Ara Avakian
Details
Computer Science
Montgomery College
2006 : 2010
CMNO - Cisco Meraki Network Operator
Meraki
Cisco Meraki
2017
Introduction to Software-Defined Networking (SDN)
Learning Tree
2016 : 2016
Vulnerability Assessment : Protecting Your Organization
Learning Tree
2016 : 2016
Deploying VMware vSphere (ESXi 6.0
Learning Tree
2016 : 2016
• Network : Firewalls (FortiGate, Palo Alto), Routers (Cisco, Juniper), Switches (Cisco, HP, Brocade, Juniper)
o Intranet network segmentation
• Mail Filters (FortiMail, Symantec Message Labs)
• Cisco UCS management
• Network Access Control (ForeScout) deployment and administration
• Network monitoring (FortiAnalyzer, FortiManager, SolarWinds)
2016 : Present
AFBA
Sr. Network Security Engineer
At TheIncLab, we're passionate about creating interactive experiences with impact. We are an award-winning multidisciplinary team of engineers, producers, software developers and mixed reality designers that help organizations innovate and deliver interactive solutions.
2015 :
TheIncLab
Chief Information Security Officer - Board of Directors
2015 :
TheIncLab
Member Board Of Directors
I began at Armed Forces Benefit Association (AFBA) as a contractor before converting to a permenent employee. I performed all network and network security related tasks. My responsibly included providing strategic guidance for Internet, intranet, network, security, and application control. Additionally, my tasks included designing, deploying, and supporting the following technologies :
• Network : Firewalls (FortiGate, Palo Alto), Routers (Cisco, Juniper), Switches (Cisco, HP, Brocade, Juniper)
o Intranet network segmentation
• Mail Filters (FortiMail, Symantec Message Labs)
• Cisco UCS management
• Network Access Control (ForeScout) deployment and administration
• Network monitoring (FortiAnalyzer, FortiManager, SolarWinds)
2014 : 2016
Internetwork Consulting Services, LLC
Sr. Network Consultant at AFBA
At the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC), I managed the network team and provided technical leadership. My responsibilities included providing strategic guidance for the intranet, network, and load-balancing (HA) infrastructure for mission-critical services. Additionally, I was the lead in designing a scalable network infrastructure during the tech refresh of over 120 unique branch/remote offices.
• Maintained the network infrastructure with High-Availability (HA) meeting the agreed upon SLA’s across multiple data centers
• Work with federal government engineers and deployment teams to ensure the network infrastructure remains current, and performs per requirements
• Managed OCC’s CM meetings to provide input to technical changes in the Network and Internet service area.
o Provided thought leadership determining cause/effect relationships of changes in one service area to others.
• Conduct extensive analysis to determine bandwidth utilization to aid in recommendations for future requirements
2013 : 2014
.
Network & Internet Team Lead
Skills
Active Directory, Cisco Technologies, Citrix, Computer Security, Data Center, DHCP, Disaster Recovery, Enterprise Architecture, Firewalls, Hardware, High Availability, Information Security, Information Technology, Integration, IP, ITIL, IT Management, IT Operations, IT Service Management, IT Strategy, LAN-WAN, Microsoft Exchange, MPLS, Network Administration, Network Architecture, Network Design, Network Engineering, Networking, Network Security, Operating Systems, OSPF, PMP, Routers, SAN, SDLC, Security, Servers, Solaris, Switches, System Administration, System Deployment, Telecommunications, Troubleshooting, Virtualization, Visio, VLAN, VMware, VMware ESX, VPN
About
My career spans 23 years in the Information Systems Cyber Security environment. I have hands-on experience with all aspects that support an environment lending to an advantage in creating a top-down solution that scales uniformly. Additionally, I maintain focused on corporate direction and align my solutions and architectural decisions accordingly.
My current focus is to create a secure, scalable network that provides a usable environment while seamlessly protecting the data integrity.
Clearance:
- DoD Secret (Active)
- DoD Top Secret (Inactive)
- DoD Secret (Inactive)
- DHS BI (Sept. ‘11)
- DoJ NACI (April ’09)
- NASA (March ’13)
- OCC Trust (Aug ’13)
Certifications:
- ITIL v3
- CCNA/CCNP (Expired)
- MCSE (Expired)
- CMNO (Cisco Meraki Network Operator)
TECHNICAL EXPERTISE:
Network Hardware:
- Routers (28xx, 29xx, 39xx, 44xx, 70xx)
- Switches (29xx, 35xx, 45xx, 65xx, 68xx & [6880 FEX], Meraki)
- Nexus (9300, 2000)
- Cisco MDS (9148)
- HP ProCurve
- Juniper
- Brocade
- Firewalls: Cisco ASA (Appliance, FWSM), FortiNet FortiGate UTM, Palo Alto Networks
- Wireless: Meraki, FortiAP
- Load balancer: Cisco ACE: (Service Module & 4710 Appliance)
Security:
- VPN, IPSec, Access Control Lists (ACL’s), VLAN’s, Radius, AAA, ForeScout, Gold Disk Security standard, STIG
- VPN MFA (Multi-Factor Authentication) via Azure
Operating Systems:
- Cisco IOS, FortiOS, MS Server, Linux
Protocols:
- TCP/IP, OSPF (v2, v3), IPv6, Multicast (MSDP, Port Channeling, HSRP, NAT, DHCP), MPLS
Software/Applications:
- Cisco Adaptive Security Device Manager (ASDM), Cisco Application Network Manager (ANM), VMware v4.1 - v5.5, BigFix 8.0, WireShark, SolarWinds, Symantec Backup Exec 2010, MS Exchange 2010, Visio
Profile Photo
