Microsoft Exchange/Windows 0365 /Cloud Engineer

Patrick Ekanga

Microsoft Exchange/Windows ****/Cloud Engineer

Phone: 931-***-**** Gmail: **************@*****.***

SUMMARY

•19 years of experience in the IT field with a concentration on Microsoft Exchange technologies.

•Hands-on with Microsoft Exchange server 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019 and Office 365/Outlook/OWA.

•Hands-on with Windows server 2008R2, Windows server 2012R2; installation, configuration, and administration.

•Configure and deploy messaging server infrastructures in a highly available scenario via clustering, DAG, load balancing, pools, and pool pairing.

•Hands-on with Microsoft Exchange messaging systems and computer center operations and support.

•Extensive knowledge and hands on experience with SaaS applications (Exchange, Teams, OneDrive, SharePoint, Yammer).

•Expert knowledge on private and public cloud integrations and transitions.

•Build and deploy on premise solutions with focus on Azure, Exchange Online and Office 365 coexistence and migration.

•Design and implement high availability and disaster recovery solutions for the messaging infrastructure using CCR/SCR and DAG.

•Install and configure firewalls, networks, and perimeter applications for security just as Barracuda, Meraki, IronPort, and Proofpoint.

•Configure single sign-on, seamless sign-on, token authentication, and passthrough/password authentication.

•Configure and verify Active Directory Federation Services as primary domain sources.

•Configure DHCP, DNS, WSUS, and DFS services in an enterprise environment.

•Experience with server monitoring tools, and thorough understanding of Active Directory DC design, schema, OU design, AD replication topology, and DC backup/restore procedures.

•In-depth knowledge about Service Center for task allocation and approval and SCOM for monitoring and alerting.

•A knowledge of change management and ITIL processes for incidents, change, and requests.

•Experience with virtualization deployment and management via VMware, V-Sphere, and Hyper-V.

•Interact with customers and stakeholders to analyze, validate, specify, verify, document, and manage requirements.

•Manage Active Directory, Microsoft Identity software (ILM, FIM, MIM), Azure AD Connect and ADFS as well as Microsoft Federation.

•Apply knowledge of networking protocols and components such as TCP/IP, DNS, SIP, MAPI, SMTP.

•Experience with SQL server; installation of SQL server to run alongside Lync and Skype-for-Business.

•Troubleshoot technical issues across Exchange and Windows 0365 and related technologies.

•Strong technical aptitude and excellent communication skills with demonstrated ability to work effectively on diverse, cross-functional Agile teams.

TECHNICAL SKILLS

Exchange – DAG, CAS ARRAYS, Load Balancing, Continuous Cluster Replication (CCR), Standby Cluster Replication (SCR), Local Copy Replication (LCR), Hub Transport Server, Exchange management console (EMC)), Transport pipeline, Managed Availability, Exchange Admin Center (EAC), Outlook Web App (OWA)/Outlook On the Web (OOTW) for 2016, Exchange Online Protection (EOP), Exchange Admin Center (EAC), Active Directory Federation Services (ADFS), DirSync, Azure AD Connect, Hybrid, Staged, Cutover

Servers - Microsoft Exchange Server 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016/Exchange Online/Office 365/Outlook Web App (OWA), Windows Server 2008R2, 2012R2, 2016 Microsoft PowerShell 5.0, 4.0, Microsoft Active Directory, Lync Server, Hub Transport Server, Oracle Virtual Box, Virtual Machine, Microsoft HyperV, CAS Servers, Mailbox Servers, Client Access Server, Edge server, Dial-In/Dial-Out, Lync Online, Front End Server, Back End Server, Director Server, Mediation Server, Proxy Server, Cloud Servers

Tools - Database Availability Group (DAG), DAC Mode, CAS Array, Exchange management console (EMC), PowerShell scripting, Visual Basic Scripting, Microsoft ADFS, DirSync, SCCM and SCOM, Microsoft Identity software (ILM, FIM, MIM, ILM 2007 to MIM 2016), Azure AD Connect and ADFS, Microsoft Federation

Protocols - TCP/IP, DNS, SIP, MAPI, SMTP. DHCP/DNS/VPN/TCP/IP, POP, IMAP

Administration - Email Services, User management, Permissions and authentication, Managed Availability, Critical Access, Mobile Device Management, Exchange Aware Proxy Server, Storage LDAP, Domain Management, Load Balancing, Database availability, Role-based access control, Namespaces, Requesters, Migration, Registry management and editing, Disaster Recovery, Backup Restore, Coexistence, Process Testing, Policy Administration, Distributed Groups, Dynamic Groups, Identity Management

PROFESSIONAL WORK EXPERIENCE

Microsoft Cloud Engineer

Brookdale Senior Living Solutions, Brentwood, TN

October 2020 – To Date

Brookdale Senior Living Solutions owns and operates retirement homes across the United States.

