Summary & Core Competencies
Professional Summary
- 5+ years of IT experience
- 3+ year of Cloud Platform experience
- Skilled in management of Linux and Windows server environments
- Strong understanding of TCP/IP Protocols
- Specializing in microservices solutions (Kubernetes and Docker) and cloud hosting
- Proficient in SQL service management
Technical Skills
- Cloud & Network Security: Azure Firewall, Web Application Firewall (WAF), NSG, Sophos XG, Microsoft Defender for Cloud.
- Infrastructure Management: IaaS, PaaS, SaaS, VPN/Tunnel connectivity, on-premises network upgrades.
- Automation & Scripting: PowerShell, Bash scripting, Power Automate Flows.
- Identity Access Management: User and service identity management, 3rd party integration.
- Software & Services: Nginx, Apache2, PHP, Redis Cache, Fail2Ban.
- Legacy Modernization: Upgrading and managing hybrid environments.
Soft Skills
- Leadership & Mentorship: Team leadership, mentoring, resource allocation.
- Communication: Leading client discussions, presenting solutions.
- Project Management: Scoping, budgeting, aligning technical solutions with business needs.
- Collaboration & Documentation: Knowledge sharing and documenting complex environments.
- Problem-Solving: Troubleshooting diverse software and services, implementing security policies.
Credentials: Certificates & Achievements
Professional History
Crimson Line - Solving IT
About: Cloud Service Provider
Website: https://www.crimsonline.co.za
Employment Period: March 2022 – Current
Title: Cloud Solutions Architect
Key Responsibilities
Project Exploration and Development
- Dive deep into new project opportunities sparked by incoming leads.
- Clearly outline requirements to ensure alignment with customer needs.
- Facilitate engaging discussions with clients to gather detailed requests.
- Craft and present tailored solution designs along with budget estimates that meet project goals.
Team Leadership and Development
- Empower team members through mentorship and skill-building initiatives.
- Gather and organize essential documentation from complex environments to enhance knowledge sharing.
- Strategically manage resource allocation to balance workloads effectively and keep projects on track.
Networking Expertise
- Oversee and implement upgrades to keep on-premises networks running smoothly.
- Develop and deploy VPN and tunnel connectivity solutions for secure communications.
- Design and configure networks that perfectly fit organizational needs, ensuring optimal performance.
Infrastructure Modernization
- Revitalize outdated environments by modernizing legacy systems for improved efficiency.
- Manage a diverse array of environments, including PaaS, SaaS, IaaS, and on-premises infrastructure.
Services and Software Management
- Troubleshoot and oversee a variety of essential software and services, including Nginx, Apache2, PHP, Redis Cache, and Fail2Ban, ensuring seamless operations.
Identity Access Management
- Handle organization object management efficiently, overseeing users, groups, and service identities.
- Ensure smooth integration of third-party services into organizational domains for enhanced functionality.
Robust Security Measures
- Leverage a strong understanding of firewalls to safeguard organizational data.
- Manage and implement security solutions, including Sophos XG devices, Azure Firewall, Azure Web Application Firewall, and Azure NSG.
- Develop and execute Azure Policies to uphold organizational safety standards.
- Roll out Microsoft Defender for Cloud to provide continuous security posture assessments and compliance guidelines.
Automation for Efficiency
- Utilize PowerShell and Bash scripting to automate routine jobs and enhance software management.
- Implement Power Automate Flows to streamline administrative tasks for both clients and internal processes.
- Focus on automating mundane tasks, freeing up valuable time to boost productivity.
Accomplishments
- Implemented a Proactive Service/Infrastructure Monitoring Application.
Implemented a web application to monitor services and infrastructure health, delivering real-time alerts to technicians and client-based engineers through multiple communication channels.
This innovative solution allows for personalized dashboards for each specific scenario, API-based scheduling of maintenance windows to reduce false positives, and fully customizable health check probes — ensuring seamless monitoring and active response. - Designed a Secure Azure Admin API Solution.
Engineered a secure API framework enabling streamlined administration within Azure environments, utilizing an intelligent chat bot for command execution and logical feedback.
