Group Networks Manager
Personal Statement - Steve
I managed and grew the IT Server Infrastructure and team at Achilles for 4.5 years (see description of duties - CV) from 4 servers in 1999 to a global presence of over 50 servers in 11 locations and 8 countries now. As you will have seen from my duties with Achilles, this post allowed me to push the boundaries of IT infrastructure especially in the fields of Networking Topology, Capacity Planning, Systems Design and Integration, and Enterprise Architecture; whilst providing excellent value for money. For example, under my direction, a recent Achilles Networks Operations Centre (NOC) Server Farm upgrade was completed to the server hardware. This was achieved without any customer downtime by downsizing the server size footprints; whilst improving the total computing power and storage at the NOC some 10 fold. By using new 2U-sized Dell servers, Achilles was able to hand back almost 3 racks of Internet Service Provider (ISP) rented racking. This funded over 75% of the upgrade from the 1st year of savings - including re-licensing the servers from NT4 to Windows 2003. I was also responsible for managing and nurturing several strategic, external facing, customer relationships that were required to service purchasing and maintenance of hardware, software, and ISP provisions.
Previous to this, my RAF service career as an IT/IS Manager, Radar Technician, Software Systems Developer and Software Tester, taught me the immense values of documentation, calculated response under pressure, and clarity of thought when evaluating faults and new developments. I was security cleared to Secret during most of my career and I was formally trained to remain calm and consider all aspects of fault finding, often whilst under extreme pressure. In addition, during my time spent in Air Defence Software Maintenance and Test Teams, I was taught how to formally gather and document design and change requirements using methodologies such as SSADM, and to help manage this change using formal methodologies such as Prince, etc. These skills have been strengthened recently at Achilles with an introduction to iterative design methodologies such as Rationalised Uniform Process (RUP).
I have a raft of experience and knowledge spanning 25 years of computing, electronics, and software development, and I feel that this experience puts me in a strong position with regards to continuing my career growth with any IT business or institution. In addition to my IT skill set, my character and personality have been moulded by 25 years of RAF Service experience to give me a structured, well balanced view on life and other issues surrounding the management of equipment and people.
Microsoft® Certified Courses and Professional Qualifications
Design and Maintenance of Windows 2003 Active Directory (Course - Mar 2003 - and experience)
Upgrade support skills NT4 to Windows 2003 (Course - Dec 2003 - and experience)
Designing a secure Windows 2000 Network (Course - Oct 2002 - and experience)
Upgrade support skills NT4 to Windows 2000 (Course- Aug 2001 - and experience)
Secure Web Access using MS Proxy Server 2.0 (Course - May 1999 - and experience)
Systems Engineer (MCSE NT4) since 1998
Networking Essentials
Implementing and Supporting Windows NT® Workstation 4.0
Implementing and Supporting Windows NT® Server 4.0
Implementing and Supporting Windows NT® Server 4.0 in the Enterprise
Internetworking with TCP/IP on Windows NT® 4.0
Managing Exchange Server 5.5
Other Commercial Qualifications and Courses
Rationalised Uniform Procedure (RUP) Methodology overview and understanding
ArcServeIT Release 6.61 for Windows NT for the Backup Administrator (Computer Associates)
CESG TEMPEST Security - Background and Design
Local Data Communications Network (LDCN) Site Manager
Structured Systems Analysis and Design Methodology (SSADM)
GEC Marconi 4160 Systems Manager
GEC Marconi 4160 Job Control Language
RAF Qualifications
Data Handling Software
Software Programming Techniques (Fortran 77)
Assimilation Training to Air Field Radars/Communications and Telecommunications
Computer Installation Manager - Security
Database Programming
PCB Repair
Technical Trade Management Training
Advanced Real Time Programming
Real Time Software Programming (Machine Code, Assembler, COREL 66)
Digital Techniques and Computer Fundamentals (DTCF)
Air Defence Electronics Technician Basic Training
OU (Aiming at BSc)
Currently on hold due to technical training requirements.
M205 (Computer Fundamentals)
M101 (Maths)
26 years in employment in full time jobs
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1999 - 2004
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Achilles Information Ltd
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Group Networks Manager for Achilles Group Ltd. Senior point of contact for all AGL PC, Server, and Server Networking matters - hardware and software - controlling a team of 4 IT engineers. Active role in the preparation and spend of the IT budget with respect to Servers and Networking ? including liaison with, and management of 3rd party service suppliers. During my tenure I have seen my responsibility rise from managing 4 internal facing servers and one external facing web server, to the current Achilles server farm of over 50 internal facing servers and 10 external facing servers situated in 11 sites worldwide utilising all Microsoft Windows platforms from Windows NT4 to 2003.
