Our MVPs & experts in the spotlight – Joery Van den Bosch

When Microsoft Intune comes up in Microsoft circles, you’re bound to hear the name “Joery Van den Bosch.” This Modern Workplace Architect from Arxus recently snagged the impressive title of Microsoft MVP. We caught up with him to pick his brain.

Microsoft Intune’s rapid rise

Just to clarify: Microsoft Intune is Microsoft’s Mobile Device Management (MDM) solution. This cloud platform first appeared in 2011. “Back then, it was really in its infancy,” Joery recalls. “The tool was pretty immature at first, so there didn’t seem to be much interest. But I was instantly hooked.”

Intune didn’t stay Microsoft’s underdog for long, though. When the COVID crisis hit, the cloud service took off. “The business world suddenly started setting up email on personal phones left and right, and nobody had a clue where all the data was,” Joery explains. “I’d just started working on an Intune project for Arxus, and I saw demand skyrocket.”

Giving back to the community

Joery quickly became the go-to guy for colleagues and clients. No surprise there – he’s been knee-deep in the Intune world for nearly 13 years. His blog is now packed with dozens of step-by-step guides and articles on the platform’s features and uses.

“Not everyone realizes how to squeeze the most out of Intune and nail down a working setup,” Joery explains. “I’ve made it my mission to help the community dodge common pitfalls. Plus, my blog’s a handy reference for me too. Intune knowledge online is pretty scattered, so it’s great to have a one-stop-shop when I’m helping clients.”

Microsoft’s definitely taken notice of Joery’s contributions. Besides the MVP title, he’s getting loads of attention and kudos. “At a conference in Seattle, the US Microsoft Intune director actually referenced one of my articles. That was a massive milestone for me,” he beams.

Thinking outside the box and into the future

Drop by Joery’s place, and you’ll see that Microsoft is more than just a job for him. It’s a calling that goes way beyond Intune.

“You’ll often spot me at events, not just in Intune sessions, but across the whole Microsoft 365 spectrum,” he says. “I don’t want to pigeonhole myself, so I keep my Microsoft knowledge broad. I’m also diving deeper into Microsoft 365 security, I’m an Administration Expert, and I’m always refreshing my certs.”

Joery prides himself on being ahead of the curve with Microsoft developments. “It’s constantly evolving, and you’ve got to stay on your toes to keep up,” he shares. “I’m super excited about what’s coming. Remember, as an MVP, I get to test drive next year’s releases today. And trust me, Microsoft’s got some seriously cool stuff in the pipeline!”