Ather Zaidi

Experience

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  Golvill Technologies

  Jan 2000 - Nov 2002

  Quality Assurance

  I was leading the quality management team, my responsibilities were to organise, analyse and implement all quality initiatives and systems to accomplish departmental and corporate goals and objectives. My role involved ensuring compliance to the company’s manufacturing and product specifications. Reporting to the Head of Quality Assurance I was responsible to apply total quality management tools and approaches to analytical and reporting processes within each department. I used to arrange quality control training programs to key personnel in conjunction with department supervision to support the company’s quality program which achieves meeting or exceeding customer requirements.• Perform QA (Quality Assurance) operations for 2b Technology, which specializes in CRM Applications and IVR call centers.• Authored numerous ISO 9000 procedures and security policies, participating in regular audits to ensure regulatory compliance.• Supervised release testing for new applications.• Provide final approval for bug-free, fully functional CRM applications. Show less

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  PICIC Commercial Bank

  Jan 2003 - May 2004

  Assistant Data Center Incharge

  I was responsible for security, IT infrastructure, software maintenance and any additions within a company’s data warehouse. I was also responsible for database management, since most of the security and maintenance surrounds databases and the infrastructure that supports it. I used to analyse reports to identify threats and mitigate them. I also created monthly packs for various senior management committee's which included risks & their updates, external events, threats, control validation & network testing reports, risk assessments, group updates and metrics.• Prepare plans for development and installation of data center according to present and future requirements in presentable format to the directors.• Monitor all activities related to analysis and implement all data center plans.• Monitor all software and hardware products and ensure compliance to Data Center standards and systems. • Ensure adherence to all established guidelines and management practices for employees.• Coordinate with IT, compliance, security, enhancement and business teams to develop strategies.• Worked along with data center security solutions manager to implement security measures. Show less

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  Updata Infrastructure

  Jan 2006 - Jan 2008

  Field Engineer

  • Building weekly reports of the connected sites and the project performance overview.• Installing, configuring & troubleshooting Cisco routers & switches (Customer CPE).• Building network as per Low – Level – Design documents.• Responsible for designing, implementing (LAN/WAN) services and managing the client’s LAN and WAN services.• Provide support for End to End connectivity.• Providing Layer 2 connectivity for various Argos sites across London & Greater London.

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  Citibond Travel

  Feb 2008 - Oct 2017

  Network Security Manager

  Reporting to the head of network, project managers and directors, I was responsible for network monitoring, maintenance and staff training to provide first rate technical support. Generating reports and analysing the entire network performance was my key responsibility; I used my abilities to identify and classify the network requirements and work on mitigation plan. I worked together with the Internal security and compliance team for the implementation of ISO27001. I have always been part of meetings to discuss the IT needs of the business, from an operational or profit/service-related viewpoint.• Problem solving and project management.• Build and maintain strong relationships with customers.• Negotiation with vendors.• Financial planning and budgeting.• Implementing necessary business and security controls as per compliance requirements.• Quality and risk assessment.• Escalation management.• Implementing plans to improve working methodology of the organization with regular assessments.• Installation, configuration and support of router & switches (Customer CPE).• Configuration of OSPF, EIGRP, BGP, RIP, VLAN, spanning tree, port security, HSRP, DNS etc.• Monitoring & generating reports on Solar Winds.• Pre and post Installation of ISDN, ADSL and MPLS circuit check and testing.• Perform network design and audit of LAN, WAN, Wireless and IPT networks.• Prepare documentation and low-level design for LAN, WAN, Wireless and IPT networks.• Generate configuration form low level design.• Upgrade IOS, software and hardware, liaise with suppliers.• Managing Microsoft Azure cloud infrastructure. Show less

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  EXPRESS COMMUNICATION SERVICES LIMITED

  Nov 2017 - Feb 2018

  Network Engineer

  • Carried out migration from HP switches to Juniper switches.• Proof of concept of route leaking on multiple routing Instances.• Raised TAC case with Juniper.• Carried out site inspection, identifying customer requirements.• Troubleshooting connectivity and migration problems.• Upgrade of Juniper switches image via the flash drive.• Migrating of LAN/WAN circuits from HP to Juniper in multiple phases.

