Container Security Experts in Germany

• Design and build of a fully isolated AWS offline environment with no outbound internet access for running a browser-based business application
• Design and implementation of a proxy and response service that terminates all external application calls inside the VPC and serves them from locally stored content; identification of the actual communication needs through measurement-based DNS query logging
• Creation of architecture designs and decision papers including a comparison of options (Application Load Balancer with Lambda and S3, reverse proxy on EC2, private API Gateway) assessed by operational effort, cost, and availability
• Transfer of the solution and operations documentation previously available only for Azure to an AWS target architecture, including reassignment of all services and operational processes
• Automated rollout as Infrastructure as Code (Terraform, CloudFormation) with CI deployment via GitHub Actions, plus setup of private DNS zones and an internal certificate chain for operation without internet access
• Creation of architecture, deployment, and operations documentation and handover to the customer
• Build-up of a private cloud platform on OpenStack at provider TelemaxX with Terraform, including FortiGate HA clusters, FortiManager, and Kubernetes
• Introduction of Policy as Code (Open Policy Agent, Conftest) as well as development of MCP servers (Model Context Protocol) to connect AI assistants to operations and project tools

Successes:

• Made the business application fully operable without internet access for the first time; the cause of the loading error was narrowed down systematically to missing CORS headers after the likely certificate issue was ruled out
• Fully transferred an existing Azure concept to AWS and replaced the manually created environment with a reproducible, CI-based rollout

Technology stack: AWS (VPC, Application Load Balancer, Lambda, S3, Route 53 private hosted zones and Resolver query logging, IAM, CloudWatch, EC2, CloudFormation), Infrastructure as Code (Terraform, CloudFormation, Remote State), CI/CD (GitHub Actions with OIDC, Azure DevOps Pipelines), OpenStack, FortiGate, FortiManager, Kubernetes, Policy as Code (Open Policy Agent, Conftest), offline and air-gap architectures, PKI & certificates (internal CA, TLS, CRL/OCSP), DNS, network segmentation, Linux, Windows Server, Python, Bash, PowerShell, YAML, JSON, architecture design & decision papers, documentation (Confluence, Markdown), Generative & Agentic AI (Model Context Protocol, Agentic AI Coding Tools)

• PRISMA project
• Ansible automation
• Windows third-level support for Windows NT, Windows 2000, Windows 2013, Windows 2016, Windows 2019

• Perform secure code reviews and provide secure-coding guidance across the application and platform architecture.
• Engineer infrastructure security and design security-monitoring architecture, incident-response playbooks and Security-by-Design controls.

I implemented a Zero-Trust architecture for robust, military-grade maritime container mini data centers based on VMware & Tanzu to support containerized GIS workloads for ground forces. The main focus was on securing communications, workload protection, and data access in contested electronic battle environments affected by jamming, interception, signal manipulation, and constantly changing operational conditions. I designed and architected use cases so that every element of workload, identity, and system could continue to operate independently and securely even in degraded or disrupted scenarios. In parallel, I defined the enterprise and solution security architecture with LeanIX, Bizzdesign, and HOPEX as enterprise architecture, repository, and governance platforms to maintain architecture inventory, relationships, traceability, target pictures, and security governance in complex environments. For the architectural designs, I used Sparx Enterprise Architect to describe formal architecture views, interfaces, trust boundaries, and system architecture in both IT and OT environments. IriusRisk was used for threat modeling of the solution to identify architecture-driven risks, derive security requirements, and detect countermeasures and design gaps directly from the solution models. Risk and compliance management was supported with Archer. Architecture decisions, control gaps, and operational risks were translated into controlled governance and auditable compliance measures. For documentation, collaboration, and visual design, I used Confluence to maintain Architecture Decision Records, Security Blueprints, and workflows. I used Lucidchart and draw.io to create design artifacts tailored to stakeholders. I also defined OT security concepts with support from electrical and mechanical engineers in the areas of oil, vehicle onboard systems, rail, power plants, pharma, gas turbines, and nuclear technology. I created the end-to-end OT security strategy, starting with global policy, developed into standards and procedures, and finally aligned with Bell-LaPadula, Purdue Model, SABSA, TOGAF ADM, CENELEC 50701, IEC 62443, and NIST standards. In addition, I worked with engineering team leads to identify critical KBP assets and place them under protective measures that segmented SCADA, PLC, and HMI assets. I drove collaboration between Security, IT, and OT teams to create standardized workflows and use cases for the OT security solution catalog, while integrating Defense-in-Depth and Zero-Trust principles into operational environments. A key part of my work was integrating multidisciplinary engineering, security, and operations stakeholders into a unified security blueprinting strategy and ensuring that architecture, threat modeling, governance, and documentation were technically strong and operationally practical.

