Shawn Harry
69
home,wp-singular,page-template,page-template-full_width,page-template-full_width-php,page,page-id-69,wp-theme-bridge,bridge-core-1.0.7,ajax_fade,page_not_loaded,,qode-title-hidden,qode_grid_1300,qode-content-sidebar-responsive,qode-theme-ver-18.2.1,qode-theme-bridge,disabled_footer_bottom,qode_header_in_grid,wpb-js-composer js-comp-ver-8.4.1,vc_responsive

Shawn Harry

Microsoft 365 Enterprise Solution Architect

About Me

I’m an Independent Microsoft 365 Solution Architect, who specialises in Unified Communications with a primary focus on Microsoft Teams, Security & Compliance with Defender and Purview, Intune, Exchange Online and Microsoft Azure.

 

I’m also a co-host of the UC Status podcast. This is Microsoft Teams Unified Communications Podcast where myself and Microsoft MVPs Randy Chapman and Mark Vale waffle for an hour or so about the newest, latest and greatest features in the Teams Enterprise Voice and Audio/Video (Microsoft Team Rooms) world. You can listen to our musing on your favourite Podcast app like Spotify or Amazon Music.

https://ucstatus.com/category/podcast/

 

Many moons ago I was also a contributing writer to the Skype for Business Unleashed publication (The predecessor to Microsoft Teams). Outside of nostalgic value the books mostly worthless now. But was good to be involved in the project at the time and alas is my only claim to fame as a published author! You can read more at my blogpost here:

 

https://shawnharry.co.uk/2016/10/10/skype-for-business-unleashed/

The Early Years…

I’m part of the 80’s generation that grew up with IT such as Personal PC’s (Commodore Plus 4..yes I had one), gaming consoles like the Super NES and the Megadrive, so was very familiar with technology. There was no internet back then, so life was very much offline and simplified. I must have been one of the very few who grew up with a home PC as I remember trying to install TCP/IP on my 486 SX with Windows 3.1 in a vain attempt to get Internet Explorer to work. Unbeknownst to me I didn’t realise I needed a network card a modem, telephone line, etc…Anyway I digress .

The Beginning….

Starting out as a helpdesk operative I have worked my way through first, second, third, and fourth line support, moving into engineering, then consulting & project delivery, while carving out technical expertise in all things Cloud & Collaboration, and have now scaled the lofty heights as a Consultant Architect.

This journey has allowed me to gain a large breadth and most of all in depth experience across many different technologies, ecosystems, sectors, public and private. As well as across businesses of all sizes from small to medium of less than a few hundred, to enterprises of hundreds of thousands of seats. Each with varying needs and differences but ultimately all of them had a common goal which was to acquire cloud & collaboration expertise to deliver solutions that enabled them to resolve a business problem using technology.

The Microsoft 365 Pro….

This is where I like to think I can add that extra bit of value as not only a problem identifier but a problem solver capable of identifying the business problem and providing the appropriate solution to resolve the business problem. At this juncture I could reel off a litany of qualifications, relevant industry expertise, and elaborate further as proof of this right? But I won’t as hopefully you’re now suitably interested to have a browse around my site and see that information for yourself.

Experience

Expand the plus signs on each role to get a closer insight on the nature of my delivery whilst in those positions.

Microsoft 365 Solution Architect - European Bank of Reconstruction and Development
I held the following roles:
  • Microsoft 365 UC Solution Architect
  • Microsoft 365 Programme Solution Architect
  • Email Security and Information Classification Architect
  • Windows 365 Solution Architect for SAP
  • Microsoft 365 UC delivery architect for global PSTN voice (4000 seats) with centralised UK breakout with local AudioCodes SBCs in 33 sites across MENA, Europe, and Asia to replace Cisco CUCM and Cisco voice gateways.
  • Global Video codec deployment to replace Poly and Cisco VCs with Crestron and Yealink MTRs.
  • M365 Programme architect providing oversight for numerous workstreams and UC workload dependencies across Azure, M365, Conditional Access, Intune (MAM/MDM – BES replacement) Azure App proxy and M365 micro apps.
  • Email Security & Information Classification design & delivery architect for global deployment of Microsoft Purview Information Protection replacing legacy Boldon James, Egress Encryption, and Clearswift Secure Email Gateway, with Mimecast Cloud SEG to modernise and secure EBRDs message hygiene infrastructure.
  • Design and delivery architect for Windows 365 Cloud PC for ERP/SAP off shore developers.

