Community Spotlight - Jason Bayton
Next up in our Community Spotlight series is Jason Bayton, one of the most knowledgeable voices in this community and the name behind bayton.org, a go-to resource for all things Android Enterprise. Here's a bit more about him.
How long have you been part of the Android Enterprise Community and why did you join?
I've been here since day one, back when the AE community was launched over on the Google Product Experts platform all those years ago. Fun fact, I gifted the androidenterprise.community domain to the team here when this kicked off, having earmarked it for my own projects prior to the community coming together, and I'm very happy I did :)
How long have you been working with Android Enterprise? What prompted the start of your journey with the product and what does your day-to-day look like now?
I started my Android Enterprise journey officially with Device Administrator management in ~2013, though I'd been all-in on Android soon after it launched with the HTC Dream (I still have it!). I'd spent years flashing hardware, rooting anything that'd boot (I took great enjoyment in converting old Windows Mobile devices to Android), and when the opportunity arose at the time to figure out how to manage a fleet of devices for a company that hadn't used Android before, I figured it'd be a bit of fun to apply what I knew about Android at the time to the enterprise world. I haven't looked back since!
These days I run one of the most comprehensive Android Enterprise resources in the world with my bayton.org website, projects, and tools, and my career and hobbies revolve entirely around Android and mobility in general. In recent years I've worked for carriers, MSPs, EMMs, and OEMs, and run my own Android consultancy. I have, and anticipate I will continue to touch every part of the ecosystem I'm able to for years to come.
When you are not working, what do you like doing?
I enjoy the occasional cycle, and play most of the lower brass family of instruments. I started when I joined comprehensive school. I was never really one for sports so this was a good alternative. I play Tuba, Trombone, Euphonium, and various variations of the instruments. I picked up a valve trombone a few weeks ago for fun. Music took me around Europe and helped me settle when I lived in Holland (I found a local band there!)
My boy tends to keep me busy with extracurricular activities also. Of course, I check in here when I can too.
An interesting fact about yourself (could be your favourite movie, tv show, album or something entirely random!)
I host a small Minecraft server at home for me and the family now, since kiddo took an interest in it many years ago. We've built all sorts of games and environments in there, and it's been a really nice experience.
What is the one thing you cannot live without?
A reliable internet connection.
What's your soft spot when it comes to food?
I absolutely love a Xinxim, but otherwise I couldn't go a week without a decent curry.
To wrap it up, do you have a favourite tip on using Android Enterprise that you would like to share?
In any Android Enterprise deployment, consider OEMConfig as part of your deployment design; OEM support for custom policy controls and features can keep your EMM options broad, and even offer more flexibility in cost vs functionality vs relying on feature support within the EMM itself.
Could I be so bold as to suggest checking out bayton.org for all things Android Enterprise, for any and every skill level? I've put the best part of a decade building that resource, and it's all free!
Huge thanks to Jason for taking the time to answer these, and for everything he does for this community and for bayton.org. Fancy asking him something yourself?
Cheers,
Kirk
