Getting to know datacenter employees: Jenny Smith

Microsoft’s success depends on our people. We are proud to introduce some of the talented folks in your community who work in our global datacenters. Discover what inspired them to pursue a career in the tech industry, the different pathways they pursued, and what a day in the life of a datacenter employee looks like.

Introducing Jenny Smith

Datacenter Security Operations Manager
Auckland, New Zealand
Employee since 2023

Early days

Jenny was born in Bristol, England, and with her family immigrated to New Zealand when she was two. Raised in a modest household, both her parents worked very hard to provide for the family. Throughout her school years, sport was a big part of her life, and she participated in various types of team sports. Jenny also played netball at a New Zealand representative level.

The path to technology

Jenny’s professional journey began with the New Zealand Police, where she gained a unique set of skills that would later influence her career. After 15 years, she transitioned into the aviation industry, joining Air New Zealand. Working in aviation, a complex and reactive industry, helped her develop skills in managing large-scale operations while always ensuring the safety and security of passengers and staff. Jenny’s professional journey then led her to Microsoft in New Zealand. She is new to the tech industry, so there are new challenges and learning opportunities every day.

Superpowers

For Jenny, maintaining a high level of professionalism and providing support to her colleagues are her priorities—and something she always strives to keep doing. Her role at Microsoft is dynamic, combining a variety of tasks, evolving challenges, and problem-solving. This keeps her forward thinking, which she enjoys.

A day in the life

Jenny’s day always starts with a good coffee, followed by a briefing with the Site Security Manager to review the security status of the datacenters she oversees, address any incidents from the night before, and go over the day’s agenda. The day continues with team meetings to discuss ongoing projects, emerging threats or vulnerabilities, and site-specific issues and concerns, which may also include managing and responding to security incidents. She also spends time on strategic planning, along with developing and implementing security policies and processes to protect the datacenter. She is also responsible for maintaining detailed records of security incidents, audits, and compliance reports.

“Working with the local datacenter management team is a privilege as I am surrounded by talented and motivated individuals who are passionate about their work and always striving to make a positive impact,” Jenny says.

Favorite childhood food

Yorkshire pudding with gravy

Growing up with parents from the United Kingdom, Jenny’s family tradition was a Sunday roast dinner, which always included her favourite: homemade Yorkshire puddings with gravy. This simple family dinner created lasting memories for her.

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