Hafiz Ahmed
Pickering,ON
Summary
Over fifteen years of technical experience in IT and OT Infrastructure Technology environment – Network Architecture, Implementation and Integration, Network Operation Centre, Cyber Security Management and Service Management in a client-facing organization
Managed over ten Complex Datacenter and Network infrastructure projects in Oil and GAS, Industrial Environment, Electrical Substations and Government and City, Telecom, Finance and Bank, Enterprise
Extensive knowledge of Project management discipline and the environment - strong strategy, planning, executions, monitoring, budgetary tracking, risk assessment, and management
Extensive experience leading, motivating and building relationships with a team to support and maintain IT environments and managing outsourced service delivery models across virtual teams and multiple geographies in North America, EU, and Asia for Network Operation Centre (NOC) -24/7 days a year.
Overview
17
17
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Senior Specialist Emerging Technology, CISO
City Of Toronto -
02.2023 - Current
- Develops and implements detailed plans and recommends cyber security policies/procedures regarding program-specific requirements for critical infrastructure and emerging technologies.
Conducts research into emerging technologies ensuring that such research considers developments within the field, corporate policies and practices, legislation and initiatives by other levels of government.
Designs proper sets of Operational Technologies (OT) and Internet of Things (IoT) security architecture controls to ensure authenticity, non-repudiation, and least privilege commensurate with risk requirements.
Performs cyber review of OT and IoT technologies in targeted processes across all areas of the organization. Designs, develops, tests, and implements security controls in Emerging Technology (Emerging Technologies (e.g. Election Technologies, Autonomous Vehicles, 5G, Blockchain, Artificial Intelligence, Quantum Sensing)) projects.
Facilitates critical decisions involving IoT, OT and Emerging Technology architecture and systems. - Identified issues, analyzed information and provided solutions to problems.
Sr. Network Consultant, Advanced Solutions
iS5 Communications
Mississauga
07.2018 - 01.2023
- Lead networking consultant responsible for Advanced Solutions for OT operations and opportunities, oversees a technical services and support team and preferred partner, teams and develops and manages budgets within budgetary limitations
- Led cross-functional project teams to identify and implement cost-effective technological solutions
- Develop analytical frameworks and executive-level presentations to achieve buy-in and adoption of new initiatives and strategic recommendations
- Communications, design, consulting and integration for Oil and Gas, City, Electric Utilities and SCADA systems to provide best-breed networking and cyber security solutions
- Implemented ITIL-based Incident, Change, Asset and Service Level Management processes and realigned support structure to control overtime without sacrificing support
- Continues to run extensive Networking and Cyber Security implementations, with 50% of the time dedicated to post-sale networking and security implementations
- Major Accomplished Project
- Major Accomplished Project:
- DEWA Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) Network and Cyber Security Architecture Project: Fortis BC September 2019 – October 2019
Technical Lead and Project Manager
Achievement Completed all substations, including their control room network upgradation, design and
optimization, and implementation within two months and provided an end-to-end cyber security
solution. Also, there was integration with BC Hydro.
Project: BGMU - Bowling Green Municipal Utilities (BGMU) February 2020
Technical Lead and Project Manager
Achievement: Provided End to end network solutions for BGMU substations which included industrial
Network Design, Implementation, and integration with the National Grid network and Cyber security
Solutions Architect
Independent Consultant
09.2016 - 06.2018
- As a short-term managing critical Infrastructure projects, supporting network operations
- Contracted with Tech Valley Network as a Technical Expert for managing critical Infrastructure projects, supporting network design and planning and implementation engineers
- Provided Professional Service to diverse customers for business requirements analysis, design, planning and implement network topologies that provide the highest level of availability
- Identified opportunities for process and procedure enhancements to drive efficiency, customer service, business continuity, and best practices to improve customer service and network management
- Worked with implementation engineers to educate them on technical solutions to be delivered to customers and provide support during implementations
Networking Principal Consultant
NTT Data Canada Inc, (Morgan Stanley)
06.2016 - 08.2016
- Managed Services - Morgan Stanley Projects and Service Desk, provided 2nd level support on standard systems, incident management and resolving problems with network components remotely in NA, EU & Asia
- Led a team that designed, implemented, and supported mission-critical Network infrastructure, including best practices for high availability, resiliency, manageability, and reliability
- Ensured network uptime was 99% followed by SLAs, effectively managed initiative support team
- Defined and maintained internal Service Desk Support performance indicators for quality assurance in support of customer-facing performance indicators
- Technologies used such as VTP, VLAN, STP, MSTP, PVST, Portfast, Trunk, HSRP, TCP/IP, EIGRP, OSPF, BGP, GRE, Ethernet-Channel, WLAN, Packet tracing and security, ASA, Firewall Services Module
- The corporate data center network used within the Cisco suite of products includes routers, Router -7200 / 7600/ISR/ASR/Nexus series, L2/L3 switches Catalyst 6500, 4500 series, Security – ASA 55xx, FWSM, IPS, FireEye
- Participated in team projects, demonstrating an ability to work collaboratively and effectively
Network Administrator
International Credit Expert Inc
12.2014 - 05.2016
- Managed all the Projects and Services Desk Operation and Business Applications using Helpdesk Ticketing System to record all events, incidents, changes and configuration
- Optimized network performance, which increased network and system uptime to 99.9%
- Developed and managed Service Level Agreements (SLA) to maintain stellar service levels
- Managed the end client’s relationships, including handling escalated calls and managing the vendors
- (Hardware, software, service), licensing, and maintenance of all IT systems and equipment
- Managed network suppliers' performance against contracts and statements of work and took the initiative when contracts failed to address issues important to the business
- Technologies used VTP, VLAN, STP, Portfast, Trunk, OSPF, BGP, Ethernet-channel, wireless, network security, Active Directory, DNS, DHCP, Exchange, VMWare
- Major Accomplished Project:
- Project: ShoreTel IP telephony /, Achievement Led new IP Telephony System for Call Centers / 150 seats (ShoreTel IP Phone Solutions) Project, saving almost CAD 25,000 by selecting the right vendor and products
- Also, I restructured the existing data network infrastructure to optimize overall costs for the platform.
