Ian Ginn

Splunk

M365 Reporting

M365 Product Champion

SharePoint Online site for Documentation

Tasks for productivity

Taught users how use M365 and presented to large groups how I use

Projects I was a Team Member:Microsoft 365 Migration Project

• Worked on a team to help transition ~32,000 Government of Alberta users to the M365 for the following products. Azure AD Multi-Factor Authentication, Exchange Online, Teams, SharePoint Online, Planner, Whiteboard.
• Worked as a "M365 Product Champion" whose goal is to help and support a large group of users of the M365 products throughout the transition.
• Provided dashboards and automated reporting on migration status for various M365 products.
• Helped implement and report on Azure conditional access policies for added security.
• Implemented reporting and dashboards that helped remove licenses from underutilized accounts and ensured licensing for M365 was in compliance.
• Familiar with the Azure portal for administration tasks.

Configuration Management Database (CMDB)

• Worked with team members to develop and implement automatic discovery of all Government of Alberta IT assets for the CMDB.
• Developed dashboards to help ensure all IT assets were discovered properly.
• Created a "Team" within Microsoft Teams as well as a Task tab to help organize work that's required to be done.
• Ran weekly meetings to discuss all tasks being worked on related to CMDB and helped move these tasks along to ensure the project was completed on time.

Central Logging Reassessment

Responsibilities:

• Ensured monthly patching the OS for all servers and virtual desktops was completed through automation.
• Patched firmware updates on server hardware and installed new hardware in the data center including HPE Blade system.
• Performed help desk duties for our virtual desktop environment.
• Directed a group of people for help desk support on our virtual desktop environment.
• Configured and maintained a variety of networking and firewall equipment from Cisco with experience on ISO, NX-OS, ASA and Firepower.
• Maintained VMware environments (ESXi, vCenter, Horizon, VMware Update Manager, vSphere) for servers and virtual desktops.
• Created and followed the antivirus configuration and maintenance policies.
• Monitored logs on servers and network devices for suspicious activity.
• Researched and implements new security practices for system hardening at the Operating System level.
• Improved productivity and cost savings though automation.
• Created and maintained all Operating System virtual templates and related documentation.
• Resolved any issues related to server or virtual desktop operating systems (Windows Server, Linux, Windows 10).
• Follows and adheres to change management procedures.
• Created and maintained group policy objects in Active Directory for virtual desktops.
• Provided reporting and dashboards by combining different sources that helped influence business decisions.
  

Large scale Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI) Implementation

• Worked on a team that was cross ministry to build a virtual desktop (VDI) solution for all Government of Alberta from the ground up using VMware to replace all ministries individual VDI implementations.
• Planned, communicated and migrated just over 1000 users from their old environment to the new shared environment for all Government of Alberta.
• Helped come up with solutions to support the entire government given the resources allocated.
• Created automated processes to allow users to create new machines upon request.

Projects I Managed:

Automating Patching and Server Shutdown/Startup

• Previous patching solution was not adequate and very time consuming.
• Researched for a product that would match all our needs and reduce patching time and have proper reporting.
• Implemented the solution and set up patching so it can happen with ease and can be scheduled.
• Used the same product to script and schedule safe shutdowns and startups of all servers. This automation allowed us to shutdown all servers within 1.5 hours compared to 17 man hours to manually do it.

Process Improvements

• Concerned about length of time it would take to fully complete a server build (6 months).
  
• Scrutinized all the steps and everyone involved in the current process. Found inefficiencies and consolidated tasks to reduce deployment time.
• Tested, updated documentation and communicated the changes to team members. Timeline was reduced to a maximum of 1 month from 6 for a new server build.

Antivirus Reassessment

• Documented anti-malware requirements.
  
• Consulted with vendors on anti-malware options.
• Created test servers and conducted a proof of concept with selected product that what was currently used.
• Implemented the selected product on the SAN, all servers and virtual desktops.
• Created and documented all processes and procedures for maintaining and upgrading the antivirus solution.
• Identified and documented server administrators logging requirements.
• Recommenced a solution that was cost effective and filled our requirements.
• Implemented the selected solution with performance and high availability in mind.
• Conducted system analysis and implementation to maintain and improve computer systems.
• Performed system analysis, documentation, testing, implementation and user support for platform transitions.

Responsibilities:

• Provided excellent customer service to clients in person and over phone.
• Properly Maintained inventory list of all computer devices within the ministry.
• Worked within HP Service Manager to open and close support requests within the SLA.

Responsibilities:

• Configured BlackBerry devices to work with the BlackBerry Enterprise Server.
  
• Managed users and groups within Microsoft Active Directory.
• Documented and surplused old equipment and arranged pickups.