Delivery and hands-on configuration for the below:

  • Produced HLD, LLD, position papers, RFP/FRQ, delivery and operational runbooks, vendor KT, design artefacts (Call flows etc) and decks for presentation at boards/steering groups.
  • Produced and designed identity and device security posture for UC endpoints
  • Produced designed and delivered Azure architecture governance to support Teams Redbox compliance call recorded users
  • Azure hosted Redbox Compliance call recording for regulated users.
  • Pexip CVI for legacy interop with Poly and Cisco VCs
  • Luware Nimbus for migration of Cisco Attendant Console capability to Teams
  • M365 traffic optimisation (DNS, firewalls, proxy, QoS, WAN optimisers etc) to support all real time workloads.
  • Wi-Fi phone DECT (Ascom) replacement with Grandstream handsets
  • Centralised UK active active SIP trunking for Teams, IPC & CUCM dial tone + SBC interop for on-net extension dialling.
  • Crestron XiO and Yealink YMCS for MTR (A30 and UC-Engine codecs) and Teams Phones (MP56) lifecycle management
  • Condeco Exchange Online Room booking integration
  • Tiger CDR billing
  • Design & delivery architect for global deployment of Microsoft Purview Information Protection replacing legacy Boldon James and Egress Encryption infrastructure
  • Design & delivery architect for replacing on premises Clearswift Secure Email Gateway with Mimecast Cloud SEG to modernise and secure EBRDs message hygiene infrastructure.
  • Design and delivery architect for Windows 365 Cloud PC for ERP/SAP off shore developers
  • Design architect for IPC Unigy upgrade
Microsoft 365 UC Solution Architect - Symity Ltd
Microsoft Cloud (Microsoft 365 & Azure) senior delivery lead responsible for delivery of Microsoft Teams (PSTN) Voice, MTR, and Collaboration solutions for Symitys larger customers MHI Bank, Department of work and Pensions, Johnson Matthey, Reckitt Beckinser, IQEQ, West Yorkshire Police, Coke and many more. My duties also extend into Security and Management within the wider M365 stack for customers who require integration with Zscaler or additional levels of hardening and management for security compliance or to support Zero Trust.
  •       Pre-sales and delivery of relevant artefacts to support pre-sales engagements such as reference architectures, blueprints, telephony and M365 assessments and position papers.
  •        Delivery of high and low level designs
  •        Hands on configuration of SBCs for direct routing
  •       Collaboration with Microsoft Technology Adoption Programme to provide early feedback
Microsoft 365 UC Solution Architect – Natwest Markets

Microsoft UCC (Microsoft 365 & Azure) Solutions Architect lead for Microsoft Teams Enterprise Voice and RTC for 7000 seats.

  • Design and delivery of reference architecture for Microsoft Teams Direct Routing and supporting design artefacts
  • Design and delivery of resilient five nine UK Azure Hosted Cloud SBC’s to provide dial tone for IPC Trade Voice and Avaya Session Manager
  • Owned designed and delivered CMO and FMO Azure hosted NatWest lab for end to end testing of all Microsoft 365 deliverables across the DW programme.
  • Hands on configuration of Lab, pre-prod and production environment leveraging automation, CI/CD and Azure DevOps where applicable to reduce repetitive tasks.
  • Production of RTC strategy roadmaps for Enterprise Architecture Board
  • Participant in Microsoft TAP “Managed Meeting Room” trial for deployment and management of Microsoft Team Rooms.
  • Strategy and design lead for Microsoft Team Rooms and Zoom interop using Cloud bridging infrastructure.
  • Zoom SME
  • Participant in Microsoft Teams Voice Recording TAP – Verint
  • Production of position papers related to Teams strategy for devices, migration, identity, security, PRI to SIP migration and more
Microsoft 365 Teams Solution Architect - AIG

Global Microsoft UCC Solutions Architect lead for Microsoft Teams and Skype for Business.

  • Production of Teams global reference architecture standards and design artefacts.
  • Design and delivery of Polycom Cloud Video Interop reference architecture with Cisco Telepresence estate.
  • Design and delivery of Teams Direct Routing integration with Oracle SBC global headend infrastructure.
  • Design and delivery of Teams Direct Routing lab infrastructure.
  • Created lightweight program/project delivery framework including POC strategy document, communications and test artefacts.
  • Hands on configuration of Microsoft/Office 365 production and lab tenant(s).
  • Approver on UCC Global Design authority (GDA)
Skype for Business UC Solution Architect - Dell

Delivery consultant for 20K seat Skype for Business upgrade and migration from Lync Server 2013 for EMEA, APAC, Americas and satellite sites

  • Delivery of design & configuration of SfB Server and SfBO + supporting hybrid (O365) related
  • Provide consultancy and hands on implementation including configuration of gateways and endpoints.
  • Decommission and removal of Lync Server 2013
Skype for Business Solution Architect - Macfarlanes LLP

In house delivery consultant for UK based 700 seat migration from Avaya Session Manager to Skype for Business Server 2015 using Sonus SBC 2K and 1K’s for E1 and SIP connectivity, and full DR for enterprise voice.

  • Delivery of design & configuration of SfB Server and SfBO + supporting hybrid (O365) related infrastructure including Exchange 2013 Unified Messaging
  • Deployment of Polycom Trio 8800 and VVX 500 series handsets
  • Delivery of ISDN to SIP transition and number port using ITSP Pure-IP to port 5 number ranges from BT to SIP
  • Provide consultancy and hands on implementation including configuration of gateways and endpoints.
  • SfB 2016 Client deployment and user enablement
  • Decommission and removal of SfB Enterprise PoC
Skype for Business Solution Architect - UBS

Global Lync Server 2010 to SfB Server 2015 migration of 80,000 seats, across three regions, APAC, EMEA, Americas, and Switzerland (approx. 20% enabled for EV using Avaya SM/Cisco CUCM direct SIP and ACME packet SBCs) using Citrix VDI HDX 1.8 & 2.0. 12 Sites with SfB pool pairs for DR/site resilience.

 

·        Delivery, cutover and testing of SfB Edge services in Production and UAT environments globally.

·        Hands on deployment and configuration of ethical boundary’s and information barriers using Vantage (IM compliance) Verba (Call recording).

·        Deployment of SfB in APAC, EMEA & Americas.

·        Configuration of PointSharp in SfB for 2FA in SfB Mobile.

Lync Solution Architect - EY

This role was primarily a strategic role as a “Business Alignment Lead” and was also a senior position within EY at “Associate Director” level. As the principal Lync Solutions Architect my role was to deliver, facilitate and influence at a technical and senior executive level within the Messaging and Collaboration Program.

I was the Lync SME responsible for delivering Lync Server 2010 for 250,000 seats globally in a muti-forest deployment across EMEA, APAC & Americas hosted by AT&T with PSTN connectivity using E1/T1 at branch sites using Audiocodes SBA’s for the UK & Canada.

Author design related documentation –high and low level designs- and present to DA for design review. Provide hands on engineering.

 

EY SME for delivery of the following work streams:-

 

·        Migration of Lync Server 2010 to Lync Server 2013

·        Integration of PGi ACP with Lync Server 2013

·        Enablement of Skype for Business Mobile using Passive Authentication

·        Direct SIP integration for CUCM with Lync

·        Alcatel Lync integration using Audiocodes SBCs

·        Exchange 2010/2013 UM integration with Lync Server 2013, Alcatel-Lucent Omnipcx, Nortel CS1K, CUCM 8.0 – 10.5, Audiocodes M1K, M4K with O365 hosted voicemail.

·        Polycom & Audiocodes endpoint RFP

·        ACP RFP.

·        Delivery of UC Quality Assurance environment for all the above technologies.

·        Lync Voice WAN optimisation

·        Directory, Server Object and UM user provisioning.

Lync Voice Architect – O2 Telefonica

Lync 2010 deployment SME responsible for 20,000 seat Enterprise Voice managed serviced for Babcock International across the UK comprising 2 datacentres for Metropolitan resilience/DR/dial tone. Branch and satellite sites inclusive using SBA’s for survivability or redundant WAN links. ISDN and SIP for PSTN presentation to Lync via Audiocodes SBC including support for analogue endpoints using Audicodes MP1xx, or M1K in a pure Lync environment under IL3/CESG compliance.

 

Responsibilities:

·        Installation deployment lead

·        Client facing presentations

·        Provide consultancy and hands on implementation configuration of the Lync telephony solution. Including configuration of gateways and endpoints.

Unified Communications Consultant - Telappliant

Lync 2013 SME responsible for project managing, technical implementation and delivering successful qualification of Telappliants telephony estate with Microsofts UC Interoperability Program to enable them to offer SIP trunking services for Lync 2013/2010. Integration of Lync 2013 Enterprise Voice with Genband S3 1000 SBC, Open Sips proxy and Asterisk. Out of scope activity’s included installation and migration of current Lync 2010 production install to Lync 2013. Enabling VOIP/Video for Lync Mobile. Call from Work for 150 seats and Federation with MSN/Skype. Installation and configuration of Pre-Production environment comprising two std edition pools for voice resilience for UCIOP program.

 

Responsibilities:

·        Build release management environment for delivery of SIP trunking

·        Technical liaison with vendors Verscom, Genband, WiPro and Microsoft

·        Production of Technical documentation and guides for online publishing

·        Consultancy, technical and strategic guidance for the CTO and CEO for Lync Voice

Lync Collaboration Technical Architect - ATOS IT Services

As part of the Application Technology Services tower project resource and Lync Technical Architect for numerous ATOS accounts. Such as Brtivic. Department of Health (DoH). Shared Service Alliance (SSA). Ministry of Justice (MOJ). And MBDA.

Unified Communications Solutions Architect - BBC (Siemens IT Services/ATOS)

Sitting within the ATOS Strategy & Design Collaboration Tower, and the ICAP Architecture Practice, my role on the BBC account was multifaceted. Lync SME for the delivery of a centralised Lync solution nationally in the BBC to 26,000 users integrated with Siemens HiPath 4000/8000, Cisco Telepresence, Polycom RMX Bridge and C&W for ingress PSTN connectivity.

Inclusive was introduction of OCS 2007 R2 CWA to allow for the decommission of LCS 2005 SP1. OCS 2007 and the final decommission of OCS 2007 R2.

 

Responsibilities:

·        Ownership of the High Level Design throughout the ICAP governance process.

·        Identify and liaise with BBC stakeholders to ensure BBC approval of the Lync/UM solution

·        Provide expert level –and hands on- consultancy on Lync and the Unified Comms solution for the BBC

Messaging and Collaboration Release Consultant - BBC (Siemens IT Services)

Project technical resource and technical design specialist for 40,000 mailbox migration for the BBC, to consolidate 120 Exchange servers in disparate locations across the globe into two datacentres. Additional work streams including Forefront Security for Exchange, Blackberry, Good Technology, Active Sync, Enterprise Vault, SQL, Quest MessageStats, Spotlight and Message Manager inclusive.

Sitting within Release Management providing SME expertise around all messaging related products.

Provided sanity checks, quality assurance, release testing for Siemens/BBC for all messaging/collaboration products released into production as part of the Exchange 2003 – Exchange 2010 refresh. Worked with Technical/Solutions architects and Design Authority(s) within a PMO to ensure the final deliverable met all acceptance criteria as defined by the BBC.

 

Responsibilities:

·        Sign off technical related documentation to be released into production. Inclusive of design documentation.

·        Ensure releases meet Siemens/BBC acceptance criteria for organizational compliance.