Planned migration effort for mailboxes and user personal store data to O365.

Readied on-prem Active Directory environment with IDFix and PowerShell scripts.

Created SharePoint and OneDrive data policies for sharing and access.

Created and updated distribution lists and O365 groups.

Configured and ran e-Discovery searched with Exchange Online.

Configured free/busy sharing for organization with the cloud services.

Secured mail, mail flow, identities, and connections through Azure Information protection, VPN connectivity, and EOP services.

Implemented Azure Sync for user identity synchronizing into Azure AD space.

Deployed Azure Threat Protection and Information Protection.

Implemented conditional access rules [i.e., network location, device compliance, multi-factor authentication (MFA)] and Azure Identity Protection (i.e., suspicious IP addresses, impossible travel, and anonymous proxies).

Migrated users stored data to OneDrive for Business.

Tested mail flow and authentication measures with Azure and AD.

Classified and categorized data for labeling.

Managed rights and permissions in OneDrive and SharePoint.

Followed incident response procedures with attacks and data leakage cases.

Migrated mailboxes from on premise Exchange 2016 to Exchange Online.

Performed troubleshooting on hybrid deployment connectors.

Identified, created, and managed mailbox and calendar permissions.

Reviewed email security settings and implemented additional measures (SPF, DMARC, DKIM).

Reviewed quarantine message queues and determined action strategy for mitigation.

Completed domain and user whitelisting, blacklisting, and policy configuration for email integrity.

Managed mobile devices through Intune and configured conditional access policies.

Enabled users for Teams and transitioned accounts from Skype to Teams.

Tested Azure VM creation for implementing Azure servers.

Set data policies on documents repositories in SharePoint.

Tied permissions to security groups in Azure and automated group memberships.

Review threat analytics for the environment on ransomware, phishing, and other vulnerabilities to the systems.

Conducted advanced threat hunting based on events and applications.

Conducted threat investigations on malicious emails, links, and attachments.

Microsoft Teams Administrator

Vector Group Ltd., Miami, FL

June 2018 – October 2020

Vector Group Ltd. is an American diversified holding company with two major businesses: Liggett Group LLC and New Valley LLC,

Calculated network bandwidth capacity for Microsoft Teams voice, video, meetings, and Live Events.

Specified requirements for outbound network ports and protocols for Microsoft Teams.

Determined WAN optimizer, proxy, and load balancer recommendations for Microsoft Teams.

Configured Tenant Data Upload in Microsoft Call Quality Dashboard.

Identified required licensing for compliance features, appropriate licensing for advanced lifecycle management of teams, appropriate licensing for guest access, appropriate licensing for calling/phone system/resource accounts, appropriate licensing for Microsoft Teams Rooms and Common Area Phones and identified appropriate licensing for apps in Microsoft Teams.

Set up policies for Microsoft 365 Groups creation, configured an expiration policy for Microsoft 365 groups, and configured a naming policy for Microsoft 365 Groups.

Configured reporting labels for Microsoft Teams.

Configured SharePoint and OneDrive organizational level sharing settings and managed external file sharing settings for OneDrive users.

Configured meeting settings, meeting policies, conference bridges, live events settings, and live events policies.

Applied security and identify management policies.

Chose appropriate administration roles and threat policies.

Planned and configured retention policies and sensitivity labels.

Planned Data Loss Prevention (DLP) policies, conditional access and MFA for Microsoft Teams, information barrier policies, and managed Microsoft Teams preview features with Microsoft Teams update policies.

Created and managed policy packages in Microsoft Teams and planned policy assignment for users and groups.

Performed restoration and troubleshooting of Microsoft 365 Groups.

Managed Azure AD access review for members and guests.

Performed bulk user operations with PowerShell.

Managed external file sharing settings for SharePoint sites.

Managed guest users for Microsoft Teams from the Microsoft Teams Admin Center and configured guest access to Microsoft Teams from Azure AD admin center.

Planned and configured emergency services.

Performed troubleshooting issues using Call Analytics.

Troubleshot Microsoft Teams sign-in issues using Azure AD sign in logs.

Exchange Engineer

Murphy USA, El Dorado, AR

March 2015 – June 2018

Murphy USA is an American corporation operating a chain of retail gas stations that are primarily located in proximity to Walmart stores.

Designed and implemented Microsoft Windows and Exchange farms in a network Infrastructure.

Updated and prepared Windows servers and virtual environment, and updated Exchange 2013 to prepare connection with Exchange 2016 servers which were installed in a side-by-side scenario with Exchange 2013 to prepare for the migration.

Configured and deployed messaging server infrastructures in a highly available scenario via clustering, DAG, load balancing, pools, and pool pairing.

Created custom PowerShell scripts for process automation.

Leveraged PowerShell in Exchange and Skype-for-Business.

Implemented the following roles in Microsoft Exchange environment: Edge Transport, Mailbox

Resolved Office 365 tasks with the use of PowerShell.

