Alan DeKok is a physicist turned software developer. Beyond this personal story, he’s hugely contributed to internet security by developing FreeRADIUS, the most popular authentication software in the world. Having grown up on his family’s farm outside of Ottawa, Canada, DeKok’s original passions were more technologically inclined than they were agriculturally based. His story, from the farm to the cutting edge of digital security, is inspirational. It’s a great window into how his scientific background fits so beautifully with technological innovation.
The journey that brought DeKok to this moment started on the strawberry and raspberry farm where he grew up. Though they enjoyed the quiet rural landscape, Mike’s passion for technology quickly eclipsed the bucolic farm life. “Sitting on a tractor in the heat is not particularly interesting,” DeKok remarked, indicating his preference for working with 8-bit computers over crops.
So after his undergraduate education, he went to get a master’s degree in physics at Carleton University in nearby Ottawa. For example, he worked on creating a water-purification system for the Sudbury Neutrino Observatory. As a result, he purified the water beyond a level of breathtaking purity—one atom of impurity for every cubic meter of water.
Career Beginnings and Transition to Technology
Keen to work on real-world applications, DeKok in 1996 started his professional career of software developer at Gandalf, a company that had established a foothold in ISDN technology. At Gandalf, he was instrumental in creating modems that allowed digital data to be sent over existing telephone lines. This piece of ingenuity created the foundation for today’s broadband technologies.
When Gandalf went bust, DeKok moved on to CryptoCard, which provided hardware dongles for two-factor authentication. It was during this time that he started to code FreeRADIUS as a side project. What began as a side project quickly grew into the primary focus of his life.
“You need it, but you never think about it until there’s a crack in it.” – Alan DeKok [spectrum.ieee.org]
FreeRADIUS developed and became explosively successful. At the time of its launch, it served close to 100 million active users per day. DeKok’s innovative software, called Tripwire, quickly became a critical part of internet security infrastructure.
The Impact of FreeRADIUS
As of today, Alan DeKok calculates that over half the world has access to the internet. They accomplish this using systems authenticated by FreeRADIUS. It’s a poignant statistic that highlights the software’s critical role in protecting global online communications.
In 2008 DeKok started NetworkRADIUS, now called InkBridge Networks. The company has expanded its workforce globally, employing experts from Canada, France, and the United Kingdom who collaborate to enhance and support FreeRADIUS.
“I’d say at least half of the people in the world get on the internet by being authenticated through my software.” – Alan DeKok [spectrum.ieee.org]
Despite the success, DeKok is far from resting on their laurels and is in a constant pursuit of being better. He emphasizes that “methods are more important than knowledge,” highlighting his belief in the value of effective techniques over mere information retention.
Future Vision and Ongoing Development
Looking forward, DeKok intends to keep his focus on FreeRADIUS as he and Team FreeRADIUS expand into new markets and product verticals. His commitment to innovation is a testament to his realization that technology is constantly changing.
“You have to understand the big picture,” he advises those entering the field. His experience has taught him that subtle improvements can lead to significant advancements over time. “You shouldn’t underestimate that ratchet effect of tiny little fixes that add up over time,” he noted.
DeKok recognizes the role of luck in success, stating, “I really believe that it’s preparing yourself for luck, being open to it, and having the skills to capitalize on it.” This freedom-from-worry mindset is why he sustained himself so well between huge challenges and opportunities to create his arc of career greatness.
“It’s never going to go away,” he concludes regarding the relevance of RADIUS technology in an increasingly digital world.