Cloud Platforms & Infrastructure Solutions Architect
Sanlam Group: GTI
Total years of experience :30 years, 4 Months
Having spent 5 years heading-up Sanlam’s SharePoint environment, and a previous 3 years as Sanlam’s Microsoft Infrastructure Architect, the availability of cloud technologies in the organization prompted a move to the datacenter department for a new challenge. He was appointed as Solutions Architect: Cloud Platforms & Infrastructure where he is currently driving the transformation to an automated cloud and modern datacenter with solutions for deployment, ongoing management, and compliance for IT infrastructure via:
• Automated rapid, self-service infrastructure provisioning with orchestration
• Visibility into performance, usage, capacity and cost show back
• Advanced monitoring & configuration
Key Performance Indicators:
• Automation of the Data Center including end-to-end server provisioning & Cloud Solutions
• Management and administration of Sanlam’s Azure, AWS & IBM Cloud environments
• Evangelizing and ensuring the adoption and optimal use of clouds by the Sanlam Group companies
• Cloud Governance, Architecture and Roadmap Planning
• Maintaining Data Center and Cloud Vendor relations
Forums & Bodies:
• Cloud Workgroup (Chair)
• Architecture Forum
• End User Collaboration Competency
• Service Provider Management Forum
Naz was appointed as the Service Manager for the Shared SharePoint Service after evangelizing and
implementing Microsoft’s SharePoint within The Sanlam Group and has:
• Established the Sanlam Group’s Multi-Tenant Shared SharePoint Service with partners, Intervate & Microsoft Consulting Services.
• Designed the infrastructure for the various SharePoint intranet & extranet environments
• Co-authored the design of the SharePoint Application Architecture with Intervate
• Co-authored the SharePoint Governance Document with Intervate
• Authored the Request For Proposal document for a tender to select 2 preferred SharePoint partners
• Authored the SharePoint Service Description for the new Service Provider
• Designed and implemented the Service Desk processes to support the new service
• Facilitated the sale & implementation of various SharePoint Projects for businesses including 6
intranets, 2 extranets and the Sanlam public websites.
• Optimized the platform with the addition of the DocAve & SCOM Toolsets as well as the addition of
Citrix NetScaler Load Balancing
• Introduced the Microsoft Productivity Hub and SharePoint Learning Kit for user training
• Establishing and chairing the Sanlam Group’s Shared SharePoint Governing Body
Key Performance Indicators:
• Operational management of the Sanlam Group’s SharePoint Shared Service
• Evangelizing and ensuring the adoption and optimal use of SharePoint by the Sanlam Group companies
• Creating new business from the Sanlam Group companies on the Shared SharePoint Platform for:
• Intranet, Extranet, and Internet Portals
• Line-of-Business Applications on SharePoint
• Migrations to SharePoint including the Sanlam Personal Finance Lotus Notes applications
• SharePoint Governance, Architecture, Risk and Financial Management, and Roadmap Planning
∂ People (7 Direct Reports) and Vendor Management
Forums & Bodies:
• SharePoint Governing Body (Chair)
• e-Business Technology Workgroup
• Architecture Forum
• Identity & Access Management Governing Body
• Change Advisory Board
• Mobile Technology Workgroup
In October 2007 Naz joined The Sanlam Group as Microsoft Infrastructure Architect in the Group’s Technology and Information business unit. In this role he has completed the following:
• Performed an Active Directory Health Check and Risk Assessment (ADRAP) with Microsoft Consulting Services
• Stabilized, then virtualized the Active Directory environments
• Drafted the Active Directory Service Description for the RPF to appoint a new Service Provider
• Designed an off-site Disaster Recovery Solution for Active Directory
• Decommissioned 5 legacy Active Directory environments
• Designed and implemented a new Minimum Managed Environment (Sandbox Active Directory) for legacy applications.
• Engaged with Microsoft Consulting Services for the co-design and implementation of hardening Windows Server 2003 utilizing Security Baseline Policies.
• Co-authored the design and then managed the implementation of Microsoft System Center Operations Manager 2007 R2 & with Dimension Data across the Sanlam Group’s Active Directory environments spanning:
Sanlam Personal Finance, Sanlam Investment Management, Sanlam Sky Solutions and Glacier
• Co-authored the design and then managed the implementation of Microsoft System Center Virtual Machine Manager 2008 R2 & with Dimension Data & migrated regional servers from Microsoft Virtual Server 2005 to Windows Server 2008 R2 Hyper-V Core.
• Implemented a Team Document Collaboration Solution based on Windows SharePoint Services 3.0
• Constructed 3 year roadmaps
• Managed the upgrade of Active Directory from Windows Server 2003 to Windows Server 2008 R2 Core
• Authored the new standards for the deployment of Windows Server 2008 and for applications running on Windows Server 2008 and Windows 7.