• Analysis
• Consulting
• Software design
• Development
• Automation
• Testing
• Deployment
• Architecture, development and deployment of various proof-of-concept applications around the integration of current AI interfaces including conversational, realtime voice, images and videos
• Developed best practices for working with agentic systems and AI in practice
• Created code templates

• Successful implementation of vulnerability management with DefectDojo
• Consulting and implementation of technical and process-related aspects of vulnerability management with DefectDojo
• Consulting on the implementation of a secure software development lifecycle
• Skills: Gitlab, DefectDojo, Vulnerability Management, SCA, SAST, DAST, Python, Kubernetes, ArgoCD, Docker, AWS, Azure, Whitesource/Mend, Greenbone

• Conducting cybersecurity readiness checks based on an in-house assessment methodology
• Analyzing the external attack surface using the Graydaxe EASM platform
• Assessing maturity levels and deriving prioritized recommendations for action

• Improvement of the Information Security Management System (ISMS) based on ISO 27001, NIS2, DORA, B3S, TISAX and BSI IT Baseline Protection
• Conducting comprehensive gap analyses to identify gaps and derive action plans according to the above standards and regulations; management and KPIs
• Data Loss Prevention strategy and implementation using MS Purview
• Vulnerability and patch management, security monitoring
• Risk analysis and threat modeling using the STRIDE methodology
• Development of vendor risk assessments, implementation of risk classifications, conducting supplier assessments and implementing technical monitoring solutions (e.g. Security ScoreCard)
• Securing cloud environments (AWS and Azure); expertise in CSPM/CNAPP (Wiz), cloud migration, secure CI/CD pipelines, container security and best practices in AWS, Azure and Office 365
• Application security: penetration testing, DevSecOps, OWASP, pre-commit hooks, key and secret management, IDE plugins, static source code analysis, dependency checks, container scanning, vulnerability management, CIS benchmarks and compliance
• Security assessment and hardening according to CIS benchmarks and cloud conformity in AWS, Office 365 and Azure

• Defined and executed a comprehensive security roadmap: integrated Shift-Left Security, CNAPP, and DevSecOps principles to streamline secure product development and reduce risk exposure.
• Established a robust threat modeling framework: embedded security into design processes, enabling early identification of vulnerabilities and reducing potential risks.
• Developed a scalable Vulnerability Management program: accelerated detection and remediation of new vulnerabilities, significantly shortening the risk response cycle.
• Enhanced cloud and container security: leveraged advanced tools such as Tetragon to achieve deeper visibility and implement a defense-in-depth strategy.
• Automated security controls within CI/CD pipelines: integrated security measures into the development lifecycle to maintain continuous delivery with robust safeguards.
• Championed cross-functional collaboration: partnered with developers and infrastructure teams to prioritize threats and align remediation efforts, fostering a unified security culture.
• Ensured regulatory compliance and audit readiness: collaborated closely with the InfoSec team to adhere to internal policies and successfully support audits for standards like PCI-DSS and SOC2.

• Security analysis of alerts
• Further development of the security operations center
• Development of processes and workflows in the security environment
• Implementation of SOC solutions
• Forensic expertise
• Conducting hunts
• Vulnerability scans and proof of concepts
• Risk assessments and risk analyses
• Maintenance and further development of the Tenable.sc ScanCenter environment

• Developed a custom tool using the Mistral 7B LLM to scan, validate and report security vulnerabilities.
• Security tested AI agents, bots, and other LLMs with a focus on prompt injection, model inversion, data poisoning, EDR/AV bypass and evasion techniques, membership inference, model evasion, overfitting to malicious inputs and contextual manipulation.
• Onboarded repositories to SAST solutions for security scanning, implemented secrets scanning, DAST, SCA, and utilized ZAP for DAST in CI/CD pipelines.
• Engaged in security awareness trainings, developed CTF challenges and training materials to enhance developer security knowledge.
• Planned and executed bi-annual red teaming operations based on the MITRE ATT&CK framework and led internal and external pentests based on the OWASP Top 10 framework for 70+ applications worldwide, resulting in detection, reporting, and remediation of hundreds of vulnerabilities.
• Triaged HackerOne reports.

• Designed and operated a GitOps-based Kubernetes platform, migrating services from AWS ECS to Amazon EKS.
• Built automated CI/CD pipelines for container build and deployment using GitLab CI, Helm, and Argo CD.
• Developed reusable Helm charts for Kubernetes resources (Ingress, Services, Secrets, HPA, ExternalDNS).
• Provisioned and managed EKS (Fargate and EC2) using Infrastructure as Code (Terraform / OpenTofu).
• Implemented OIDC-based authentication and authorization (Okta) for secure access to Kubernetes and Argo CD.
• Improved container security by migrating services to distroless images.
• Implemented logging, monitoring, and observability to ensure system reliability and performance.
• Automated cloud cost optimisation using Python (Boto3), achieving approximately 45% cost savings.
• Led migration of AWS infrastructure to IaC, reducing configuration drift and deployment issues.
• Produced technical documentation and operational runbooks, supporting internal engineering teams.

• Planning and documentation of database architecture and integration with other components provided by other teams and vendors
• Extensive documentation for the architecture, security, access control, encryption, roles and user management, backup and restore, disaster recovery and general operations
• Deployment of database clusters over 2 locations with 2 availability zones each
• Automation of deployment and operations including backup using Ansible
• Hardening of the database and operating system
• Migration of existing stand-alone database systems to cluster setup
• Technologies: PostgreSQL, Patroni, etcd, barman, RedHat Enterprise Linux 9 (RHEL), Ansible, Ansible Automation Platform, TLS, Hashicorp Vault, LUKS

• Evaluating openDesk as MS365 alternative
• Designing AI-optimized infrastructure
• Kubernetes orchestration
• Container security advisory