Palo Alto Networks Experts in Germany

• Operation and further development of the network and security infrastructure.

• Monitoring, analysis and resolution of network and security incidents.

• Cross-department collaboration with other specialist teams for operations, further development and reporting.

• Firewall vulnerability analysis.

• Firewall rule approvals.

• Troubleshooting IP communication issues in the network and firewall infrastructure.

• Security-critical IT infrastructure, processing of personal data, compliance with legal regulations.

• Products: Palo Alto Networks Firewalls, Cisco ACI, Checkpoint Firewalls, F5

• Technologies: SDN, SDWAN, Cisco EPIC, Cisco ACI

Industry: Publishing, media Project management for the concept of a RAG-based archive access solution: a secure on-prem or hybrid compute architecture for LLM and embedding operations, pipeline for transcription and automatic tagging, semantic search across audio and video archives. Use case evaluation and make-or-buy together with editorial team, archive, and legal department, taking into account copyright, broadcasting law, and the AI Act. Differentiator: practical LLM infrastructure experience from two own productive platforms combined with C-level program management in regulated industries.

• Regulated environment within a German banking group (approx. 8,500 employees, hybrid cloud strategy).

• Responsible for operating, provisioning, and continuously securing business-critical platforms – including a GenAI chat application, a big data/AI platform, and data science workspaces based on Azure Virtual Desktops and VMs. Ownership of Azure DevOps projects for ShaiHulud and React2Shell, as well as BSI alerts – Security Operations improvements across the SDLC.

• Deployment responsibility for the GenAI chat application, big data/AI platform (BDAI), and data science workspaces (AVD/VM-based) in the respective landing zones.

• Deployment & release management: end-to-end responsibility for deploying portal and service applications across multiple Azure landing zones, including technical approvals, compliance with development team deployment guidelines, and ensuring ITIL-based change and release processes via ServiceNow.

• Azure landing zones & network architecture: design, provisioning, and operation of Azure landing zones for 3-tier web applications with enhanced network segmentation, VNet peering, hub-and-spoke architectures, private endpoints, and firewall integration across separate subscriptions and tenants.

• Azure DevOps governance & operations: ownership of the Azure DevOps organization, including projects, repositories, and CI/CD pipelines; implementation of governance requirements such as branch policies, approval gates, permission models, and audit-ready operating structures.

• Infrastructure as Code (Terraform): design, implementation, and operation of a modular Terraform architecture for standardized cloud infrastructure deployment, including state management, provider versioning, reusability, and policy-as-code approaches.

• CI/CD pipeline engineering: design, operation, and optimization of complex YAML-based CI/CD pipelines with multi-stage deployments, template standardization, self-hosted agents, integrated secret management, and automated quality and security checks.

• Git migration & platform consolidation: planning and execution of repository and pipeline migration from Azure DevOps to GitLab CI/CD, including automated scripts, full Git history transfer, pipeline porting, and platform consolidation.

• Container & platform operations (AKS): operation and security assessment of containerized workloads on Azure Kubernetes Service, centralization of on-premises container registries for ACR.

• OpenShift (OCP) security reviews: security assessment of code baselines, build pipelines, and deployment processes for on-premises OpenShift clusters with critical applications, and derivation of specific hardening recommendations.

• Shift-left security & DevSecOps transformation: introduction of a company-wide shift-left approach for early security integration in development and deployment processes, enabling developers to perform self-led security checks and sustainably reduce vulnerabilities before production (IDE integrations, pre-commit hooks, local scanners).

• Software supply chain security: analysis and mitigation of supply chain risks in NPM- and Yarn-based applications through dependency audits, CI/CD pipeline hardening, token rotation, and restriction of risky build and lifecycle mechanisms.

• Frontend & framework security (React / Next.js): security assessment and coordination of critical vulnerability remediation across platform applications and web frameworks, including coordination and complementary technical mitigations with all teams following BSI alerts.

• Software composition analysis (SCA): introduction and operation of automated vulnerability scans for container images, pipelines/artifacts, and third-party dependencies, including SBOM exports within CI/CD pipelines.

• SAST/DAST integration: design and piloting of static and dynamic application security tests in close collaboration with security architecture and development teams, for continuous improvement of code and runtime security, and establishing operational acceptance tests.

• Artifact & registry consolidation: analysis and consolidation of all package and container repositories for service applications and AKS workloads, aiming for a centralized, secured registry strategy with centralized vulnerability scanning and governance.

• Dependency-Track & SBOM strategy: advising the compliance board on introducing a central SBOM and vulnerability management platform to increase enterprise-wide dependency transparency and accelerate CVE response capability.

