NIKHIL THENGUMPALLIL JOSE
Milton Keynes
Summary
Results-driven Senior Network & Security Engineer with over 10 years in designing and implementing enterprise network and security infrastructures. Expertise in network security, cloud networking, Zero Trust access, and firewall technologies. Leads complex projects, enhancing service availability and reducing operational risk through effective change management and incident resolution. Manages multi-vendor platforms, ensuring stability and secure connectivity across diverse environments.
Overview
11
11
years of professional experience
Work History
SENIOR TECHNICAL LEAD - INFRASTRUCTURE
Coforge Ltd (Channel 4)
08.2021 - Current
- Led enterprise network transformation for SD-WAN simplification and data centre migration.
- Managed production environments across Palo Alto, Fortinet, Cisco, Aruba, Extreme Networks.
- Designed secure networking solutions delivering high availability and scalable growth.
- Delivered secure cloud networking across Microsoft Azure and AWS environments.
- Integrated Microsoft Intune and Aruba ClearPass for certificate-based network authentication.
- Led technical teams in the development and deployment of software solutions, enhancing overall project efficiency.
- Optimised network performance using proactive monitoring and capacity planning.
- Handled business-critical network incidents with level 3 troubleshooting support.
- Managed firmware lifecycles across enterprise firewalls, switches, wireless controllers, remote sites.
- Transformed enterprise network and security infrastructure for a leading UK broadcaster.
- Implemented enterprise-wide changes following ITIL best practices and governance.
- Analysed system requirements and provided expert recommendations for technology solutions, aligning with business goals.
- Responded to critical system outages with prompt and effective troubleshooting, minimising downtime and business impact..
- Facilitated regular team meetings to monitor progress, address challenges, and adjust strategies as necessary.
- Communicated complex technical information in clear, easy-to-understand ways, aiding swift resolution of service user issues.
- Managed diverse technical projects through process change, improvements and roll-outs.
- Enhanced company productivity and performance through strategic development of internal IT systems.
- Oversaw the migration of legacy systems to modern platforms, minimising disruption and maintaining data integrity.
- Devised full-scale technical plans to inform team members of project specifications, milestones and gateways.
IT Analyst
Tata Consultancy Services
01.2021 - 04.2021
- Managed more than 900 enterprise firewalls across global customer environments.
- Administered Palo Alto Panorama and Prisma Access infrastructure to ensure secure and efficient network management.
- Supported Azure and AWS cloud networking to facilitate seamless cloud integration and operations.
- Managed GlobalProtect remote access VPN infrastructure, enabling secure remote connectivity for global users.
- Delivered advanced troubleshooting for complex enterprise network incidents. Implemented secure connectivity between Azure VNets and AWS environments.
- Highlighted significant successes
Senior Network Engineer
Frontier Business Systems
06.2017 - 12.2020
- Designed secure enterprise network architecture for customers across various industries.
- Delivered enterprise firewall migration projects, achieving seamless transitions with minimal downtime.
- Deployed Palo Alto virtual firewalls within Azure and AWS.
- Produced technical designs, implementation plans and migration strategies.
- Performed Proof of Concepts (PoCs) for enterprise customers.
- Collaborated with sales teams to provide technical consultancy, enhancing customer understanding during pre-sales engagements.
- Achievements
Network Support Engineer
Softcell Technologies
02.2016 - 05.2017
- Implemented enterprise firewall and security solutions to enhance network protection.
- Conducted network security assessments to identify vulnerabilities and improve security posture.
- Managed SIEM integration and threat monitoring.
- Delivered infrastructure support across networking and security technologies, ensuring optimal performance and reliability.
- Supported disaster recovery planning.
