Daniel Lepel

Microsoft 365 & Azure Architect

LinkedIn Albany, NY Capital District (Remote)

About

Effective architecture stays out of the way, supporting teams and users without drawing attention. Over the past decade, I have designed scalable Microsoft 365 and Azure environments that run reliably with minimal intervention.

My work centers on foundational elements that enable broader success: identity architecture with Entra ID, Zero Trust security frameworks, reliable endpoint platforms, and governance standards that simplify complexity. I have built multi-tenant environments, modernized legacy platforms, and developed architectural patterns that support operational teams.

I am seeking a new role focused on architecture and strategy, distinct from daily operations. My expertise includes platform vision, security design, and technical standards. If your organization needs a strategic architect to guide technology direction, I welcome the opportunity to discuss how I can contribute to your goals.

Core Expertise

Recent Experience

  • Multi-tenant Microsoft cloud architecture across 25+ client environments

    As Principal Microsoft Cloud Architect at National Business Technologies, I owned the Microsoft platform architecture across approximately 25 MSP client tenants with no technical oversight above me. Covered M365, Azure, Entra ID, Intune, Defender, and Purview across environments ranging from small business to mid-market. Every architectural decision, from identity design and security baseline to governance structure and licensing optimization, originated at my desk.

    See how I structure this work →
  • Replaced third-party security tooling with native M365 E5 capabilities

    At Latham Pool Products (via cb20 Technology Solutions), I replaced Mimecast entirely with native Microsoft 365 E5 capabilities, specifically Defender for Office 365, Exchange Online Protection, and Purview information protection. The result was equivalent or better protection with the third-party licensing cost eliminated. This is the core of what E5 enablement work looks like in practice: activating capabilities organizations are already paying for.

    See the full E5 capability map →
  • Entra ID identity architecture with Conditional Access and privileged access controls

    Designed and implemented Entra ID identity architectures across multiple organizations, including hybrid identity with Entra Connect Sync, Conditional Access policy frameworks aligned to Zero Trust, and Privileged Identity Management to eliminate standing Global Administrator accounts. Identity architecture is the foundation every other security and governance capability depends on.

    Read the identity principle →
  • eDiscovery and legal hold workflows built directly with Legal teams

    At Latham Pool Products, I worked directly with the Legal Department to design and implement eDiscovery and legal hold workflows through Microsoft Purview. This included configuring custodian management, content search scoping, hold policies, and export workflows that met legal requirements without relying on third-party tools. The result was a defensible, auditable process the Legal team could operate themselves.

    See the Compliance & Data section →

Document Library

A set of reference documents covering architectural process, operating principles, Microsoft licensing, and the role of AI in modern cloud environments.

Process Framework

The A.L.I.G.N. Process

A structured five-phase approach to delivering Microsoft 365, Azure, and cloud platform solutions, spanning first assessment through long-term governance.

"What is actually here, and what actually matters?"
  • How I structure every engagement from day one
  • The five phases: Assess, Leverage, Implement, Govern, Navigate
  • Real examples from enterprise and MSP deployments
Read the framework →
Architecture Philosophy

Cloud Architecture Operating Principles

Seven principles that guide how I design, assess, and operate modern Microsoft cloud environments.

"Identity is the new perimeter. Everything else depends on getting this right first."
  • Zero Trust, least privilege, and governance before growth
  • Why observability and documentation aren't optional
  • Where automation helps and where humans stay in the loop
Explore the principles →
AI Capabilities

Practical AI Opportunities in Microsoft Cloud Operations

A capability-by-capability map of AI tools most organizations are already licensed for but haven't fully activated.

"Copilot doesn't create data governance problems. It makes existing ones impossible to ignore."
  • Security Copilot, Defender XDR, Purview, and Sentinel
  • How to enable Copilot for M365 without the governance risk
  • Data sovereignty and auditability in regulated environments
See what's possible →
Licensing Framework

Microsoft Licensing That Actually Makes Sense

A practical decision framework for E3 vs E5, Business Premium, and where targeted add-ons beat full tier upgrades.

"The question isn't which license is cheapest. It's which license fits where the organization actually is."
  • The 300-seat threshold and why it matters
  • When E5 earns its cost and when it doesn't
  • SharePoint vs Azure Storage - choosing the right tier
Read the framework →
MSP Architecture

Governing Microsoft at Scale Across Many Tenants

What managing 25 tenants simultaneously teaches you about consistency, failure patterns, and the human side of security governance.

"Every tenant is different. The job is building standards flexible enough to apply everywhere but specific enough to actually mean something."
  • The most common failure patterns in small tenants
  • Building a standard that scales across environments
  • Why technically correct isn't always the right call
Read the framework →
Career Profile

Interactive Resume

25+ years of Microsoft infrastructure experience, from 64,000-user enterprise scale to MSP multi-tenant architecture.

"The full story behind the bullet points."
  • Role-by-role detail with platform context
  • Key work at NBT, Latham Pool Products, FIS, and MetLife
  • Skills, education, and PDF download
View the full career profile →
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