• CI/CD pipeline hardening: security analysis and cleanup of the existing pipeline landscape by removing unused pipelines, improving secrets hygiene, implementing least-privilege principles, and isolating build agent environments.

• Azure Web Application Firewall (WAF) optimization: analysis and tuning of existing Azure WAF rules (OWASP Top 10 Core Rule Set, DSR/SDC, custom rules) to defend against known vulnerabilities and exploit patterns, including reducing false positives and improving threat detection.

• Documentation & stakeholder communication: creating and maintaining technical documentation, runbooks, and architecture overviews in Jira and Confluence, as well as active knowledge transfer between operations, development, security, and compliance stakeholders.

Unified ITSM framework

• Definition of a company-wide ITSM target picture
• Introduction of a uniform service structure across all business units

SLA and OLA management

• Building a standardized SLA framework
• Definition of service classes (Business Critical, Standard, Low Priority)
• Introduction of OLAs between internal teams
• Building meaningful SLA reporting
• Definition of KPI and service dashboards for business units

Service portfolio management

• Definition of service descriptions
• If needed, preparing possible cost and service billing

Ticketing & processes

• Incident management
• Uniform ticket categories
• Standardized prioritization
• Escalation matrix
• Automations
• Self-service optimization

Request fulfillment

• Service catalog across all business units
• Approval workflows

Problem management

• Introduction of root cause analysis
• Known error database
• Problem review process

Complete asset management concept

• Hardware lifecycle management
• Software lifecycle management
• Leasing lifecycle
• Mobile device lifecycle
• Monitor lifecycle
• Phone lifecycle

Processes

• Procurement
• Goods receipt
• Inventory
• Assignment
• Return
• Disposal
• Leasing return Goal: single source of truth for all assets

CMDB design

• Definition of all configuration items:
• Workplace
• Notebooks
• Monitors
• Mobile phones
• Printers

Infrastructure

• Servers
• Firewalls
• Switches
• WLAN
• Storage
• Backup systems

Cloud

• Azure resources
• Microsoft 365
• SaaS services

Relationships

• User ↔ Asset
• Asset ↔ Service
• Service ↔ Infrastructure
• Location ↔ Asset
• Goal: make all service dependencies visible

Software asset & license management

• License management concept
• License balancing
• Compliance reporting
• Microsoft license management
• Adobe license management
• SaaS management
• Contract management
• Renewal management

Interfaces & automation Existing systems

• Workday
• Joiner
• Mover
• Leaver

TESMA

• Leasing data
• Contract data

Matrix42

• Asset synchronization
• User synchronization

Active Directory / Entra ID

• User management

Microsoft 365

• License assignment
• Group management

Dormakaba

• Access processes

• Lifecycle services

Monitoring platforms

• PRTG
• Palo Alto
• Cisco

Reporting & KPI framework

• Definition of a management dashboard
• KPIs
• Ticket volume
• SLA fulfillment
• MTTR
• First resolution rate
• Asset accuracy
• License compliance
• Change success rate
• Service availability
• Degree of automation

Network redesign support

• Governance
• Support of the network redesign from an ITSM point of view
• Definition of affected services
• Change management structure
• Communication concept

CMDB integration

• Recording of all network components
• Service mapping
• Dependency analysis

Validation of documentation and knowledge base articles

• Network documentation
• Operations documentation
• Standard changes

Monitoring & event management

• Target picture
• Central monitoring concept
• Event management process
• Alerting strategy
• Escalation model

Systems

• Cisco

• Palo Alto

• Fortinet

• Rubrik

• Veeam

• Matrix42

• Azure

• Microsoft 365 Automation

• Ticket creation from monitoring

• Escalations

• Standard actions

Audit, compliance & information security

• ISO 27001 consulting
• TISAX consulting
• NIS2 preparation - consulting
• Audit-ready processes
• Documentation structure
• Evidence tracking in Matrix42

Roadmap

• 12-month roadmap
• Prioritization of all measures
• Quick wins
• Medium-term projects
• Long-term target picture
• Documentation

• Operational management of a hybrid Palo Alto Networks firewall infrastructure within an IoT environment
• Network zoning using VLANs
• Analysis, optimization, and hardening of the rule set
• Deployment of additional firewalls into the infrastructure
• IP address management
• Security operations of the IoT NDR solution from Nozomi Networks
• Security operations of the honeypot infrastructure from secXtreme
• Vendor management to ensure and implement required network measures
• Communication with clients and vendors in an international environment
• Technologies used: Palo Alto Networks, Panorama, Palo Alto AWS cloud firewall, Nozomi Networks, Honeybox