Responsible for design, creation, implementation, upgrade and documentation of:
Company LAN/WAN (Firewall VPN enabled between 11 sites inclusive of roaming/mobile user connectivity). Primarily NT4 and Windows 2000 trusted Domains, with planning for migration to Windows 2003 well underway.
Establishment of co-locate Networks Operational Centre (NOC) presence - supporting 30 AGL created external facing Products/Services to 10,000 Organisations and 15,000 Users.
All servers capable of being remotely managed from Engineer and Developer?s desktops worldwide.
Creation of and maintenance of Staging and Development server environments for creation and development of external and internal based services. Control of updates, patching and rollout of new products.
Achilles Web Services and Servers monitoring. Faults and outages are reported via automated alerting tools utilising SMS text messaging Email notification. Automated Server and Service uptime reports.
Total rework of company backup and disaster recovery regimes - utilising DLT7000 and LTO tape drives using Computer Associates ArcServeIT, and BrightStore - 6 independent systems.
Corporate MS Exchange Email system including incorporation of most Achilles Group offices and creation of numerous shared public folder systems. Encrypted Web accessed email for mobile users.
Centrally controlled and 4 hourly updated WAN wide Anti Virus protection.
Web, Email, and WAN Security, inclusive of Intrusion Prevention and Detection.
Domain management inclusive of DNS management, name registration, and security certificates.
Creation of and maintenance of dedicated server rooms containing fourteen 19? racks served with Uninterrupted Power Supplies, full air conditioning and all necessary server and network support equipment.
Full browser interconnection inclusive of co-located Internet Servers and Internet to all desktops. In mission critical locations these lines are backed up by secondary automatically switched over lines.
Incoming and outgoing facsimiles to/from desktop via MS Exchange.
ISO 9000 accredited procedures. Including complete build procedures for each server.
Internal file and print server environment.
Software libraries.
Daily taskings include:
LAN/WAN management, inclusive of Internet connections.
Management of corporate Virus and malicious code protection.
Corporate Email Management.
1st, 2nd and 3rd line Server support (inclusive of security patching etc.). A large percentage of servers and PCs are managed via remote access tools.
Advanced helpdesk for PC support and MS Office 2000.
Current projects include:
Group migration to Windows 2003/XP including Active Directory design and implementation. This solution is to provide a seamless staged transition from NT4, and a collapsing of the current multiple domain environments.
Data storage re-organisation and ratification. Inclusive of re-design of User Groups and Policies.
Planning for 24x7x365 external services support with semi automated fail-over solutions.
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1996 - 1999
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Royal Air Force
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Security accredited IT Manager for a large RAF station (500+ PCs) controlling a team of IT engineers. Responsible to senior management for all aspects of IT inclusive of: configuration control; procurement and installation of all hardware and software; network solutions (inc. design and installation); virus protection; hardware maintenance and upgrades; software help desk. Software experience covered MS DOS 5 - 6.22; MS Windows 3.1 through to NT4 inclusive; MS Office 4.2 through to Office 97 Pro (Access included); many other MS products (Exchange 5.5, MS Mail, Project, etc.); WordPerfect 5.1 and 6; Corel Draw 5; Adobe PhotoShop; Reflex Disknet; and various virus protection software. Hardware experience covered 286 PCs through to twin Pentium II; dot matrix printers to laser printers; Ethernet Coax, Cat 5 UTP and fibre optic connectivity. As site manager for RAF Local Data Comms Network (LDCN), fully acquainted with Routers, Concentrators, TCP/IP, and other networking topology and protocols.
1996 UK Air Defence software systems test team member. Responsible to management for analysis, design, production and implementation of large system tests, sometimes involving many RAF stations concurrently. Systems software was written in FORTRAN 77, and accommodated on VAX mainframe computers. Utilised networked Macintosh PCs and Microsoft Office software suite to produce test and procedure documentation. Also designed prototype for automated QA department paperwork system (ISO 9000 series), utilising the Microsoft Office suite of programs ? primarily Access.
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| 1 = Lowest level, 5 = Highest level |
(chosen marked with 
)
Full time
Contract/Project/Freelance