Atif Riaz
Ajax,ON
Summary
- Results-oriented Technical Consultant with over 20 years of experience and a master's in Computer Science.
- Proven expertise in designing and implementing innovative solutions to optimize business operations.
- Adept at bridging the gap between business objectives and technical requirements, exceeding client expectations.
- Skilled in project management, end-to-end client service delivery, team leadership, and cutting-edge technologies, with a commitment to driving efficiency and maximizing ROI.
Overview
21
21
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Senior Technical Consultant
Densify
02.2019 - 11.2023
- Analyzed public cloud and container resources (AWS, Azure, GCP, Kubernetes) for customers, offering optimization recommendations to reduce cost and improve efficiency.
- Served as a Technical Lead for key enterprise accounts, engaging with customers' technical teams to address production issues/questions, conduct analyses, and lead troubleshooting efforts.
- Managed migration projects for multiple customers, overseeing the transition of VMware-based workloads to cloud and containers (AWS, Azure, GCP, Kubernetes).
- Designed and implemented customized cloud pricing packages, incorporating intricate discount structures for accurate cost calculations in Densify software to meet customer needs.
- Specialized in backend product areas, crafting and implementing customized analysis rulesets to fulfill unique customer business requirements. Effectively communicated the structure, characteristics, and functionalities of Densify software and integrations/customizations to stakeholders.
- Established processes and a knowledge base in Confluence, while mentoring new hires and junior consultants.
- Cultivated collaborative relationships with clients and internal cross-functional teams, including Professional Services, Account Management, Support/Operations, Engineering, Sales, and Product Management.
Technical Consultant
Densify
03.2017 - 02.2019
- Managed end-to-end client service delivery, encompassing installation, configuration, integration, customization, on-site/remote training covering Densify software features and use cases in diverse customer environments.
- Specialized in automation projects, notably streamlining the implementation of Densify's resizing/rebalancing recommendations for VMware environments, optimizing infrastructure performance and reducing costs.
- Functioned as the subject matter expert (SME) for Software License Cost Optimization projects, aiding customers in managing and reducing third-party software license costs for operating systems and applications.
- Provided expertise on various features of Densify software, including demand and supply management, workload routing, and capacity forecasting and reservation.
- Conducted client workshops to gather low-level design requirements for software deployments, customizations, and integrations. Engaged in policy discussions to ensure accurate analysis and optimization of compute infrastructure/services for both VMware and Cloud environments.
- Led root cause analysis on technical issues with Densify software and services integrations/customizations, providing solutions and implementing permanent fixes.
Transformation Analyst
Densify
10.2012 - 02.2017
- Provided end-to-end analysis/assessment services for partners, covering the entire project lifecycle from pre-sales to post-sales. Responsibilities encompassed software installation, configuration, data collection, efficiency analyses, and generation of comprehensive reports and deliverables.
- Translated business requirements into specific analysis needs and conducted virtualization readiness, cloud readiness, and virtualization performance health check assessments for workload migration, datacenter consolidation, optimizing operational efficiency and reducing costs.
- Managed transformation initiatives (P2V, V2V, V2C) using policy-driven analytics for what-if scenario modeling.
- Conducted training sessions for technical teams and created software training videos for documentation purposes.
- Managed multiple projects concurrently, meeting SLAs, ensuring customer satisfaction, and delivering timely results.
- Ensured quality assurance testing for new releases of Densify software and actively participated in departmental process development and improvement projects.
Service Desk Analyst
RBC
09.2012 - 10.2012
- Exceeded SLA and OLA targets by providing comprehensive technical support for hardware, applications, and client-server communication.
- Led incident management and escalation processes, ensuring compliance with RBC problem resolution procedures and policies.
- Demonstrated strong commitment to First Call Resolution by identifying operational problems, offering recommendations for solutions and improvement, and proactively seeking process streamlining opportunities.
- Managed order fulfillment for networked and non-networked equipment, overseeing logical access and processing MAC requests.
Technical Support Specialist
IBM
10.2011 - 09.2012
- Delivered comprehensive 1st and 2nd level remote support for a 60,000-user global client, MSSB (Morgan Stanley Smith Barney), addressing diverse issues spanning operating systems, software applications, hardware, network, websites, databases, and security.
- Leveraged MSSB's proprietary knowledge base for effective troubleshooting and implementation of fixes/workarounds.
- Played a pivotal role in surpassing service level targets for around 45 SLAs between IBM and MSSB.
- Collaborated with internal teams such as CTS, IMAC, DSA, Severity Coordinators, and Knowledge Management to ensure timely and accurate resolution of user issues and requests.
Project Manager and Technical Consultant
MH&D Solutions L.L.C.
03.2006 - 07.2011
- Managed project lifecycles for diverse in-house and third-party software solutions, emphasizing comprehensive planning and effective stakeholder communication to achieve timely and budget-conscious outcomes.
- Obtained approvals for project deliverables and managed post-project AMCs/SLAs, ensuring customer satisfaction.
- Delivered expert software consultancy to clients in public and private sectors, actively contributing to pre-sales activities through presentations, demonstrations, and proof of concepts.
- Planned and executed software implementation and training projects, tailoring solutions to client requirements.
- Designed and maintained a dynamic knowledge base for software solutions, ensuring regular updates.
- Administered and troubleshooted the company's internal network, servers and user desktops.
Technical Support Engineer
Galaxy International Group
02.2003 - 02.2006
- Led technical pre-sales activities, presenting diverse software solutions (ITSM, CRM, ERP, Network Management).
- Managed end-to-end project processes, including software implementations, configurations, troubleshooting, and customer trainings.
- Provided post-sales technical support in adherence to SLAs and AMCs.
- Administered and troubleshooted the company's internal network, servers and user desktops.
Education
Masters - Master of Computer Science
Newports Institute of Communications And Economics
01.2003
Bachelors - Bachelor of Science
University of the Punjab
01.1998
Skills
- Technical Leadership
- Team Mentoring
- Issue Resolution/Troubleshooting
- Quality Assurance Testing
- Technical Consulting
- Pre-Sales and Post-Sales Technical Support
- Project Planning and Management
- Data and Requirements Analysis
- Knowledge Management
- Solution Implementation and User Training
- Virtualization, Cloud, and Containers Infrastructure
- Interdepartmental Communications
Certification
- IT Information Library Foundations Certification (ITIL) - AXELOS Global Best Practice
- Microsoft Certified System Administrator (MCSA) - Microsoft
- Microsoft Certified Professional (MCP) - Microsoft
- Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA) - Cisco
- Sun Certified Java Professional (SCJP) - Sun Microsystems
- Amazon Web Services Cloud Practitioner - Amazon Web Services (AWS)
References
References available upon request.
Timeline
Senior Technical Consultant
Densify
02.2019 - 11.2023
Technical Consultant
Densify
03.2017 - 02.2019
Transformation Analyst
Densify
10.2012 - 02.2017
Service Desk Analyst
RBC
09.2012 - 10.2012
Technical Support Specialist
IBM
10.2011 - 09.2012
Project Manager and Technical Consultant
MH&D Solutions L.L.C.
03.2006 - 07.2011
Technical Support Engineer
Galaxy International Group
02.2003 - 02.2006
Masters - Master of Computer Science
Newports Institute of Communications And Economics
Bachelors - Bachelor of Science
University of the Punjab