Alan DeKok is a key leader in the evolution of the security of the internet. He was the sole author of FreeRADIUS for almost thirty years. His entry into the field of remote authentication was “almost by happenstance,” but his influence is nothing short of groundbreaking. Today, about half the world’s population relies on DeKok’s software to get online. His work ensures those connections, and it reveals the audacious combination of luck, skill, and innovation that has undergirded his career.
DeKok’s complicated relationship with technology began in a nontraditional classroom. He spent his early life on a farm outside Ottawa, where he grew strawberries and raspberries. Today, he navigates the complexities of digital security with the same meticulous attention to detail he once applied to farming. DeKok prides himself on the small, deliberate changes he’s made over the years. This strategy has helped guarantee that FreeRADIUS not only stays relevant, but more importantly, very effective.
A Journey Fueled by Curiosity and Chance
Alan DeKok’s tech journey began from a very different background as a physicist. His training instilled him with different ways of approaching problems. Today, he has the talent to deconstruct complicated problems into digestible pieces. Reflecting on his transition from physics to software development, he noted, “When I was eventually working in the industry, the techniques that came naturally to me, coming out of physics, didn’t seem to be taught as well to the people I knew in engineering.”
In 1996 he started his professional career as a software engineer at Gandalf. The company’s legacy ISDN equipment laid the groundwork for today’s broadband technology. This position was the launching point for his strong commitment to network safety. Afterwards, he worked at CryptoCard, a company focused on hardware two-factor authentication devices. All of these experiences led DeKok, in his spare time, to create FreeRADIUS. He remembers, “It just completely consumed my life.”
His bold move to launch NetworkRADIUS—in 2008, now called InkBridge Networks—helped lock in his position as a tech trailblazer. DeKok’s early work included building a water-purification system for the Sudbury Neutrino Observatory. He produced an incredible purity quality, provoking only one atom of impurity for each cubic meter of distilled water. This obsession with minutiae would go on to be a signature of his later successes in software.
The Unsung Importance of FreeRADIUS
These days, FreeRADIUS works as an infrastructure to the internet authentication – in use by around 100 million users every day. DeKok estimates that “at least half of the people in the world get on the internet by being authenticated through my software.” He underscores the importance of this technology, stating, “You need it, but you never think about it until there’s a crack in it.”
DeKok’s philosophy is one of building gradually on small successes. What he calls the “ratchet effect.” He emphasizes that “you shouldn’t underestimate that ratchet effect of tiny little fixes that add up over time.” By constantly making improvements to FreeRADIUS, he has made it a solution meant to last in a world where technology changes faster than anyone can predict.
The secret to FreeRADIUS’ success isn’t just in technical excellence — it’s in thinking bigger. As DeKok describes it, “You need to have that overall picture. His insights into the intersection of technology and user experience have contributed to making FreeRADIUS a trusted solution for authentication across various platforms.
Preparing for Luck and Seizing Opportunities
Fate, or luck, has certainly contributed to DeKok’s unexpected career path. He is a firm believer that success is achieved by being prepared to take advantage of opportunities when they present themselves. “I really believe that it’s preparing yourself for luck, being open to it, and having the skills to capitalize on it,” he states. This optimistic attitude has been crucial in helping him trip over great challenges and stumble into surprise assets.
Despite his achievements, DeKok remains grounded. He reflects on simpler times spent on his family farm: “Sitting on a tractor in the heat is not particularly interesting.” Each of those experiences contributed to his work ethic and problem-solving abilities.
Besides technical skills, DeKok wants methodology, not just knowledge. He asserts that “methods are more important than knowledge,” underscoring that systematic approaches can lead to innovative solutions in technology development.