As part of this pilot project I explored migrating legacy hosted Exchange customers to Microsoft 365. By analyzing customer mailbox sizes, retention policies and usage patterns, I identified suitable domains for an initial migration. Detailed migration and risk‑mitigation plans ensured compliance and minimized disruption. The pilot not only demonstrated that our customers could be transitioned smoothly to Microsoft 365 but also provided a blueprint for offering M365 onboarding as a managed service in the future.
In addition to the core migration strategy, I supported the pilot as the Active Directory expert on Azure AD Connect with OU-level filtering to enable secure and targeted identity synchronization. This approach allowed us to precisely scope which users and groups were included in the hybrid identity model, minimizing exposure while supporting customer segmentation.
I also worked closely with finance and operations teams to forecast the downstream impact of accelerated migrations. This included modeling resource utilization, staffing requirements, and license consumption across various timelines. These projections were essential for ensuring both scalability and service quality as the pilot evolved into a broader offering.
To ensure long-term success, I contributed to the roadmap by identifying potential bottlenecks in directory services and identity federation. I proposed mitigation strategies, such as phased OU onboarding, delegated administration models, and optimized sync cycles—balancing performance, security, and manageability.
The pilot served not only as a technical validation but also as a strategic foundation for scaling managed M365 onboarding services to a larger customer base.