Tech Talk Tuesday: Faster Resolutions, Stronger Security with Remote Support

George Pradel is a highly experienced Sr. Solutions Engineer based in Denver, Colorado, with over 35 years of expertise in the IT industry. He obtained the CISSP certification in 2004, demonstrating his deep interest in security tools, which have now become commonplace. George's extensive experience in various fields, including Healthcare, Financial, Insurance, Manufacturing, Utilities, and Food Service, enables him to offer a practical approach in his presentations, making them relevant to attendees. George has presented at various prestigious events such as Citrix's first worldwide conference and was a featured presenter multiple times at VMWorld Europe and VMWorld US. He was also a sought-after speaker at VMUG's across the country, thanks to his ability to deliver information that attendees can immediately put into practice.

After graduating from NIU, George pursued a self-taught path in IT that has led him to work with prominent companies such as Citrix, VMWare, Vizioncore, Quest Software, Dell, Sauce Labs, and BeyondTrust. Notably, George was the 11th Systems Engineer globally for Citrix and was among the first 600 employees at VMWare, where he was recognized as SE of the year. Throughout his career, George has played pivotal roles ranging from an individual contributor to running teams of SEs globally and serving as a Sr. Director at Quest Software.

According to George, ignoring the realities of users when selecting and designing security solutions is not a viable option. His philosophy is rooted in the belief that effective security must take into account the needs and behaviors of users. To illustrate his point, George adopts a storytelling approach that resonates with everyone. He draws on his personal experiences, such as his early career as a 3rd level support engineer on the McDonald's helpdesk, to emphasize the importance of balancing technology with psychology when working with end users.

One lesser-known fact about George is that he began his career as a Video Producer/Director of Computer Instructional Videos. In this role, his primary task was to simplify complex technical concepts and communicate them effectively to viewers. This experience has greatly influenced George's unique approach to presenting and has enabled him to deliver information in a way that is both informative and easily understandable.