• Main point of contact for the provisioning of end devices and operating systems
• Pre-installation of software according to company guidelines and integration into the corporate network (Wi-Fi, VPN, domain)
• User support with setup, process improvements, and handling of returns (RMAs)

• Requirements analysis and replacement of local SharePoint as CMDB with open source NetBox to prepare for deploying Cisco ACI (SD-WAN) with Microsoft Azure
• Coordination with systems like Checkmk and Grasp
• Introduction and coordination of cmdbsyncer as CMDB data hub; further development of the syncer with Kuhn & Ruess GmbH
• Implementation of SNMPv3 on AIX LPAR/VIO, Linux, Windows, SAN/storage, network components (Cisco switches, F5 load balancers, Palo Alto and CheckPoint firewalls, iLO boards)
• Deployment and further development of the network scanner JDisc in cooperation with the vendor (Utimaco HSMs, Linux detection)
• Integration of NetBox, JDisc, and cmdbsyncer into the infrastructure using Docker containers
• End-user training: preparation, creation of materials, and delivery
• Creation of data flow and network diagrams
• Population and planning of IPv4/IPv6 with NetBox including VLAN import
• Dual-stack setup of servers and clients with IPv4 and IPv6
• Connection of REST interfaces for Checkmk, JDisc, vSphere, HMC, i-doit, NetBox Software: Confluence, Jira, MS Office 365, Teams, i-doit, NetBox, JDisc, cmdbsyncer, DB Visualizer, vSphere, HMC

• It is like a startup within REWE, where we have to build a new forecasting system on Google Cloud Platform from the scratch. Although, officially my role is called MLOps, my actual tasks also include development of data processing pipelines (data engineering) and data scientists tasks such as feature engineering and model trainings.
• GCP: Terraform (tofu), Vertex AI (Kubeflow), Cloud Run, IAM, Google Cloud Storage, BigQuery, Artifact Registry
• Data engineering: Snowflake as the main data warehouse, Terraform, DBT for data model implementations
• CI/CD: GitLab. We have built a CI/CD pipeline that automates deployments of new releases up to production environment

• Overall coordination of service providers for all infrastructure topics at a production site being set up in Baden-Württemberg
• Design and finding solutions for internet connectivity, building office communication networks, setting up WLAN in production and administration buildings, IP address management, password policies, time tracking, access control systems, backup strategies, emergency power planning, operating concepts, cost planning, event management, workplace setup including laptop/mobile phones/telephony, remote support, print servers
• Selecting suitable external service providers and planning to meet needs for spare parts, repairs, on-site service, network and workplace support including on-site system replacement by providers
• Choosing suitable external service providers for facility management and building technology (fiber optic connections, data center infrastructure, cable ducts etc.)
• Coordination with clients and service providers
• Escalation management, schedule control
• On-site presence for service meetings and managing service providers

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.

• Operation and further development of a SASE infrastructure based on Netskope

• Designed and specified the technical network integration of a new business-critical application system (MUREX) in the capital markets area in a complex interface and outsourcing environment.

• Created component specifications, a catalog of measures and an implementation plan.

• Ensured proper integration of the developed results in line with the bank’s framework: IT compliance, IT security, change and release management.

• Selected and integrated a new service provider for the bank; moved critical bank applications to the provider.

• Designed, implemented and supported the new Cisco network and Fortinet security setup at the service provider data center.

• Acted as technical interface between the bank, service providers and consulting partners.

• Supported and further developed the network and security infrastructure (clients, servers, networks); performed error analysis and implemented solutions within agreed service levels.

• Analyzed and diagnosed all security and network failures, glitches and malfunctions.

• Initiated continuous improvements to ensure efficient resource use and acceptable response times for users.

• Provided network support in a financial services organization and prepared operational changes on production banking network infrastructure for both large and small projects within strict change management discipline.

• Designed, defined, tested, governed and improved engineering standards.

• Performed the role of network architect for medium to large projects involving team resources.

• 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

• Planning, directing, and implementing IT security projects focused on Palo Alto solutions (e.g., Next-Gen Firewalls, Prisma Access, Cortex, SASE, Zero Trust)
• Coordinating interdisciplinary teams and resources throughout all project phases
• Managing project scope, schedule, budget, and quality according to client goals
• Active stakeholder management and ensuring transparency and communication
• Risk management: identifying, assessing, and controlling project-related risks
• Creating and maintaining project plans, budget overviews, and reports
• Ensuring customer satisfaction through high-quality project and relationship management
• Applying established project management methods such as PMI, PRINCE2, or SCRUM for structured project execution