My name is Matthew Levy. I was born in Johannesburg, South Africa and now live in Cape Town, South Africa.
I have spent more than 26 years working in IT, building and securing enterprise environments across the Microsoft ecosystem. Today I work as a Security Consultant and Architect, specialising in identity and access security, with a strong focus on Microsoft cloud technologies such as Entra ID, Microsoft 365, and Azure.
Over the years my career has evolved alongside Microsoft’s identity platform itself. What started with on-premises Active Directory and Exchange environments has moved steadily into cloud identity, Zero Trust architecture, and modern security controls.
Where it started
I started my IT career in 1999 during the lead-up to the Y2K transition. My job was preparing thousands of IBM OS/2 machines for the millennium change by replacing them with Windows NT 4 Workstations.
It was a practical, hands-on introduction to enterprise IT. That early exposure to Windows domains, directory services, and messaging systems shaped the direction of my career.
From there I followed the evolution of Microsoft enterprise infrastructure through Active Directory, Exchange, and eventually into cloud identity platforms such as Entra ID.
What I work on today
My work now focuses primarily on identity architecture and security design. I work with organisations to build secure identity platforms using Microsoft’s cloud services and Zero Trust principles.
Typical areas I work in include:
- Microsoft Entra ID architecture and security
- Conditional Access design and identity protection
- Application governance and service principal security
- Microsoft Intune and device compliance
- Microsoft Defender integrations and security posture improvements
- PowerShell automation and Microsoft Graph
- Hybrid identity and cloud migrations
I spend a lot of time helping organisations think strategically about identity. Identity has become the control plane of modern security, and designing it correctly has a massive impact on an organisation’s overall security posture.
Community and knowledge sharing
Outside of consulting work, I spend time sharing knowledge with the broader community.
I write about identity, access control, and Microsoft security technologies on this site and occasionally contribute to other blogs and community discussions. I also engage with Microsoft product groups and provide feedback through community channels.
I have been recognised as a Microsoft Most Valuable Professional (MVP) in the Security category for several years, primarily for my work around Microsoft Entra ID and identity security.
Outside of technology
Before my career in IT fully took over, sport was a big part of my life.
I represented South Africa multiple times in Aerobic Gymnastics and competed at the 2009 World Games in Kaohsiung, Taiwan. It remains one of the most memorable experiences of my life.
These days my competitive gymnastics days are behind me, but I still enjoy being active. Living in Cape Town means I have access to some of the best trails and mountains in the world, so most of my free time is spent trail running, hiking, or exploring the outdoors.
If you’ve ever hiked Lion’s Head at sunrise, you’ll understand why.
Why this site exists
This blog is where I share what I learn.
Much of what I write about comes directly from real projects, troubleshooting sessions, or questions that come up when working with identity platforms at scale.
If something here helps you solve a problem or understand a concept more clearly, then the site has done its job.