This solution ensures efficient, secure, and user-friendly management, enhancing productivity for the entire team. - Built a Granular Cost Analytics Tool for Azure Environments.
Developed an advanced cost-insight tool that goes beyond Azure’s default billing filters, providing detailed and actionable financial visibility across environments.
This tool empowers administrators with precision in budgeting, cost optimizing management and accurate forecasting. - Standardized Infrastructure Deployment Strategies with Terraform
Established a standardized infrastructure deployment blueprint using ARM templates, which was later converted to Terraform.
This reusable and adaptable framework accelerates deployment processes and supports consistent, scalable growth across day-to-day environments.
RAMM Technologies
About: Asset Tracking Solutions
Website: https://www.ramm.co.za
Employment Period: February 2019 – March 2022
Title: Systems Administrator
Key Responsibilities
Server Management
Perform routine troubleshooting, maintenance, and hardware repairs on physical and virtual servers to ensure consistent server uptime and performance.
Administer and optimize Microsoft Windows Server and Linux environments, addressing service issues and implementing updates or patches as necessary.
Conduct regular backups and data recovery processes to protect critical server data and support disaster recovery plans.
Systems Monitoring and Optimization
Use monitoring tools to track system performance metrics, identifying and addressing potential bottlenecks or failures proactively.
Set up alerts and automated responses for critical events to mitigate risks before they impact users or system availability.
Perform capacity planning to forecast future system needs, supporting scalability by optimizing hardware and software resources.
Virtualization Administration
Configure and manage Hyper-V environments, including virtual machine (VM) deployment, configuration, and resource allocation to maximize hardware utilization.
Conduct patch management and updates for Hyper-V servers and VMs to maintain a secure and compliant virtualization environment.
Linux Systems Support
Troubleshoot Linux server issues related to performance, connectivity, and security, collaborating with other team members as needed.
Configure and maintain essential Linux services, such as SSH, Nginx, and Samba, to support multi-platform connectivity and file sharing.
Document Linux configurations and procedures to ensure consistent setup and maintenance practices across servers.
Cloud Infrastructure Exposure (Microsoft Azure)
Assist with managing cloud infrastructure tasks within Microsoft Azure, such as setting up virtual networks, resource groups, and VMs.
Conduct basic troubleshooting of Azure resources, such as connectivity issues, storage configurations, and access control policies.
End-User Device Management
Perform diagnostics and repairs on laptops and desktops, addressing hardware and software issues to maintain productivity for end users.
Install and configure essential software, including operating systems, antivirus tools, and productivity applications, according to company policies.
Implement system imaging and deployment solutions to streamline the provisioning and setup of new or replacement devices.
Maintain an inventory of end-user devices, tracking warranties and lifecycle information to plan timely replacements or upgrades.
User Support and Issue Resolution
Provide remote and on-site technical support, resolving hardware and software issues efficiently to minimize user downtime.
Create and update knowledge base articles for common issues to empower users with self-help resources and improve support efficiency.
Documentation and Process Improvement
Document system configurations, maintenance schedules, and incident resolutions to maintain a clear record of IT operations and support consistency.
Create and maintain standard operating procedures (SOPs) for routine tasks, such as server maintenance and device setups, to streamline processes.
Conduct regular reviews of documentation to ensure it reflects current infrastructure and best practices, supporting smooth onboarding for new team members.
Accomplishments
Web-Based Asset Management Solution
Spearheaded the rollout of an asset management system to enhance tracking and auditing of company-owned assets, streamlining financial audits and providing a comprehensive record of repairs and upgrades on all devices and equipment.NextCloud On-Premises Adoption
Supported the deployment of an internal data collaboration suite using NextCloud as a cost-effective alternative to M365, facilitating secure and efficient collaboration without additional licensing expenses.Zabbix Network Monitoring Deployment
Deployed Zabbix to monitor critical network metrics, alert the technical team to connectivity issues, and provide detailed network infrastructure diagrams, enhancing proactive management and system visibility.Proxmox Cluster Adoption as Hypervisor
Contributed to the adoption of Proxmox Clustering, reducing hypervisor licensing costs and improving storage redundancy within the environment, thus enhancing scalability and data resilience.