IT Director
MENACOM
Total years of experience :26 years, 10 Months
• Accountable for managing and coordinating all aspects of all technology including implementing and maintaining best practices /standards in the IT infrastructure, data centers, project deliveries, IT Support and help desk, communication networks (voice and data), software development, and IT operations. global reporting in EMEA London HO .
Strategy and Planning
• The Job involves interaction with the business unit’s heads that drive new business initiatives and get align with objectives and strategies.
• Maintaining the forecasting budgets and run the quarterly checksum to limit the desired threshold.
Technology / Staff Leadership
• VMware/Cloud Messaging -Maintaining 99.99 % uptime through capacity planning and virtualization, reduction in IT administration after adopting virtual environment, moving traditional messaging to cloud 0365 .
• Data Archiving/HSM -Deploying auto data archiving HSM, migrating history data to 2nd tier storage and cut down the cost.
• Egnyte Partnering - enterprise cloud storage / FTP resources for clients/Partners
• SLA-OLA-UC -Select, manage and control IT providers, developing service provider partnerships mechanism.
• BCP-DR Plan -Deploying IT assessment metrics to avoid high risk for business critical application & business continuity plan
• IT Meetings Daily interaction with all IT teams for knowledge sharing and group updates.
• IT Helpdesk -implementing manage engine IT helpdesk system- “service Desk “ to minimize IT overload and accelerate efficiency for IT dept.
• Risk Assessment reporting - reporting to the board on all major IT initiatives addressing and mitigating all business critical issues
• Sophos SGN/Casper - Data safeguard encryption and manageability
• Landesk/GPO - Application deployment and secure remote support, Inventory
• Backup Exec/Cronos - Windows/Mac backup, rotation, retention plan, offsite backup plan
• Centralized Antivirus - Sophos centralized antivirus protection
Cost Saving and IT Management
• Tactical Strategy - Continuous cut in IT spend, with enterprise level agreement with (Xerox, Microsoft, Cisco ) SLAs ISP operators ( DU, Etisalat ) under a corporate bulk deal .
• PABX integration for regional office, deploying O365 pro plus and Lync for inter office communication, Audio / Video conferencing calls
• IT Capex Budget -Preparing an Annual IT budget, capex-Expenses scheduling .
IT Operations and leadership roles, vendor negotiations, cost control and IT infrastructure, Utilizing server hardware platforms, SAN, NAS, switching, Astaro firewalls, LAN/WAN, VPN and RSA technology, data center operations and global reporting in EMEA London HO
Infrastructure and IT Management
• IT Security : Astaro firewall implementation for secure data transportation between the group companies
• Messaging: Lotus Domino 8, Office 365, Mail migration lotus to Microsoft office 365, BES
• AV : Centralized Antivirus implementation Symantec , Sophos
• Routing/ Switching: Network Topology design and deployment for group companies operating in Middle East.
• Backup EXEC for windows & Mac data backup
• Deployed Wsus for windows security updates & server monitoring tools for risk management
• Virtualization project - planning, deploying and administration
• Server consolidation - converting P2V migration tools
• Secure remote :VPN, IPsec clients for remote/mobile users
• IT Asset inventory & Annual budget planning
• Firewall configuration and maintenance Nortel Contivity, Checkpoint NG 4.1, Remote connectivity for mobile users
• Messaging Lotus Domino server configuration and maintenance. Mail Marshal Anti-spam, Antivirus
• Routing/Switching : Static routing, RIP V2, EIGRP
• HP SAN Administration & maintenance
• Active Directory 2003 Planning & Deployment.
• SQL Server Configuration & Administration.
• Citrix Application Server: Remote Connectivity & Mobility for Remote offices Local File & Print Services Mapping. Server farm Total Capacity Planning for 200 Users with Load balancing.
• Configuration of Cisco Routers (1600, 2600) and Cisco Catalyst Switches (1900 )
• Planning & Implementation of IP addressing scheme & Configuration of Layer 2 Switches
• Installation & configuration Dell, IBM, Compaq, HP & cloned Machines.
• Planning & Installation Of Windows NT Server 4 (PDC & BDC & Exchange 5.5)
• Installation & Configuration of WINS, DHCP, DNS Creation of user Accounts & user rights, Logon Banner, Application, File & Print Servers.
• Monitoring installation and performance of Messaging and Development servers
• Providing first & second level support to users on the Servers & Desktops on hardware & software related issues.
• Hardware and Software asset management & Documentation.
• Coordinating With vendors to resolve and closing the call at the earliest.
1.NT Specialist for DCS Systems (Foxboro) at Rallis Site. Tata group of company 2.The presentation of the system with respect to its operational features with Companies overseas clients. Involvement in technical and commercial discussions with vendor for the upgradation of the systems to match the advance requirements.3.Installation of Windows NT server/workstation Configuration of TCP/IP and server like DNS, WINS, full Foxboro DCS installation. 4.Software Development Under SQL 7, V.B 6 (History for Data for Windows, which is Dynamic Data exchange)I was also responsible for the installation, configuration & maintenance of proxy server running on ISDN line with its around 10 proxy clients, where security & restriction was a major part.