Mahmoud A.-Senior Network Operations & Security Architect
Check rate
Experience
Senior Network & Security Architect (Founder)
ZeroTrust Network & Security
- Founded an independent consultancy delivering network operations, cybersecurity, implementation, and troubleshooting services across the Netherlands, Europe, UK, Turkey, and the Middle East.
- Administered and configured enterprise and industrial network environments, including Cisco and HP Aruba/HPE switching; delivered changes, expansions, migrations, and on-site hardware installation.
- Applied structured analysis to resolve routing, switching, firewall, segmentation, and connectivity disruptions for enterprise and industrial clients.
Network Operations Manager & Cybersecurity Lead
Verizon
- Maintained 99.999% availability across a 14-country MEA backbone for 17 consecutive years, managing 200+ PoPs and transcontinental IP/MPLS infrastructure.
- Operated and optimized large-scale Cisco and Juniper routing and switching environments using BGP, OSPF, MPLS, VXLAN, telemetry, and topology redesign; reduced latency by 18%.
- Planned and implemented network changes, expansions, upgrades, and migrations while protecting service continuity and customer SLAs.
- Led 10+ M&A; network integrations, harmonizing BGP policies and firewall rule bases across 4,000+ devices without customer-facing outages.
- Analyzed and resolved major network and security incidents; managed SOC L1–L3 operations, incident-response playbooks, threat hunting, and ransomware defense.
Network Planning, Design & Implementation Engineer
Orange
- Delivered carrier-grade IP/MPLS infrastructures across Egypt and France, covering network planning, configuration, implementation, testing, and operational handover.
- Led the merger of two French ISP acquisitions, harmonizing BGP and firewall rule bases across 4,000+ devices in 90 days with zero SLA violations.
Network Designer & Operations Manager / Transmission Engineer
Verizon
- Developed European backbone topologies and directed international backbone upgrades across Cisco, Juniper, and Ciena platforms.
- Provided global transmission and network operations support, troubleshooting connectivity and infrastructure issues in mission-critical environments.
Industry experience
See where this freelancer has spent most of their professional time.
Experienced in Telecommunication and Professional Services.
Business area experience
See which departments and functions this freelancer has contributed to most.
Experienced in Information Technology and Operations.
Summary
Senior Network Operations and Security Architect with 27+ years of experience administering, configuring, optimizing, and troubleshooting enterprise and carrier-grade network environments. CCNP Routing and Switching professional with expert-level capability across Cisco and HP Aruba/HPE switching, plus extensive experience with VLAN, STP, LACP, OSPF, BGP, MPLS, VXLAN, and SD-WAN. Proven record implementing changes, expansions, migrations, and network integrations while maintaining 99.999% availability. Independent, structured, and hands-on from design and analysis through implementation, physical installation, and incident resolution.
- CCNP — Routing and Switching certification highlighted for enterprise network operations.
- Expert — HP Aruba/HPE switching capability.
- 99.999% — Network availability across a 14-country backbone for 17 consecutive years.
- 4,000+ — Devices integrated through large-scale M&A; migrations without customer-facing outages.
- 18% — Latency reduction from backbone topology and telemetry redesign.
Skills
- Network Operations: Network Operations; Enterprise Network Administration; Configuration And Optimization; Incident Analysis And Troubleshooting; Change Implementation; Network Migrations And Expansions; Monitoring And Performance Improvement
- Routing And Switching: Cisco Ios-Xr / Nx-Os; Hp Aruba/Hpe Switches — Expert; Vlan; Stp; Lacp; Ospf; Bgp; Mpls; Vxlan; Ip Routing; Sd-Wan
- Certifications And Platforms: Ccnp Routing And Switching; Cisco Routing And Switching; Juniper Junos; Cisco Firepower / Asa; Fortinet Fortigate; Palo Alto Ngfw
- Security And Operations: Zero-Trust / Ztna; Ot/It Micro-Segmentation; Cisco Ise; Ransomware Defense; Soc L1–L3; Incident Response; Threat Hunting; Aws / Azure Networking
Languages
Education
Technische Hochschule Mannheim
B.Sc. · Electrical Engineering · Mannheim, Germany
Certifications & licenses
CCNP Routing and Switching
Statistics
Experience
Expertise
Qualifications
Profile
Frequently asked questions
Have questions? Find more information here.
Mahmoud is based in Waalwijk, Netherlands.
Mahmoud speaks the following languages: Arabic (Native), German (Native), English (Advanced), Dutch (Elementary).
Mahmoud has at least 27 years of experience. During this time, Mahmoud has worked in at least 4 different roles and for 3 different companies. The average length of individual experience is 7 years and 9 months. Note that Mahmoud may not have shared all experience and actually has more experience.
Based on recent experience, Mahmoud would be well-suited for roles such as: Senior Network & Security Architect (Founder), Network Operations Manager & Cybersecurity Lead, Network Planning, Design & Implementation Engineer.
Mahmoud's most recent position is Senior Network & Security Architect (Founder) at ZeroTrust Network & Security.
In recent years, Mahmoud has worked for ZeroTrust Network & Security and Verizon.
Mahmoud is most experienced in industries like Telecommunication and Professional Services.
Mahmoud is most experienced in business areas like Information Technology and Operations.
Mahmoud has recently worked in industries like Telecommunication and Professional Services.
Mahmoud has recently worked in business areas like Information Technology and Operations.
Mahmoud holds a Bachelor in Electrical Engineering from Technische Hochschule Mannheim.
Mahmoud has 1 certificate: CCNP Routing and Switching.
Mahmoud is immediately available full-time for suitable projects.
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Average rates for similar positions
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The median daily rate is the middle value of all daily rates — half of comparable freelancers charge less, half charge more. Unlike the average, it is barely affected by outliers.
Calculated based on our freelancers’ daily rates as of 5 Oct 2026. Actual rates may vary depending on seniority level, experience, skill specialization, project complexity, and engagement length.
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