About Me

👋 Hi, I’m Maik van der Gaag – a technology leader, community builder, and passionate advocate for the Microsoft Cloud.

I’m currently the Chief Technology Officer (CTO) at 3fifty which is part of the Databalance group, where I help organizations succeed with modern cloud adoption and digital transformation. With more than 20 years of experience in architecture, software development, and DevOps, I specialize in bridging strategy with hands-on technology.

Over the years, I’ve been fortunate to work on a wide range of projects, from designing secure and scalable Azure environments to implementing Infrastructure as Code with Bicep and advancing DevOps practices.

Community & Recognition

• Microsoft Azure MVP – recognized for my ongoing contributions to the global tech community.
• Founder of Dutch Cloud Meetup – creating a space for cloud professionals to connect and share knowledge. Which was a compelling community group in the Netherlands that retired in 2024.
• Community Leader at the Azure Heroes community - A vibrant space for Azure enthusiasts to connect, share knowledge, and grow together!
• Public Speaker & Trainer – I regularly speak at international events, conferences, and user groups on various topics.

Sharing Knowledge

I believe knowledge should be shared, not kept. That’s why I founded Microsoft Playground in 2011 – a blog dedicated to Azure, DevOps, architecture, and hands-on guidance. I also contribute to open-source projects and publish reusable modules and extensions to help others build more effectively in the cloud.

A small set of my certifications: