IT Insights by Julian Rouse

As a cloud engineer and consultant, I recently completed a complex project: merging a Microsoft 365 tenant and a Google Workspace into an existing Microsoft 365 tenant. This task was crucial for my client, a company undergoing a merger that required unifying their digital environments. While the integration was successful, it wasn't without its hurdles—particularly with Single Sign-On (SSO) issues that arose post-migration. Project Overview The merger involved consolidating three different environments: An existing Microsoft 365 tenant that served as the primary platform. A separate Microsoft 365 tenant brought in through the merger. A Google Workspace , also part of the merger. The goal was to integrate all these systems seamlessly into the primary Microsoft 365 tenant, ensuring users could access their applications and data without disruption. Initial Steps and Planning Assessment and Strategy Development Current State Analysis : I started by assessing the current state of the I...

In the ever-evolving retail landscape, technology plays a crucial role in enhancing customer experiences and streamlining operations. A recent Fox Business article by Stephen Sorace highlights Costco's use of technology to improve customer service. Although I am located in Canada, this article resonates with me due to my experience working in-house for a retailer and now consulting on similar projects, which always intrigue me. The Challenge For retailers, ensuring that online product availability accurately reflects in-store inventory is essential for maintaining customer satisfaction and operational efficiency. Integrating various systems to provide real-time updates and seamless synchronization is key. Here’s how this integration unfolds: Point of Sale (POS) Systems : Capture sales data and inventory movements in real-time, crucial for syncing online and in-store inventory. Inventory Management Systems : Track product quantities and manage stock levels, coordinating with POS sy...

As a cloud engineer, ensuring thoroughness, consistency, and efficiency in your work is paramount. One of the most effective ways to achieve these goals is by using checklists. Whether you're kicking off a new project, migrating to the cloud, or conducting a security audit, having a checklist can make a significant difference. In this first part of our three-part series, we'll explore some essential checklists that every IT professional, consultant, and cloud engineer should have in their toolkit. 1. Project Kickoff Checklist Starting a new project can be overwhelming. A well-structured kickoff checklist ensures that nothing falls through the cracks. Here’s what you need: Define project scope and objectives : Clear goals set the stage for success. Identify stakeholders and their roles : Knowing who’s who helps streamline communication. Establish timelines and milestones : Keeps the project on track. Determine budget and resources : Essential for planning and execution. Set up c...

The recent incident with CrowdStrike's software update has thrown a spotlight on the vulnerabilities inherent in our interconnected digital landscape. As a cloud engineer, it's crucial to dissect what happened, why some companies were affected while others were not, and what proactive measures we can take to fortify our systems against similar disruptions in the future. What Happened? CrowdStrike, a prominent cybersecurity firm, recently rolled out an update that inadvertently allowed bad data to slip through, leading to a widespread tech outage. This issue primarily stemmed from a faulty test software update, which led to system crashes and Blue Screen of Death (BSOD) errors for many Windows users . Microsoft quickly released a tool to mitigate the damage, targeting over 85 million affected machines. Disparity in Impact The differential impact of this update highlights several factors: Update Policies:  Companies with stringent update policies and staged deployment strategies ...