SD-WAN Experts in Germany

Europe-wide re-platforming & centralization

• Independently created the migration concept and implementation plan for the Europe-wide centralization and consolidation of IT services for around 20 European companies as part of a re-platforming program.
• Migration assessment: analysis of the existing IT, infrastructure, application, and service landscapes of the companies as the basis for the migration strategy.
• Development of the centralized target vision and target architecture based on a modern technology stack, taking platform and containerization approaches into account.
• Design of a highly available central infrastructure in an active-active model across two data centers; consideration of cloud, infrastructure, application, CMDB, and IAM services.
• Development of the migration and transformation roadmap, including defining migration waves, dependencies, requirements, and priorities for the move from decentralized services to the central platform.
• Analysis of technical and organizational dependencies, identification of migration risks, and development of a structured approach for step-by-step migration and centralization.
• Creation of target, solution, and implementation views for each service domain; design of the end-to-end join-move-leave process as a blueprint for the European rollout (Jira/Jira Asset Management).
• Alignment of migration strategy and roadmap with European companies, management, IT, providers, and other stakeholders; presentation of the 12-month roadmap to the Managing Director Europe.

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

• Set up Azure Kubernetes clusters (AKS) with network policies, security groups, and RBAC
• Developed Terraform-based infrastructure as code for secure, reproducible deployments in the BMW Azure cloud
• Hardened CI/CD pipelines using Jenkins, SonarQube, Fortify SSC, and Contrast AST
• Integrated SAP BTP/Kyma and ServiceNow GRC

• 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

• 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.

• Implemented an access control solution and prepared tender documents for a visitor management system.
• As project manager, I was responsible for the successful rollout of a cloud-based access control system for two sites with around 4,000 employees.
• Accountable for the successful execution of the project.
• Created and aligned project plans and status reports with all stakeholders.
• Prepared/coordinated an initial effort or cost estimate and related planning for operational services implementation.
• Identified interfaces.
• Ensured budget and schedule compliance.
• As tender manager / demand manager, the following specific tasks were my responsibility:
• Analyzing potential suppliers.
• Gathering requirements.
• Creating and aligning the requirements catalog.
• Developing an evaluation matrix.
• Preparing the tender documents.

• 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

• Datacenter setup, updates, connectivity and Disaster recovery setup.

• Technologies used: VMware ESXi 8, DevOps, Office 365, VM, Hyper-V, Workplace, Power BI.

• Investigating the PoC and replacing and refining an existing cloud and IoT power plant control solution for certificate management of renewable energy plants (solar, wind, biomass, etc.) for the largest European renewable energy network operator, including examining the field IoT devices and their integration and network connections, aiming for automated PKI key management.
• Messaging with Kubernetes for large API-connected enterprise applications
• Risk and attack vector analysis, software quality & bug assessments
• Agile workload scheduling via Jira & Confluence
• Evaluation of pub/sub message streams for MQ and Kafka.
• Various tests with “best design approaches” for resilience patterns like circuit breaker designs, throughput measurement and monitoring, bulkhead governors – for robust EA design
• Integration of API management with IBM's API Connect to Kubernetes for platform-agnostic microservices API management designs. Google Apigee
• Solution health check approaches for load burst situations + remedy
• Research and evaluation of potential sub-service providers in the coordinating role as solution manager. CIS20 controls.
• DREAD and STRIDE security assessments.

• Monitoring the health and performance of internal IT systems (servers, networks, endpoints)
• Performing routine checks on Active Directory, SCCM, antivirus, and MDM platforms
• Diagnosing and resolving hardware/software issues on Windows, macOS, and mobile platforms
• Conducting quality checks when implementing new technologies
• Creating accurate documentation of incidents, changes, and service requests
• Tracking and managing IT equipment inventory

Professional focus: Fortinet rollout / site standardization / cloud / ISP migration

• Network analysis, design and optimization, change
• ISP changes
• Commissioning of service providers and decentralized IT support teams
• Setting up a central management platform
• Routing optimization for dynamic routing
• Optimizing and creating firewall rules
• AWS connection / design
• MS Azure connection / design

Technologies / tools: Fortigate, Palo Alto, WAN, SDN WAN, VPN, BGP, OSFP, Fortimanager, Panorama, Meraki, Alcatel, AWS, MS Azure, Network Architecture

• Integration of a FortiManager into the existing FortiGate firewall infrastructure to centralize and optimize firewall management.

• Content management and SEO: creating and managing content in the online shop (Magento) on self-diagnostics.com. Performing search engine marketing (SEO & SEA) including Sistrix SEO analyses, on-page optimizations, performance and competitor analyses.

• SEO optimizations: carrying out technical SEO audits and optimizations, post-relaunch SEO measures such as redirect management, link building, meta descriptions, and sitemap management. Ensuring shop indexing and optimizing for Google Core Web Vitals and Page Experience.

• Sales promotion measures: planning and implementing actions to increase visibility and sales volume, including up-selling and cross-selling strategies.

• Google and Amazon management: configuring and managing the Google Merchant Center for different markets, optimizing pay-per-click campaigns (PPC) as well as product listings on Amazon and eBay.

• Successfully led IT infrastructure projects with budgets up to €10M, including data center migrations and cloud transformations, improving operational efficiency by 30%.
• Managed project specifications, resources, and stakeholder alignment, delivering 95% of projects on time and within budget, ensuring seamless execution.
• Reduced project risks by 40% through proactive risk, cost, and claim management while maintaining 99.9% system uptime and effective C-level communication.
• Optimized team performance by 25% using agile methodologies like Scrum, enhancing service readiness and ensuring a 20% faster go-live for IT solutions.