PCI DSS Experts in Germany

• Goal/Motivation: PAYONE urgently needs a 360° view of its customers. So far, PAYONE has no overall master data strategy. It is not possible to identify customers across all relevant systems.

The organization is to be enabled to identify customers across all relevant systems. Creating the foundation for master data management at PAYONE

• Challenge: Due to acquisitions, the system landscape is very heterogeneous. The company is very dynamic and burdened with many system harmonization and integration projects, so resource bottlenecks and changes in project priorities are again and again almost impossible to handle.

Due to BaFin findings, the project has a central task and role. The first focus is on migrating all customers from the master-data-leading backend systems with their AML/KYC data to Salesforce. This is intended to resolve one of the largest findings and establish the corresponding ODD/EDD processes.

In addition, customer data must be harmonized in Salesforce. Previous migrations led in some cases to duplicate customer records. In the end, only one customer should be maintained in Salesforce and, with the corresponding information from the backend systems, it should also be possible to recognize which products and in which processing systems the customer uses Payone services.

Project: ONE Customer

Budget: €1.5 million

Team: 10/30 employees (full-time/part-time); 4 vendors/providers

Integration: 8 (subsystems/interfaces)

Applications: Salesforce; SAP S4/HANA; custom developments

Tools: MS Office; Jira, Confluence, SharePoint

Methods: Hands-on; Agile (SAFe); Prince2

• 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.

• Led discovery phase and POC for Shopware to Shopify Plus migration across EMEA markets, evaluating platform suitability, technical architecture, and multi-brand/multi-country capabilities against business requirements.
• Designed reference architecture for Shopify Plus implementation incorporating headless front-end patterns (Vue.js, Nuxt.js), CMS integration (Magnolia), and Azure middleware (APIM, Functions, Logic Apps, Service Bus) for 11 EMEA markets.
• Defined migration strategy analyzing data mapping, cutover approach, and zero-downtime deployment patterns using Varnish caching, GitOps pipelines, and CI/CD orchestration across six vendor teams.
• Architected multi-tenant Shopify Plus governance model with centralized admin, localized storefront customization, and compliance controls (GDPR, data residency).
• Prototyped AI-driven search optimization (LLM.txt, JSON-LD) for product discoverability in Google AI results, demonstrating post-launch performance opportunities.
• Defined EMEA expansion roadmap for 15+ markets through C-level strategic workshops, identifying phased rollout, market-specific configurations, and resource requirements.
• Tech Stack: React, Nuxt.js, Vue.js, Magnolia CMS, Shopware, Shopify Plus, Azure (APIM, Functions, Logic Apps, Service Bus, Front Door), Varnish, SAP, MS Dynamics, Docker, Kubernetes, GitHub Actions, PostgreSQL, Kafka

IOG (IOHK), is one of the world's pre-eminent blockchain infrastructure research and engineering companies.

• Converted a lingering R&D project into a cohesive, production-ready testnet; built and scaled the 35-member engineering team (Core, QA, SRE) to achieve this goal.
• Defined strategic direction and aligned technology development with business objectives as a key member of the leadership.
• Optimized software development processes and implemented agile methodologies, enhancing operational efficiency and code security.
• Delivered projects in a fast-paced startup environment through effective project management and resource allocation.

