Christopher Garland, MCE

IT Director @ Markel Corporation

Henrico, Virginia, United States

About

Certified Azure Solutions Architect and 365 Admin Expert Experienced engineer in MS, VMware and Cisco technologies. Specializing in enterprise identities, Entra and M365 management, and Azure cloud management.

Experience

  • Markel (11 yrs 4 mos)
    • Director - M365 Cloud and Identity services
      Feb 2026 - Present · 6 mos

      Lead global delivery of identity, authentication, and Microsoft 365 collaboration services across the enterprise. Own strategy and operations for Active Directory, Entra, and core productivity platforms, driving the transition to modern identity governance and positioning identity as a primary security control. •Own enterprise identity platforms (Active Directory, Entra) including domain/forest architecture spanning 40+ domain controllers across multiple domains and forests •Lead Microsoft 365 services including Exchange, Teams, SharePoint, and OneDrive with full lifecycle governance and operational accountability •Drive identity governance strategy leveraging SailPoint (IGA), RBAC, and lifecycle management to strengthen security and streamline access •Implement and enforce Conditional Access, SSO, and PIM controls, integrating enterprise applications across hybrid environments •Oversee privileged access and security tooling including CyberArk (PAM), Semperis (AD resilience/recovery), and certificate lifecycle platforms •Serve as primary technical delivery partner for security and policy initiatives, translating enterprise standards into implemented solutions •Lead global, follow-the-sun team across US and UK providing continuous support for business-critical identity and collaboration services •Support mergers & acquisitions as initial technical integration lead for identity and collaboration platforms

    • Sr. IT Manager - Cloud and Identity services
      Mar 2024 - Feb 2026 · 2 yrs

      Leads directory, messaging, and 365 services across the global organization as apart of the global employee experience org Manages budgeting across services Engages with senior leadership and business stakeholders to meet service expectations Works with 3rd party vendors to ensure we have the right tools to support business requests and requirements Implements agile and kanban methodologies to provide effective delivery across teams Develops IAM strategies to strengthen security posture Uses Entra PIM and governance to control cloud identity access

    • IT Manager - Cloud and Identity Services
      Aug 2021 - Mar 2024 · 2 yrs 8 mos

      Created new engineering team from ground up Manage global IT staff supporting core Microsoft services Product and Service owner of AD, AAD, Exchange/Exchange Online, M365, Intune Manage budgeting and expenditures across supported services Use agile methodolgy to streamline planned and unplanned work Collaborate with business and IT stakeholders to ensure continuity across supported services Manage team performance via semi-annual and annual reviews

  • MS System Engineer at Apex Systems
    Aug 2014 - Apr 2015 · 9 mos

    ·Server and storage infrastructure management from design through implementation and support ·Support Microsoft Exchange 2010/ 2013 Environment and Integrations with other Applications (e.g., MDM, Mobile Devices, Anti-Spam/Anti-Virus) ·Support Windows 2008/2012 environment ·System builds and configurations ·Day-to-day management of exchange servers ·Patch management ·Support Active Directory and Group Policy ·Support VMware infrastructure ·Work to ensure that the Systems and Storage Administration group exceeds expectations of our customers SLA. ·Use system monitoring tools to proactively manage the servers and applications. ·Ensure adequate system documentation ·Support the server and application procurement process, including ensuring appropriate equipment inventories and software licenses

  • Engineer at SyCom Technologies
    Apr 2012 - Aug 2014 · 2 yrs 5 mos

     Provides overnight and after hours technical support to small to enterprise size clients over the phone.  Responsible for Exchange/AD client issues on the team  Handling support for Office 365 clients  Vmware configurations for several clients  Performing troubleshooting of problems in hardware, software, peripherals and communications  Installing, integrating, and supporting desktop and server technologies such as Server 2008, Exchange 03/07/10, and AD  Interface with clients and communicate with management via Autotask ticketing software  Establishing and maintaining networks, servers, and systems by designing, proactively managing, and troubleshooting network problems  Operate master consoles to monitor the performance of computer systems and networks, and to coordinate computer network access and use  Configure, monitor, and maintain email applications or virus protection software  Monitor network performance to determine whether adjustments need to be made, and to determine where changes will need to be made in the future  Provide technical support for voice services and equipment, such as private branch exchange, voice mail system, and telecom system  Recommend changes to improve systems and network configurations, and determine hardware or software requirements related to such changes

  • Sr. Production Support Specialist/Platform Manager at Capital One
    Oct 2011 - Apr 2012 · 7 mos

     Accountable for overall production execution quality of managed applications  Defines and manages platform technology roadmap and leads matrixed teams to reach roadmap goals for managed applications  Leads regular platform risk identification and assessment, and drives risk mitigation efforts  Manages platform infrastructure and application capacity, performance, and operational health  Performs assessments of existing application monitoring requirements and implementation and drives enhancement of application monitoring quality  Provides oversight and management of third level support, run the engine enhancement, and defect resolution team  Accountable for deployment orchestration of application releases including review and approval of application release readiness for production deployment and support of release deployment  Provides oversight for infrastructure enhancement/build/decommission efforts for managed applications  Manages technical governance for platforms  Converts specifications about business problems into programming instructions.  Designs and codes programs; creates test transactions and runs tests; revises as necessary.  Conducts analysis of organizational needs and goals for the development and implementation of application systems  Reviews, analyzes, and modifies programming systems, including encoding, testing, debugging and installing for a large-scale system.  Maintains records to document program development and revisions.  Monitors operating efficiency of existing application systems

  • IT Manager at rand* construction corp
    Nov 2009 - Oct 2011 · 2 yrs

     Phone, email, and on-site support for 170 users  Manages several projects with company executives to organize how IT is run within the company.  Manages help desk technician  Support for 5 off-site locations in GA, FLA, CO, DC, and TX  Works under minimal supervision remotely and on-site  Blackberry Administration  Deployed and configured Kaseya VSA  Managing 10 servers including Server 2008/2003, Exchange 2007, Terminal Server, and SQL 2005,  Assist with company applications, i.e. Adobe products, MS Office 2007/2010 products, Sage Timberline, and Meridian Prolog  Manages Active Directory, DNS, DHCP and GPOs  EMC SAN monitoring and managing  Monitoring, managing, and troubleshooting Cisco 7940/7960 VOIP Phones  Troubleshooting various blackberry devices (8330, 8830, 8530, 9630, 9550, 9530), as well as android and apple devices  Develops all policies and procedures within IT  Travel to remote sites for extensive network installs and assistance (10-15%)  Manages Symantec backup tape system daily, Symantec 12.5  Purchaser and researcher of new hardware/software for company  Scripting with VB Script  Configuring and managing Cisco ASA firewalls and Cisco 2600 switches and Cisco 1841 routers, and VPN clients  Only IT employee for entire company up until August 2010  Assign duties and tasks to help desk technician  Installed and configured Exchange 2007 server  Installed and configured Terminal server on MS Server 2008  Constant research for improvements and processes in existing company applications or new ones.  Setup voice and video conferences between remote offices  IT strategic planning  Uses Hyper-V for virtualization  Handles all 3rd party vendor relations along with billing and invoicing