Redefining OS Selection

About the Authors

Ned Bellavance is an IT professional and technical educator with more than 20 years of experience in the field. He’s been a helpdesk operator, systems administrator, cloud architect, and product manager. Most recently, Ned runs Ned in the Cloud LLC where he develops courses, runs multiple podcasts, writes books, and creates original content for technology vendors. Ned has been a Microsoft MVP since 2017 and a HashiCorp Ambassador since 2020. He has three central pillars: embrace discomfort, plan to fail, and be kind.

Chris Hayner is a seasoned IT professional with decades of experience spanning operating systems, infrastructure, cloud computing, and cybersecurity. His career began in the datacenter, where he managed a diverse range of systems, from mainframes to AlphaServers to white-box x86 servers. From here, his scope expanded to include virtualization, cloud technologies, and overarching cyber­security and IT strategies. For the past 15 years, Chris has worked in the consulting realm, serving as a subject matter expert (SME), architect, and analyst. In these roles, he has helped hundreds of organizations bridge the gap between business objectives and IT solutions, driving innovation and operational success. In addition to holding a CISSP certification and numerous vendor and industry credentials, Chris earned an MBA from Temple University, equipping him with a unique blend of technical expertise and business acumen.