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  UK Ministry of Defence

  Apr 2018 - Jun 2018

  Lead Engineer
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  QinetiQ

  Apr 2018 - Jun 2018

  Lead Engineer

  • Maintaining and Streamlining the Network and Firewalls migration project.• Finalisation of implementation phases.• Regular briefing to Project manager and the team.

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  TalkTalk Business

  Jul 2018 - Sept 2020

  Hybrid Network Engineer

  I was part of B2B IP Engineering Team to provide resource for the provisioning of new L2/L3 VPN services as well as taking part in the operational and project activities with the Technology department of TalkTalk. It also included configuration of Sonic firewalls and Cisco SBC for VoE. This role also included the Security Awareness which adhere to the TTG Security Policies. I have also been a key player within Internal Security Audit Team.• Building circuits and provisioning of NGN (Next Generation Networks), including Ethernet in the First Mile (EFM), Ethernet Access Direct (EAD), EoFTTC, (L2VPN – pseudo wire/L3VPN - MPLS) circuits builds (HPSA and Manual). Project planning & handling.• Writing Technical Documentations, Operational Procedures, HLD, LLD & Handover Documents for customers. • Attending bridge calls with customer engineering team to resolve DoA & other faults.• Managing, configuration and fault diagnoses of L2vpn & L3VPN for B2B customer. • Fault diagnoses and troubleshooting of Layer 2 and Layer 3 network issues with less effect on the business.• Liaising with internal teams such as 24/7 Ethernet Assurance TCS & IP Access.• Accurate assessment of customer fault and ensure timely resolution to avoid SLA breach. Show less

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  The University of Manchester

  Nov 2020 - Apr 2021

  Network and Security Engineer

  University Network transformation:• Aruba (Switches, Wireless LAN Controllers & Access Points)• Aruba Clearpass • Aruba Mobility Master• Aruba Airwave• Palo Alto (Next Generation)• F5 (Load Balancer)• Arista (CloudVision)• InfoBlox• Cisco (Legacy)• Solarwinds

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  Pharmaron

  May 2021 - Dec 2024

  Senior Manager Information Technology Operations

  • Network & Security Infrastructure. • Wireless Infrastructure.• Nutanix Infrastructure. • GobalProtect VPN.• Identity & Access Management.• Information Security.• Internal Security audit.• VMware (ESXi).

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  Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust

  May 2022 - Feb 2024

  Senior Network Security Consultant

  Responsible for the transformation of all the hospitals and community sites in & around Manchester, including planning, configuring, documenting & implementing below projects:• VoIP: Gamma SIP links, Virgin Media links, Firewalls Routing & Policies, Network routing & switching configurations, Mitel Phones and Mitel Border Gateway servers, On-premises and Cloud solution, NHs & HSCN networks, DHCP configurations including Mitel options. Around 10,000 phones were implemented successfully. • WLAN: Troubleshooting Wireless issues for IT Networks team, assisted Wi-Fi implementation remotely.• IPTV: From allocating new subnets, DHCP & network configuration, till the implementation of the IPTV screens in all hospitals.• 4G configuration & implementation as backup fire system in all hospitals.• Firewalls: Updating new routes, policies & interfaces for SIP, Data & VoIP, MiVB, MBGs and MiCollab Servers, for both on-prem and cloud. Show less

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  LEAP Networks Global Ltd.

  Jan 2025 - now

  Sales and Operations Director

  We are a forward-thinking Systems Integrator, Managed Service Provider and Solutions Provider, committed to delivering innovative technology that bridges the gap between today’s capabilities and tomorrow’s possibilities. We also provide high availability dedicated Telecommunication & Data/VoIP Networks Infrastructure for mission critical industrial environments and operationally demanding applications such as Oil & Gas, Mining, Petrochemical, Pharmaceutical and Transport Industries.