·        Provide expert level technical consultancy for Operations (BAU), Technical Design teams and Project management.

·        Identify technology gaps, impacts and possible non conformity’s with final production solution.

·        4th line escalation

·        Ownership of BBC Messaging and Collaboration release environment.

·        Ownership of Good technology POC and Release environment.

Infrastructure Consultant - Kelway Ltd

Subject matter expert for all messaging and unified communications related technologies. This includes Exchange 2010/2007/2003 estate, Lync2010, Blackberry, Cisco Call Manager, Cisco Unified Presence and MimeCast. 90% based project work with a small amount of 3/4th line BAU escalation. Led Exchange 2003 – 2010/07 migration as the sole resource with an environment comprised of 2 Exchange organisations.12 Exchange servers and 4000 users with a heavy dependency on public folders and an integrated Mitel Call Manager. Integrated Exchange UM with Cisco CUCM for Outlook Voice Access. As well as Lync with CUCM for Enterprise Voice.

 

Responsibilities:

·        Principle Migration consultant for Exchange 2003 to Exchange 2010 cross forest migration company merger/acquisition

·        Final point of escalation for all MS Exchange related incidents

·        Act as Technical Authority /Solutions Architect for in house IT

·        Develop internal policies and procedures with QA team to ensure ISO2000 (ITSM) ISO27000 (Information Security) and organizational compliance for IT service delivery

·        Approve RFC’s as part of the Change Advisory Board

·        Sign off and approve in house IT Projects and support Kelway Clients when required.

Senior Infrastructure Engineer - NHS Barnet Enfield and Haringey (MHT) Health Informatics Service

Acting as the in house MS Exchange Architect/Technical Lead my role is also inclusive of business as usual. I Act as the final point of escalation for all Exchange/email related calls. Led rationalisation as the subject matter expert for 2 exchange organizations comprising in total 16 exchange servers and 15,000 mailboxes. Liaison with Senior Management, Programme Management, Project Management and key decision makers as to the project strategy. This was inclusive of collating resource for the project and interviewing additional resource to join the team. Coordinating business and work groups to streamline the migration strategy. Liaising with 3rd party’s to accelerate portions of the work (Quest NHS Account directors). Addressing capacity management issues. Exchange hygiene and best practice for housekeeping. Performance across 5 major sites and 125 satellite sites. Security of the messaging topology along with change control. Mobile access for MDA’s OWA and BES. Interoperability with 10 domains inclusive of 6 NT4 domains with cross forest trusts, as well as redesign of the entire exchange topology for both exchange organisations to consolidate all exchange servers into one domain. Built Virtual Exchange 2010 proof of concept for final upgrade to 2010.

 

Responsibilities:

·        Approve formal change requests as part of CAB ( Change Advisory board)

·        Approve design solutions as part of DRB ( Design Review Board)

·       Deputise for Infrastructure Manager

·       Act as Technical Lead/Authority for HIS Infrastructure team

·       Ensure OLA for messaging topology is above 97%.

·       Ownership of NHS.net email services for HIS stakeholders

“An often forgotten element of collaboration technology is the human collaboration required to deliver it” – Shawn Harry

A Month Of Me

I wanted to be able give an insight into what it is like to perform my roles and responsibilities across the period of say a month. Of course, no month is ever the same, but I have noticed some patterns in my engagements which I have tried to reflect.

Design & Implementation0%
Project Management0%
Service Delivery0%
Troubleshooting0%
Security0%
56
380
7
930

Certifications

  • All
  • Governance
  • Infrastructure
  • Microsoft Transcript
  • Project Management
  • Security
  • Service Delivery

Awards

Recommendations

Some comments from those I have had the pleasure of working with.

Blog

There are many avenues in this current age of social networking to provide an Internet presence. However I decided to make a website that consolidates all of this and my online musings into one place that will hopefully be a bit more than just another Technical blog. So hopefully a bit like LinkedIn but on steroids with far more material and useful information about me and various things I’m working on in the field that may be of use to others. Hope you enjoy!