Created and tested batch with PowerShell from Exchange 2013 to Exchange 2016.

Ensured Azure Active Directory Connector was up to date and verified that the server was joined to the appropriate internal Active Directory domain.

Worked with networking protocols and components including TCP/IP, DNS, SIP, MAPI, SMTP.

Experience with Office 365 migrations and hybrid solutions.

Resolved tenancy technical issues and monitored Office 365 systems, automated and executed Office 365 procedures using Windows PowerShell.

Created policies for Skype-for-Business online on O365 and set up federation policies and conference policies on cloud.

Served as an SME and acting as liaison between operations, helpdesk, and networks to ensure continuity of service to the user community.

Worked with Exchange Management Console and Exchange Management Shell.

Messaging Engineer

T. Rowe Price Group, Inc., Baltimore, MD

January 2013 – March 2015

T. Rowe Price Group, Inc. is an American publicly owned global investment management firm that offers funds, advisory services, account management, and retirement plans and services for individuals, institutions, and financial intermediaries.

Administered and hardened Exchange 2010 environment for end users.

Set up DAG for high availability of mailbox databases.

Provided Level I and Level II IT support for users on site.

Created PowerShell scripts to query AD distribution groups to extract user email addresses.

Performed monthly database maintenance to ensure database health and functionality.

Performed regularly scheduled maintenance of telephone and communication channels and ensured communications channels were uninterrupted.

Created user accounts, security groups, and organizational units.

Configured transport rules to provide solutions for compliance and key staff requests.

Utilized DNS, DHCP, and WSUS to make modifications and worked closely with the firewall team.

Performed troubleshooting to solve complex technical problems stemming from hardware limitations, services, GPOs, and misconfigurations.

Configured TMG (Threat Management Gateway) for added protection of the internal network.

Participated in projects and testing of equipment and software for future deployment within the organization.

Identified and repaired computer equipment, printers, and communication devices; monitoring and diagnostics of computer and network equipment.

Participated in purchasing computers and communications equipment.

Installed, configured, and supported specialized software.

Configured PBX voice gateway for media traversal into the internal network.

Exchange Administrator

Anthem, Inc., Indianapolis, IN

September 2010 – December 2012

Anthem, Inc., is a provider of health insurance in the United States.

Maintained the Windows Server 2008 and 2012.

Maintained Exchange 2007/2010 system including user mailboxes, security groups, shared access, delegation, and permissions.

Installed configurations on client machines for Exchange Online, email migrations. and Lync online.

Configured and Implemented Directory Synchronization and Forefront with troubleshooting support.

Configured DirSync and ADFS for Active Directory synchronization and single sign-on with Office 365.

Configured and deployed new Anti-Malware polices for System Center Endpoint Protection (SCEP).

Utilized SharePoint to maintain backup and migration process improvement feedback for Office 365 Managing Distribution Lists.

Maintained clustered server scenario via CCR/SCR and ran reports and validation checks.

Moved mailboxes from Exchange 2007 to Exchange 2010.

Trained users on Microsoft Outlook 2010 after deployment to end clients.

Set up voice policies as per the company requirement.

Worked with Lync server logging tool and snooper tool.

Supported end users as well as server related issues in Lync 2010 environment with single front end pool.

IT Support Technician

Allegiant Air, Las Vegas, NV

May 2004 – September 2010

Allegiant Air is an American ultra-low-cost airline that operates scheduled and charter flights.

Created Exchange mailboxes, shared mailboxes, and distribution groups.

Reset printers in AS400 environment.

Created user accounts in Active Directory.

Added users to group membership as needed.

Performed technical troubleshooting of computer hardware, software, and IT issues on site and remotely.

Managed user accounts and reset passwords.

Managed backups on assigned Exchange servers,

Reset passwords for network, VPN, email, and SAP

Tracked tickets through Remedy.

Troubleshot Outlook issues and VPN.

Escalated priority issues to on-call personnel.

Created tickets from customer care mailbox.

Database Administrator

Home Services of America, Minneapolis, MN

July 2003 – May 2004

Home Services of America (a Berkshire Hathaway affiliate) is a residential real estate services company that provides real estate brokerage services, mortgage loan origination, franchising, title insurance/escrow and closing services, home warranties, property insurance, casualty insurance, and relocation services.

Ensured the appropriate procedures were in place for log shipping and nightly backups.

Monitored databases performance and ensured that their performance was optimal.

Made recommendations to upper management to ensure the system was reliable and had the appropriate technology and policies to ensure business continuity.

Maintained databases, diagrams, and documentation.

Develop SQL scripts as needed by clients’ application.

Fixed developers’ inefficient SQL statements.

Develop and implemented daily backup procedures.

Develop and implement Replication procedures.

EDUCATION

Bachelor of Arts - Economics - University of Rwanda

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