).
- North America: £4.00 donation suggested ($5.31 USD)
- Australia & New Zealand: £4.00 donation suggested ($5.31 USD)
- Asia: £4.00 donation suggested ($5.31 USD)
- Rest of World: £5.00 donation suggested ($6.64 USD)
A Promise Against "Enshittification"
My promise to you, is this blog won't fall victim to "Enshittification" or become a dystopian subscription nightmare like in Black Mirror's "Common People". While I'm introducing a supporter tier, this isn't the start of a slippery slope where basic features gradually disappear behind paywalls until you're paying premium prices for what used to be free. The core content will always remain accessible to everyone—I'm simply offering early access and a few extras for those who choose to support the blog's ongoing development. No algorithm manipulation, no data harvesting, and definitely no slow degradation of the free experience to force subscriptions. This is about sustainable growth, not extracting maximum profit at the expense of quality and accessibility.
Privacy-Focused and Ad-Free Experience
It's worth mentioning that this blog has always used privacy-focused analytics rather than invasive tracking tools like Google Analytics. The platform I use only collects anonymous usage data without cookies or personal identifiers, giving me just basic insights while respecting your privacy. This means I can see which countries visitors come from (hence the statistics shared earlier) and which posts are most popular, but without compromising your privacy. It's part of my commitment to maintaining an ethical, user-respecting approach.
Additionally, I've made a conscious decision to keep this blog completely ad-free. No banner ads, no sponsored posts, no affiliate links, and no pop-ups interrupting your reading experience. I believe security content should be accessible without the distraction of advertisements or the privacy concerns they often bring. Your support helps maintain this clean, focused experience while ensuring the blog remains sustainable without resorting to advertising.
How to Join
Becoming a supporter is simple and affordable.
Choose from two flexible options:
- Monthly Membership: Just £2 per month
- Annual Membership: £18 per year (includes free stickers with free shipping to UK & EU & 25% discount)
Prefer to Make a One-Time Contribution?
Not ready for a subscription? No problem! You can still support the blog with a one-time donation of any amount.
Every contribution, no matter how small, helps maintain and improve this space. Simply click the donation button below to contribute whatever amount feels right for you.
A Note to Security Enthusiasts
For those of you with a security mindset (which I imagine is most of you!): I want to clarify that this blog does not store or process any payment information. All financial transactions for supporter subscriptions are handled entirely through Stripe, a PCI-compliant payment processor. Your payment details never touch my servers or databases, ensuring your financial information remains secure. This implementation follows security best practices by delegating payment handling to specialists who focus exclusively on secure payment processing.
A Special Thank You to Our Early Adopters
Before wrapping up, I must take a moment to express my deepest gratitude to those of you who have already signed up for the Supporters Tier before I even had a chance to publish this announcement! Your enthusiasm and immediate support caught me completely off guard and truly surprised me.
To see people willing to support this blog before I'd even outlined the benefits speaks volumes about the amazing security community. Your early vote of confidence has been incredibly motivating.
For those early supporters: thank you for believing in this blog and its future. Your support means the world to me, and I'm committed to making your early investment worthwhile.