• 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

• Implementation of specified DevOps solutions to automate infrastructure (Terraform, Bicep, CloudFormation, Ansible) on-premises datacenter (Ovirt, Proxmox, Ceph Cluster, MinIO) and private cloud.
• Administration, configuration and implementation of CI/CD DevOps pipelines (GitLab, GitFlow) to support development process (Artifactory, Prometheus, Istio, service mesh, Helm Chart, OpenShift (Red Hat Enterprise) / Kubernetes cluster), Red Hat Satellite.
• Administration, setup, monitoring and patching of Linux infrastructure based on Red Hat Enterprise for Dev, Test and QA.
• Use of Scrum and Kanban methods.
• Administration, configuration and implementation of security standards for deploying on Dev, Test, QA and Prod stages of the new ePA applications.
• Development of new plugins and add-ons needed on current infrastructure.
• Database support.
• Data analytics support (Python, Spark, Pandas, Power BI, Splunk Enterprise).
• Implementation of best practices for DevSecOps and BizDevOps using GitOps (ArgoCD), Streamlit framework, Semaphore Ansible UI.
• Configuration and testing of iperf, uperf, sysbench using benchmark-operator for external source data and IoT/MDM devices, creating reports via ELK / OpenSearch.
• Building a new Databricks platform to collect and analyze big data from different sources and IoT devices into Hadoop framework (Python, Pandas, PySpark, Power BI, Apache Airflow).
• Building backend data aggregation and processing to automate configuration deployment between different OpenShift clusters and big data framework (Python, Pandas, PySpark, Apache Spark, PostgreSQL, Django 2, Ansible Automation, Jira JSM).
• Building a new ML pipeline platform using Kubeflow, TensorFlow, KServe.
• Data extraction, transformation and loading from different data sources including structured and unstructured data to analytic DWH / big data cluster using Python, Pandas, Polars, Power BI, Django backend and PostgreSQL.
• Setup of new DevOps Test and QA HashiCorp Vault cluster for PKI and IAM.
• Configuration and testing of automated patching based on CVSS score, SIEM-integrated CVEs.
• Use of Nexpose and InsightVM to scan vulnerability events in network, host, container and application.
• Design and implementation of secure and scalable AWS architectures including VPC, EC2, S3, RDS and Route53 and similar setups on Azure and GCP.
• Automated system provisioning and deployment using CloudFormation templates.
• Configuration of IAM roles, policies and permissions to ensure secure access control.
• Patch management, backup automation and disaster recovery setup on AWS infrastructure.
• Monitoring and optimization of system performance using AWS CloudWatch and AWS Trusted Advisor.
• Support of VMware services (vSphere, Aria, Horizon) and the virtual desktop environment.
• Development and maintenance of CI/CD pipelines using Jenkins, GitLab CI/CD and AWS CodePipeline with interface to Nutanix.
• Configuration of AWS CloudWatch to monitor application performance and system events.
• Planning and execution of migration of on-premises applications to AWS cloud platforms.
• Deployment of containerized applications using Docker and Kubernetes in AWS environments.
• Deployment of internal software packages between availability zones using AWS CodeDeploy.
• Building and deploying ML models using Scikit-learn, XGBoost and Spark MLlib including hyperparameter tuning, model evaluation and production deployment.

• Analysis of technical and economic feasibility
• Creation of a detailed project plan including time and resource management
• Requesting and evaluating offers, selecting components, and managing suppliers
• Coordination of all involved trades (e.g. electricians, installation companies)
• Monitoring the construction work and ensuring deadlines, budgets, and quality standards are met
• Acceptance and commissioning of the PV system including documentation
• After project completion: optimizing monitoring and supporting grid connection

As the only large integrated energy company in Germany, EnBW covers the entire value chain - from energy production through distribution to customers. It expands its renewable energy sources, advocates for a socially responsible coal exit, and drives key technologies like green hydrogen. A rapid energy transition and achieving climate neutrality by 2035 are priorities for EnBW.  Developed and implemented a holistic process view covering both technical and organizational aspects  Ensured end-to-end control of all IAM-related technical services  Established clear responsibilities and accountabilities within the IAM landscape  Collaborated with different departments to identify and optimize a holistic architecture and act as Single Point of Contact (SPoC) for Information Security  Introduced and monitored governance policies to ensure compliance and security  Continuously improved IAM processes and systems through regular audits and evaluations  Participated in external audits of the process as part of official ISO audits  Further developed the policy for setting administrative requirements and procedures and aligned it with administrative units  Conceptually advanced the KPI system to measure process quality