- Achievements
Education
Bachelor of Engineering - Electronics & Communication
Srinivas Institute of Technology
Skills
- Palo Alto Firewalls
- Fortinet Firewalls
- Cisco Enterprise Networking
- Aruba Central & Wireless
- Extreme Networks
- SD-WAN
- Cloud networking
- Enterprise Network Architecture
- Network Security
- Zero Trust Architecture
- Aruba ClearPass
- VPN Technologies
- GlobalProtect
- SSL VPN
- IPSec VPN
- FortiClient VPN
- FortiEMS services
- Network transition
- Firewall transition
- Networking
- Cloud
- Microsoft Azure
- Amazon Web Services
- Google Cloud Platform
- Network Automation
- Infrastructure Upgrades
- Firewall administration
- SD-WAN design
- Network troubleshooting
- Incident management
- Disaster Recovery
- Authentication
- Certificates
- Machine Authentication
- 8021X
- RADIUS
- Security Services
- DNS Security
- DLP
- URL Filtering
- Threat Prevention
- Application Control
- Security Policies
- Management Platforms
- Panorama
- FortiManager
- Aruba Central
- Aruba Controller
- Cisco
- Aruba
- Meraki
- Check Point
- Sophos
- Cyberoam
- Problem-solving
- Firewall administration
- Network architecture
- Cloud networking
- Network troubleshooting
- FortiEMS services
- Problem-solving
Accomplishments
- Lead engineer for enterprise network transformation projects including SD-WAN, network simplification and data centre migration.
- Successfully manage production environments comprising Palo Alto, Fortinet, Cisco, Aruba and Extreme Networks infrastructure.
- Design secure networking solutions for new business requirements whilst ensuring high availability and scalability.
- Deliver firmware lifecycle management across enterprise firewalls, switches, wireless controllers and remote infrastructure.
- Support business-critical network incidents and provide Level 3 technical troubleshooting.
- Manage enterprise-wide change implementation following ITIL best practices.
- Deliver secure cloud networking solutions across Microsoft Azure and AWS environments.
- Contribute to Microsoft Intune and Aruba ClearPass integration for certificate-based network authentication.
- Managed more than 900 enterprise firewalls across global customer environments.
- Administered Palo Alto Panorama and Prisma Access infrastructure.
- Supported Azure and AWS cloud networking.
- Managed GlobalProtect remote access VPN infrastructure.
- Delivered advanced troubleshooting for complex enterprise network incidents. Implemented secure connectivity between Azure VNets and AWS environments.
- Delivered multiple enterprise firewall migration projects with minimal downtime.
- Designed secure enterprise network architecture for customers across various industries.
- Deployed Palo Alto virtual firewalls within Azure and AWS.
- Performed Proof of Concepts (PoCs) for enterprise customers.
- Produced technical designs, implementation plans and migration strategies.
- Worked closely with sales teams to deliver technical consultancy during pre-sales engagements.
- Implemented enterprise firewall and security solutions.
- Conducted network security assessments.
- Supported disaster recovery planning.
- Delivered infrastructure support across networking and security technologies.
MAJOR PROJECTS
- Microsoft Intune & Aruba ClearPass Integration, Designed and implemented certificate-based authentication using EAP-TLS., Integrated Microsoft Intune with Aruba ClearPass., Configured machine certificate authentication., Developed authentication policies using Azure AD device identity., Troubleshot WPA3 Enterprise authentication and 802.1X deployment.
- Enterprise SD-WAN Deployment, Supported deployment of SD-WAN across multiple enterprise locations., Improved WAN resilience and application performance., Reduced operational complexity.
- Data Centre Migration, Planned and executed enterprise network migration activities., Managed firewall policy migration., Ensured minimal service disruption.
- Firewall Migration Programme, Migrated customer environments from legacy platforms to Palo Alto and Fortinet., Conducted planning, implementation, validation and post-migration support.
PROFESSIONAL CERTIFICATIONS
- Palo Alto Networks Certified Security Engineer (PCNSE)
- Microsoft Certified: Azure Security Engineer Associate (AZ-500)
- Microsoft Certified: Azure Administrator Associate (AZ-104)
- Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA)
Timeline
SENIOR TECHNICAL LEAD - INFRASTRUCTURE
Coforge Ltd (Channel 4)
08.2021 - Current
IT Analyst
Tata Consultancy Services
01.2021 - 04.2021
Senior Network Engineer
Frontier Business Systems
06.2017 - 12.2020
Network Support Engineer
Softcell Technologies
02.2016 - 05.2017
Bachelor of Engineering - Electronics & Communication
Srinivas Institute of Technology