• Served as Architectural Lead for the Group Security Initiative for Platform Hardening on Windows Server 2008 & Windows 7 for all Sanlam Group companies and migration of the Santam & Sanlam Sky Solutions Active Directories to the central Sanlam GTI Active Directory with partner Dimension Data.
Consulted to Sanlam Personal Finance on:
• The Windows Server 2008 Upgrade Project
• The Migration of Active Directory from VMware to Windows Server 2008 R2 Hyper-V Core
• The design & implementation of the new Windows Server 2008 R2 Server Core File Cluster Solution.
Key Performance Indicators:
• Accountable for managing the Sanlam Group’s Active Directory Governance and Architecture
• Provide internal consulting to projects utilizing Microsoft Infrastructure such as Windows Server Systems, Desktop Systems and Security
• Construction and maintenance of technology & financial roadmaps
• Infrastructure lifecycle management and planning
• Plan, design, implement and maintain new infrastructure and upgrades according to governance, SLAs, capacity and availability requirements and budget
• Evangelism for optimal exploitation of relevant technology features in Microsoft products
• Conduct infrastructure research, technical evaluations and P.O.C.s
• Oversee infrastructure certification activities
• Construct infrastructure business cases and do benefit calculations
• 4th-line Infrastructure trouble-shooting
• Infrastructure risk assessment and mitigation planning
• Development of standards, policies and procedures for consistent infrastructure management
• Infrastructure optimization and cost containment including standardization, etc.
• Provide inputs on service ratings and service descriptions
• Participate in vendor and service provider selection process
• Provide content for and participate in infrastructure and services RFQ/RFI/ RFP processes
• Advise and assist with IT continuity planning and DR architecture
• Establishment of the Sanlam Group’s Shared SharePoint 2010 Service with partners, Intervate & Microsoft Consulting Services.
Naz joined the TFG’s Info-tech division in 2002 for the roll-out of Active Retail, the group’s new Microsoft Windows 2000-based Point-of-Sale System, across 585 locations in South Africa, Namibia, Botswana and Swaziland, comprising 1500 retail outlets, 600 servers and 4500 workstations.
Responsibilities included the design, specifications, integration, configuration, implementation, and 3rd-line support of:
• PC-based POS Hardware, Enterprise-Level IBM servers, Microsoft Active Directory Services, Windows
2000 and 2003 Operating Systems and an Anti-Virus • Monitoring Solution
• 7 Staging Areas and 7 Training Facilities located across South Africa and Namibia.
• Also tasked with liaising with suppliers and vendors.
• Training of support staff, lab research, feasibility studies, investigations, performance and scalability
testing, disaster recovery planning and procedures, security and documentation.
• Served on the TFG Info-tech IT SWAT Team (IT Special Weapons & Tactics)
After the completion of the POS roll-out in 2007 Naz took ownership of the Foschini Group’s Microsoft Operations Manager 2005 Monitoring System in the TFG Info-tech Infrastructure Department and successfully:
• Stabilized the entire MOM2005 Environment
• Re-architected the environment and optimized the Operating Systems, Hardware, Storage, Database and MOM2005 Application Components
• Deployed the solution to 200 Head Office and Regional servers
• Implemented Mobile Phone Notifications
• Implemented SQL 2005 Reporting Services with Automated Snapshot Reports
• Implemented a Custom Security Model for the solution
• Implemented Team-based Monitoring Consoles for the various teams within TFG Info-tech
Shell first contracted Naz for an upgrade of the company’s PEC 8850 POS System at all petrol stations across South Africa. Responsibilities included site visits, technical documentation, implementation procedures and liaising with support companies. His contract was then extended for a second project to roll-out the company’s new e-Fuel Vehicle Tagging System to all major Shell petrol stations in South Africa. Here responsibilities included implementation management, consulting, configuration and staff training.
For this start-up e-Commerce company Naz designed implemented and configured the Local and Wide Area
Networks and Systems running Windows NT4 and Windows 2000 Servers. He was then tasked with
commissioning and roll-out of NCR and PC-based Self-Service POS Kiosks for the vending of Cellular Airtime, Bill Payments and Tickets to 400 sites including Engen Oil’s service stations, Spar Supermarkets and various high-profile
Shopping Malls.
During his 3 years from 1999 to 2001 he was also responsible for the recruitment and
training of technical staff, lab research and testing, support, disaster recovery procedures, supplier and partner liaisons and consulting on new and emerging technologies to senior management.
In 1994 Naz joined this small retailer in the motor industry to transfer a completely manual paper-based system to an electronic one. He provided senior management with a cost-effective solution for an end-to-end system comprising of hardware, networking and a software package which included modules such as POS, inventory control, finance and reporting. The POS system was initially implemented on the Microsoft DOS Operating System and then migrated to a Windows-based system with redundancy and performance improvements.
Grade 12: English Afrikaans Math Physical Science Biology Geography