• ISO 27001 implementation & audit readiness
• NIS2 & DORA compliance support
• Interim / fractional CISO services
• IT risk & controls (ITGC, SOX, COBIT, BAIT)
• M&A and IT due diligence for startups/ventures
• Business continuity management (BCM, ISO 22301)
• Cybersecurity framework development (NIST, ISO, BSI)
• GRC tool advisory (Archer, ServiceNow)

• 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

• Enhance and develop the Information Security Management System (ISMS) in compliance with ISO 27001 and TISAX standards by continuously updating and refining the ISMS to align with evolving global standards.
• Ensure that security practices and policies are integrated into all business processes to achieve and maintain certifications.
• Lead the effort to identify, evaluate and mitigate risks across the organization, setting benchmarks for security measures.
• Oversee and refine security processes, with an emphasis on incident management and rapid response by developing and enforcing policies for rapid detection, investigation and remediation of security incidents.
• Train and lead the incident response team to handle breaches effectively, minimizing impact and ensuring swift recovery.
• Implement continuous monitoring solutions to detect and respond to threats in real time.
• Conduct comprehensive security assessments for internal and external IT projects, ensuring adherence to GDPR, DORA and other relevant standards.
• Oversee security evaluations for all IT projects to ensure they comply with legal and regulatory requirements.
• Integrate security measures from the planning phase through deployment to ensure all projects uphold the organization’s security standards.
• Collaborate with project teams to address findings and ensure that security risks are managed effectively.
• Serve as the principal security advisor to the IT department and senior management, offering insights on potential security challenges.
• Facilitate a culture of security awareness throughout the organization through training and regular communication.
• Lead security initiatives that align with the organization’s long-term strategic goals.
• Establish and oversee a robust third-party risk management framework to mitigate external security threats by regularly assessing third-party security practices and compliance and developing contingency plans and mitigation strategies.
• Provide regular updates and security briefings to the executive leadership and relevant committees, highlighting recent security incidents, responses, lessons learned and recommending strategic improvements.

• Technical lead for CI/CD modernization in the "Group Archive 4.0" system
• Architecture and steering responsibility according to the statement of work
• Setting up modern build and deployment processes
• CI/CD coaching and enablement of the internal development team
• Integration of modern DevOps, security, and compliance standards
• Ensuring technical governance, including collaboration with internal audit and BaFin
• Independently executing the modernization measures
• Supporting the team in adopting new technologies and methods

• Maintained 95% compliance for 300+ vendors through vendor risk assessment.
• Handled GRC of Ireland, Greece and Egypt markets.
• Conducted DPIA for suppliers.
• Collaborate with various stakeholders, including suppliers, internal teams, and external partners, to ensure compliance with cybersecurity standards and policies.
• Provided support in case of cybersecurity incidents, ensuring appropriate measures are taken to mitigate risks and protect the company’s data.
• Contribute to the continuous improvement of cybersecurity processes and practices within Vodafone, ensuring the company stays ahead of emerging threats and vulnerabilities.

• Acted as a trusted advisor to leadership, driving strategic initiatives, structuring meetings, and ensuring follow-through on key priorities.
• Led the launch of a corporate travel platform, aligning cross-functional teams and improving operational efficiency.
• Conducted market and competitive analyses to identify growth opportunities and inform business and investment decisions.
• Supported M&A and venture evaluations, contributing to global expansion and portfolio strategy.
• Developed strategy briefs, business cases, and executive presentations to enable data-driven decision-making.
• Managed quarterly and annual planning processes, tracked KPIs, and ensured alignment with organizational goals.
• Planned and executed brand initiatives, including organizing Techno at Bharat Tex, enhancing industry visibility and partnerships.
• Strengthened internal communication cadence and governance frameworks, improving execution efficiency by 20%.
• Drove process improvements to enhance execution discipline and strategic alignment.
• Enhanced governance and reporting mechanisms to increase accountability, milestone tracking, and performance visibility.
• Collaborated closely with finance, product, and strategy teams to ensure timely delivery of cross-functional priorities.
• Fostered knowledge-sharing and continuous-improvement practices to strengthen organizational collaboration and execution.