Alan DeKok, a physicist-turned-software developer, has been at the center of making the internet accessible for millions around the world. In fact, he figures at least 50 percent of people on the planet access the internet thanks to his software, FreeRADIUS. Unknown to many, Michael created this mammoth project in his spare time almost three decades ago. It has since gone on to outstrip his wildest dreams and become the bedrock of web security.
DeKok’s path into the world of software began at Carleton University, where he studied physics. There, he developed a rare ability to understand and break down even the toughest problems in a logical manner. At Canada’s Sudbury Neutrino Observatory, he created a custom water-purification system that took the word purity to new heights. This experience helped hone his artistic yet highly skilled problem-solving approach. DeKok had grown up on a farm outside of Ottawa, where his family had raised strawberries and raspberries. Yet his real love was technology.
From Physics to Software Development
Alan DeKok got his start at earning a master’s degree in physics. It was his fascination with technology that soon married him to the 8-bit revolution and divorced him from the farm. In 1996, he secured a position as a software developer at Gandalf, a company producing equipment for ISDN technology, which was a precursor to broadband. Gandalf’s demise came soon after, driving DeKok to join CryptoCard to develop two-factor authentication hardware devices.
In 2008, he moved even further out of that comfort zone, and into the world of entrepreneurship, by founding NetworkRADIUS, today called InkBridge Networks. His long-term commitment to FreeRADIUS started in the same era that he first became a full-time developer. And, as he puts it, eventually “eating my life.” FreeRADIUS’s rise to fame was fast, and it now serves close to 100 million people per day.
DeKok’s academic training would serve him well in his future career as a software developer. He said the biggest problem he ran into in engineering was that most engineers didn’t have those systematic problem-solving techniques I learned in physics. “When I was eventually working in the industry, the techniques that came naturally to me didn’t seem to be taught as well to the people I knew in engineering,” he explained.
The Impact of FreeRADIUS
FreeRADIUS has revolutionized internet authentication, empowering secure access to the vibrant digital community for billions of users on every continent and device. DeKok estimates that “at least half of the people in the world get on the internet by being authenticated through my software.” His new approaches have made him one of the world’s leading experts on authentication from a distance. He tongue-in-cheek asserts that he received this distinction “almost by accident.”
He emphasizes the importance of the foundational work behind such technologies. “You need it, but you never think about it until there’s a crack in it.” His reflections on security remind us that essential systems are often invisible until they break down. DeKok attributes much of his success to what he describes as the “ratchet effect.” The cumulative impact of small improvements over time is significant. “You shouldn’t underestimate that ratchet effect of tiny little fixes that add up over time,” he said.
Perhaps due to this initial success, DeKok’s company today has experts on staff from Canada, France, and the United Kingdom who work together to support FreeRADIUS. Their combined experience is what keeps the software dependable and secure, all while pushing into new markets and product lines.
Looking Ahead
Alan DeKok is steering FreeRADIUS boldly into the future. He has faith that it will stay key and come to life amid our changing digital world. “People ask me, ‘What’s next for RADIUS?’ I don’t see it dying,” he stated confidently. His dedication to innovation fuels an ever-present competition within him to find new areas of growth and improvement.
In his eyes, taking advantage of success is more than luck, it’s preparation and being ready. “I really believe that it’s preparing yourself for luck, being open to it, and having the skills to capitalize on it,” DeKok remarked. He looks at luck as an underlying factor in his career, crediting his success to a combination of hard work and fortunate circumstances.
With almost thirty years in the field as a tech ninja, Alan DeKok is still committed to making the internet more secure with FreeRADIUS. He understands that maintaining perspective is crucial for progress: “You have to understand the big picture.” A natural problem solver and maker, DeKok looks forward to more challenges and creations. His journey is a testament to the power of curiosity and grit to propel world-changing ideas.