Abdul Rehman
Woodford Green,Essex
Summary
Results-driven Senior Network Engineer with expertise in high availability network solutions for healthcare, financial, education , Telecom, tourism, leisure, and hospitality , market research and public opinion polling industries. Managed complex projects, including data centre migrations and network architecture transformations, utilising Cisco along with other multi-vendor technologies and Azure cloud networking. Focused on enterprise infrastructure, security, wireless deployment, and cloud networking to optimise performance. Aiming to advance network innovation and strengthen cybersecurity measures within large-scale organisations.
Overview
1
1
Certification
20
20
years of professional experience
Work History
IT Corporate Services Senior Network Engineer
NHS NEL ICB
Canary Wharf, London
10.2021 - 09.2025
- Delivering low-level design (LLD) and hands-on implementation of new corporate sites providing High Availability (HA) resilience both wired and Wireless Network connectivity for corporate end users.
- Deploy, support, and maintain VPNs between NHS NEL ICB Datacentre and other remote trusts over the HSCN cloud.
- Managing next generation firewalls access policies and rules using Cisco FMC and FortiManager in a datacentre.
- Managing and supporting Azure networking components via ExpressRoute and VPN.
- Collaborating with internal Infrastructure team and external ISP for DR Datacentre migration.
- Working closely with internal Change Advisory Board (CAB), technical solution architect, transformation and MSP's technical teams on running projects e.g. migrating traditional 3-layer (Core-Aggregation-Access) to 2-layer (Leaf-Spine) date centre architecture, and Data Centre Firewalls migration Cisco Next-Generation Firewalls (NGFW/FTD) to Fortinet FortiGates for SD-WAN solution.
- Identified service, feature, and technology gaps hindering optimal performance by supporting, troubleshooting, and monitoring network devices, including cleaning firewall access rules to remove unused, shadowed, or redundant rules, and developed Service Improvement Plan (SIP) leverging the CAB governance for changes that may affect services, ensuring that incidents, service requirements, risks, dependencies, approvals, implementation plans, and rollback arrangements are properly assessed before authorization.
- Maintaining, planning, scheduling network resources upgrades switches, routers, WLC controllers, wireless APs and Firewalls as per following a vendor vulnerability bulletin , notifications through a structured approach to prioritizes risk, validates patches, and ensures business continuity.
- Delivering network refresh kit, office moves and network migrations and deploying new solutions, ensuring seamless network transitions with minimal disruption.
- Monitored corporate network dashboard system and responded to internal/external email notifications and National Cyber Security Operations bulletins, proactively treating issues in accordance with standard SOPs and vendor-specific workarounds.
- Delivering Business as Usual (BAU) and project support for corporate data centre, corporate and customer sites e.g. hospitals, health centres, and GP practices in multiple London based boroughs including merging other industry integrated care boards in health public sector.
Network Security Engineer
Bank Of Ceylon (UK) Ltd
Devonshire Square London, London City
09.2021 - 09.2021
- Executed Cisco firewall high availability (HA) pair software upgrades for financial and banking sector, adhering to standard project scope and delivery protocols.
- Provided companionship, actively listening to clients, and engaging in meaningful conversation to combat loneliness.
- Maintained confidentiality and privacy, respecting clients' rights and personal preferences.
Senior IP Engineer
Huawei Technologies UK
Reading, Berkshire
06.2020 - 09.2021
- Executed low-level design (LLD) and hands-on implementation of network solutions for DR Datacentre migration project, transitioning from traditional 3-layer to 2-layer data centre architecture and integrating multi-vendor datacentres for The Bank of China (BOC) in London.
- Completed low-level design (LLD) and hands-on implementation for bid-win project delivering high-spec network architecture solution for Atlas & Artificial Intelligence, including installation, commissioning, and testing at Imperial College London.
- Provided project support and management for Enterprise Delivery and Service Department in UK region.
IP Engineer
Huawei Technologies UK
Reading, Berkshire
07.2019 - 12.2019
- Delivered low-level design (LLD) and implemented bid-win project for China Mobile International's (CMI) Slough data centre, completing installation, commissioning, and testing of high-spec network architecture solution.
- Conducted wireless site surveys during pre-deployment, post-deployment, and validation phases, ensuring compliance with business requirements and service level agreements.
- Supported projects and managed operations in UK region of enterprise delivery and service department.
Network Engineer
Ipsos UK
Thomas More Square London, London
03.2019 - 08.2019
- Managing Cisco Identity Services Engine, applying security policies across wired and wireless networks Integrated with Cisco Prime using for centralized management for network devices and performance.
- Managing firewall access policies across multi-vendor security appliances e.g. Cisco, Juniper and Fortinet in a datacentre.
- Managed and supported the dynamic multipoint VPN (DMVPN) overlay fabric with multipoint GRE connectivity among regional sites.
- Conducted network discovery and low-level design (LLD) for UK region sites, ensuring alignment with organisational standards.
- Acted as the first point of contact for UK, global, and managed service providers, facilitating the resolution of technical issues, change requests, service requests, and incident reporting.