Manager
Tech Valley Networks Ltd, Council
01.2007 - 11.2014
- Managed multiple Projects and Services for various significant enterprises, banks, telecom operators and other organizations enriched with the PM and ITIL best practices
- Managed and motivated employees to be productive and engaged in work and
- Accomplished multiple tasks within established timeframes.
- Ensured Help desk tickets were adequately categorized according to pre-defined priority levels and accurate assignment of tickets to relevant teams to ensure network uptime of 99.99% followed by SLAs
- Supported network service delivery processes and implemented governance to deliver superior IT operational performance for various client organizations
- Built, maintained, and managed relations with Business Partners' requirements concerning the network, service development, consulting, and proposing solutions and accountability for their delivery
- Managed all project management functions, including work breakdown and cost estimation/budget, scheduling, monitoring, and tracking technical progress against the defined timetables and budgets, and staff assignment and development
- Communicated clearly with employees, suppliers and stakeholders to keep everyone on the same page and working toward established business goals
- Controlled resources and assets for department activities to comply with industry standards and government regulations
Education
Bachelor’s Degree (B.Sc. Hons) - Computer Science
National University
Dhaka Bangladesh2003
Skills
- TECHNICAL SKILLS
- Cyber Security Solution, Policy Development and Implement Tenable OT Security Solution, Fortinet NGFW, Palo Alto NGFW, Checkpoint NGFW, Nozomi Networks, Forescount- manage cyber risk through automation and data-powered insights, XONA, Scribbler, T
- Networks: Networking and data communication Protocols - In-depth knowledge of the OSI model TCP/IP, VLAN, QoS, Subnetting, Security Space – (Firewalls, ACL, NAT, IPsec), VPN, Remote Access VPN, IP Routing and Switching -STP, RSTP, MSTP, VTP, EIGRP, OSPF, BGP, DHCP, HSRP/VRRP, Wireless Network, Structured Cabling, Load Balancing, VOIP, IP/Sip Telephony, UNIFIED COMMUNICATIONS, IEC 61850 -SCADA, Modbus, Goose, DNP3, Private Vlans concerning L2/L3 switches, SDWAN, SDN
- Virtualization, Configuration management, Configuration deployment, OS patching Virtual environments and cloud-based technology
- Operating Systems: Microsoft Windows; Windows Servers and related technologies - Exchange, Active Directory, DHCP, Linux
- Design and Architecture: Enterprise Architecture - Network Solution, Design and Cyber Security Infrastructure Technology Infrastructure Assessment, Design Planning and Implementation Backups and Disaster Recovery Planning
- Applications: Confluence- Team Workspace by Atlassian, Service Now, VMware, Network Monitoring & Management – RaptorEye, WhatsUp Gold, Solarwinds, Cisco WebEx, Office 365 – MS Team, Word, Excel, Outlook, Project, Visio
- Hardware /System: Cisco suite of products includes routers and switches (Layer2 / Layer3), Router (Cisco 83/8200, ASR 900 Series), Nexus, RAPTOR Series, RUGGEDCOM RX Series, Cisco Catalyst (Cisco 37x, 45x, 65x, 96x), Cisco's Catalyst IE3400 Security Appliances (IPS / IDS, ASA Firewalls), FWSM Module, Serial Device Server, Cisco Meraki, Cisco Wireless Controller, Load balancer, Wireless AP, ShoreTel IP Telephony System, Server, Storage, Laptop and Desktop Technologies, Mobile devices
Certification
- CISSP - Working towards CISSP certification
- ITIL Foundation Certified in IT Service Management (ITSM)
- Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA)
- Cisco Certified Internetwork Expert (CCIE R&S) - Written
- PM -Project Management & Professional Training
- Agile and Scrum Certification with Hands-on Exercises and Practice Training
Timeline
Senior Specialist Emerging Technology, CISO
City Of Toronto -
02.2023 - Current
Sr. Network Consultant, Advanced Solutions
iS5 Communications
07.2018 - 01.2023
Solutions Architect
Independent Consultant
09.2016 - 06.2018
Networking Principal Consultant
NTT Data Canada Inc, (Morgan Stanley)
06.2016 - 08.2016
Network Administrator
International Credit Expert Inc
12.2014 - 05.2016
Manager
Tech Valley Networks Ltd, Council
01.2007 - 11.2014
Bachelor’s Degree (B.Sc. Hons) - Computer Science
National University
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