May 14th, 2026 @5:30 PM – Microsoft’s Bob Peters and Michael Williams – From Standards to Strategy: Post‑Quantum Migration Playbook for Security Leaders

Register:
This is a Hybrid meeting. A dinner meal will be served (Meal menu &pizza). REGISTER HERE for IN PERSON & ONLINE via MS Teams. Location: Microsoft Reston 11955 Freedom Dr., Reston, VA 20190
Location: Floor 2, Rooms 2.2C, 2.2D. Free garage parking directly across from location. Metro Station Accessible. In-person registration closes on Tuesday, May 12, 2026. Registrations received on May13 and May 14, 2026 will be restricted to online participation via Microsoft Teams. No in-person attendance options will be available after May 12, 2026.

Abstract:
Cryptography is deeply embedded across Azure Storage, spanning customer‑facing services and internal platform architecture. As quantum computing advances, widely used encryption methods will eventually become vulnerable, putting the confidentiality and integrity of long‑lived customer data at risk. To remain secure, compliant with government requirements such as CNSA 2.0, and competitive in the market, Azure Storage must adopt post‑quantum cryptography (PQC) as part of a deliberate transition. This talk connects that challenge to practical leadership considerations, explaining how organizations can understand where encryption is used, prioritize critical data and systems, and plan a phased, low‑disruption migration toward post‑quantum readiness.

Speaker Bios:
Bob Peters is a Senior Service Engineer on the Microsoft Azure Storage team who focuses on security strategy, risk reduction, and operational readiness for large‑scale cloud platforms. He works closely with engineering, security, and leadership teams across commercial and sovereign cloud environments to translate emerging security standards into clear priorities and executable plans. Bob regularly leads cross‑functional efforts involving encryption governance, compliance alignment, and long‑term resilience for highly regulated systems. His current work emphasizes preparing organizations for next‑generation cryptographic risk—helping leadership teams understand where change is required, how to sequence it responsibly, and how to build the agility needed to adapt as standards and threats evolve.

Michael Williams is a Senior Software Engineer on the Microsoft Azure Storage team with six years of experience supporting and securing cloud‑scale storage services. He works across multiple commercial Azure products and Azure Government cloud environments, with a strong focus on security, encryption, and compliance in large distributed systems. He previously led development of the SFTP for Azure Blob Storage offering, including its encryption and transport layer implementation, and currently leads post‑quantum cryptography (PQC) efforts for Azure Storage to help prepare the platform for next‑generation cryptographic threats.