- Delivering Business as Usual (BAU) and project support for UK and global region being corporate network team member.
- Managed the activation of live services in the UK region to enhance operational efficiency.
Network Analyst
CGI IT UK Limited (Morrison Utility Services)
Abel Smith House, Stevenage, Hertfordshire
02.2015 - 12.2017
- Executed capacity planning, circuit upgrades, site moves, integrations, and decommissioning for client sites to optimise network performance.
- Coordinated with third-party vendor teams to ensure effective communication and successful implementation and testing of changes throughout project phases.
- Developed and submitted change request plans to sign off client site requirements, ensuring alignment with core services of data centre connectivity, Wi-Fi, and voice.
- Collaborating with Virgin Media Service delivery coordinator and Comms365 solutions team to complete change lifecycle from delivery to close.
Data Services Engineer
Virgin Media UK
Eagle Court 2 , Birmingham, West Midlands
10.2014 - 01.2015
- Delivered projects with Virgin Media, collecting, deploying and configuring Cisco routers for IPVVPN ADSL VDSL service across customer sites in North West England and West Midlands.
- Coordinated with backend support to optimise workflows and address bottlenecks prior to site sign-off.
- Conducted on-site wireless surveys for Phase I of the project, identified coverage black spots/blackout zones, and collected the required site and RF data to support the design and optimization of the final wireless infrastructure.
Infrastructure Support Manager
AEO Trading London ( Mediabug, MCS Cleaning, Accidentsdirect)
North London, London
05.2013 - 06.2014
- Designed and implemented IT Strategy to consolidate the Live Virtual Web Servers hosting the company critical web sites, databases and application services pools.
- Coordinated with development team to align infrastructure support with ongoing project requirements.
- Scheduled upgrades and maintenance for networking devices and software to ensure optimal performance.
- Delivered BAU and project support to multiple sub-business services, ensuring compliance with operational standards.
- Scheduled regular backups of company critical data to maintain data integrity.
Section Coordinator/Duty Manager
Marks & Spencer London
Waterside House, London, London
06.2009 - 04.2013
- Coordinated staffing, implemented new phase changes, and evaluated promotions and SRD (Space, Range & Display plan) for effective operations.
- Transformed shop floor into a well-oiled machine by addressing significant operational challenges.
- Ensured compliance with TSL (Trading Safely and Legally) procedures to maintain safe trading practices.
- Established flexible relations with the staff achieving productivity.
- Recognised three times with the Spotlight Award for outstanding customer service.
Windows Systems and Network Engineer
Oxford College of London
Angel, London
12.2005 - 01.2006
- Re-engineered college network to upgrade and modernise infrastructure, enhancing performance, security, and scalability.
- Managed network performance and implemented changes to improve efficiency.
- Executed project to ensure timely completion and adherence to specifications.
Education
MSc - Broadband and High Speed Data Communication
University of Westminster; Cavendish Campus
London01-2007
Skills
Switch administration and recovery
Layer 2 protocols and VLANs
Link aggregation and spanning tree
Routing and policy-based routing
VRF-aware routing and filtering
Multicast and PIM snooping
Cisco SD-Access and SD-WAN
ACI fabric infrastructure
Transport technologies and MPLS
Infrastructure security services
Quality of service management
Network services and optimization
Traffic capture and troubleshooting tools
Infrastructure automation scripting
Security perimeter protection techniques
Wireless standards and RF design
Cyber Security Securing Networks with Cisco Firewall Management Centre (FMC) and Cisco Secure Firewall Threat Defense (FTD) Fortinet NSE 4 – FortiOS 76 Administration
Next-Generation Firewall (NGFW) Advanced Network Security System SSL Decryption, Deep Packet Inspection (DPI), Application-Level awareness, Intrusion Detection System (IDS), Intrusion Prevention System (IPS), Security and Threat Intelligence Cisco Network Access Control TACACS, 8021X Authentication and Cisco ISE Cloud-Delivered Framework Secure Access Service Edge (SASE) Merges networking and security functions SD-WAN(Software-defined Wide Area Network) Separation of planes, Dynamic Path Selection, Multi-Transport Support Cloud performance, Centralized Control, Enhanced Security , ZTNA (Zero Trust Network Access ) Secure Web Gateway (SWG) Zscaler ZIA/ZPA, Cisco Umbrella SWG/CSA, Couldflare and Fortinet, CASB(Cloud Access Security Broker) Visibility, Data Security, Threat Protection & Compliance , FwaaS (Firewll as a Service) Coud-Hosted Infrastructure, Traffic Inspection, Centralized Management, ADP, URL & Web Filtering IPS & DNS Security
Network monitoring and management systems Solarwinds, PRTG, eSight & U2000
Design , implement and operation support Azure Cloud Networks
BAU (Business As Usual) & project support
Planning, implementing LAN/WAN projects and documentation
Designing skills HLD & LLD
Cyber Security Operations Centre, CareCert Cyber Security Bulletin & vendor notifications follow-ups and work around
ITIL Processes Incident, Service & Change Management (ITSM ServiceNow)
Multi-Vendor Platforms Cisco , FortiNet, Juniper, Arista, Palo Alto & Sophos
Certification
2015 – 2018 Cisco Certified Network Professional Routing & Switching (CCNP)
Websites, Portfolios, Profiles
www.linkedin.com/in/abdul-rehman-85425547
Personal Skills
Communication
Problem-Solving
Working Under Pressure
Teamwork and Collaboration
Attention to Detail
Curiosity and Adaptability
Mentoring
Hardware Platforms
Cisco Branch ISR 1K & 4k , WAN Aggregation ASR 1000 and Carrier Grade Routing ASR 9000 & 8000
Cisco Nexus Switches 9K Datacentre & corporate sites
Huawei switches Enterprise & corporate sites S5700, S6700 & S12700
Huawei CloudEngine switches CE8800 & CE6800 Datacentre
Cisco Firewall ASA 5555, 5508
Cisco Next Generation Firewalls (NGFW) Firepower 4100 Firepower Threat Defense (FTD) 44100 - 4115
Huawei Firewall USG6000 series
Cisco WLC wireless controller 5500,9800
Cisco Meraki Wireless APs MR36 & MR46
FortiGate Firewall 91G, 100F, 400F & 900F , FortiGate Switch M426E
FortiManager Dedicated Physical Platform FMg-1000F, FortiAnalyzer Dedicated Virtual Platform FAZ-VM-GB500
Sophos UTM Sophos XGS Firewalls and Wireless Controller XG200, XGS3300, XGS4300 & XGS5500
Cisco Application Centric Infrastructure (ACI) Multi-POD Version 5.2 (8h)
Spine-and-Leaf Architecture N9K-C9332C, N9K-C93240YC-FX2
Cisco APIC Controller APIC-SERVER-M3
Cisco DNA-C Controller & Fusion Routers ISR 4000, ASR 1000 Series
Cisco SD-WAN Controller & Edge Routers ISR 1000 & 4000 vEdge 100, 1000, 2000, and 5000 Series
vEdge Cloud / CSR 1000v
Cisco ISE
Activities - Since Last Role Ended
Oct 2025 – To Date
Professional Activities
Since my previous role ended, I have focused on continuous professional development and keeping my IT knowledge and skills up to date. I have undertaken independent research and IT-related training to strengthen my technical capabilities and remain aware of developments within the industry as listed below;
Cyber Security Enterprise Infrastructure, Wireless, Security , Datacentre & Cloud
Cisco Enterprise Infrastructure, Security & Wireless
Cisco ACI Data Center Application Centric Infrastructure
Fortinet NSE 7 - SD-WAN
Fortinet NSE 4 - FortiOS 7.6 Administrator
Azure Network Engineer Associate (AZ-700)
Palo Alto SD-WAN (Panorama)
Arista SD-WAN (VeloCloud)
Juniper SD-WAN (Network Contrail Service Orchestration (CSO) Software)
Personal Activities
Alongside professional development, I have maintained an active and balanced lifestyle through regular gym training, playing cricket, travelling, and spending time with family and friends. These activities have helped me maintain discipline, wellbeing, adaptability, and a positive approach to personal and professional growth.
Career Breaks Activities
Self-Study and Training
Jan 2020– May 2020
Spine-Leaf Integration between Cisco Nexus platforms and Huawei CloudEngine.
March 2019 – Aug 2019
Cisco CCNP Security
Dec 2017 – July 2018
Cisco CCIE Routing and switching
July 2014 - Feb 2015
Cisco CCNP Routing & Switching
Jun 2008 – May 2009
Microsoft MCSE and Cisco CCN certification upgrades/renewals
Hobbies and Interests
I am passionate about continuous research and learning, staying up to date with technological developments and pursuing ongoing professional training in IT. I value spending quality time socializing with family and friends and enjoy maintaining an active lifestyle through playing cricket and regular gym workouts.
OTHER INFORMATION
References available upon request
Timeline
IT Corporate Services Senior Network Engineer
NHS NEL ICB
10.2021 - 09.2025
Network Security Engineer
Bank Of Ceylon (UK) Ltd
09.2021 - 09.2021
Senior IP Engineer
Huawei Technologies UK
06.2020 - 09.2021
IP Engineer
Huawei Technologies UK
07.2019 - 12.2019
Network Engineer
Ipsos UK
03.2019 - 08.2019
Network Analyst
CGI IT UK Limited (Morrison Utility Services)
02.2015 - 12.2017
Data Services Engineer
Virgin Media UK
10.2014 - 01.2015
Infrastructure Support Manager
AEO Trading London ( Mediabug, MCS Cleaning, Accidentsdirect)
05.2013 - 06.2014
Section Coordinator/Duty Manager
Marks & Spencer London
06.2009 - 04.2013
Windows Systems and Network Engineer
Oxford College of London
12.2005 - 01.2006
MSc - Broadband and High Speed Data Communication
University of Westminster; Cavendish Campus