Enterprise Cloud & Security Architect
Strategy that delivers
The Value of of an Enterprise Cloud Architect
Summary of key responsibilities:
1. Cloud Strategy:
Developing a comprehensive cloud strategy aligned with the organization's goals and objectives. This involves understanding business requirements, evaluating cloud solutions, and recommending the appropriate cloud platforms (such as Amazon Web Services, Microsoft Azure, Google Cloud Platform).
2. Cloud Infrastructure Design:
Designing the architecture and infrastructure components required for deploying applications and services in the cloud. This includes defining network configurations, storage solutions, virtual machines, containers, serverless computing, and other resources.
3. Security and Compliance:
Ensuring the security and compliance of the cloud environment. Implementing robust security measures, such as identity and access management, encryption, and monitoring, to protect data and applications. Adhering to regulatory and industry compliance requirements, such as GDPR, HIPAA, or PCI DSS.
4. Scalability and Performance:
Designing cloud solutions that can scale seamlessly to handle varying workloads and user demands. Optimizing performance by leveraging auto-scaling, load balancing, caching mechanisms, and other techniques.
5. Cost Optimization:
Developing strategies to optimize cloud costs by selecting the right pricing models, utilizing reserved instances, rightsizing resources, and implementing cost monitoring and reporting. Ensuring that cloud resources are utilized efficiently to minimize unnecessary expenses.
6. Integration and Migration:
Assessing existing systems and applications and planning their migration to the cloud. Defining integration strategies to connect cloud services with on-premises infrastructure or other cloud providers. Facilitating smooth and efficient data transfers and application integration.
7. Collaboration and Communication:
Collaborating with cross-functional teams, such as developers, operations, and security professionals, to ensure successful implementation and ongoing management of cloud solutions. Communicating cloud architecture and strategies to stakeholders, executives, and technical teams effectively.
I have a deep understanding of various cloud technologies, architectures, and best practices. They need to stay updated with the latest advancements in the cloud industry and continuously evaluate and recommend new tools and services to enhance the organization's cloud capabilities. Examples are:
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Blockchain: DeFi, AWS Blockchain as a Service, Hyperledger Fabric, Enterprise Blockchain and the Supply Chain, Web3 Application Development, NFT Fundamentals, Metaverse Technology, Blockchain Implementation
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Generative AI & LLMs: Chat GPT, Transformer Architecture, tokenization & Vectors. Prompt Engineering. Model types & Applications. Machine Learning (Supervised/unsupervised)
From making strategic decisions to developing your capabilities, I’m here to help. Using my expertise and deep understanding of the industry, you’ll receive real solutions and experience true results. Get in touch to book a meeting.
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Current Engagement:
IAG GBS Jan 2023 to Date
Enterprise Cloud Solutions Architect
dun & bradstreet
Sept 2022 - Dec 2022
D&B has been undergoing a major transformation in its Data & Analytics space. As part of this initiative D&B have partnered with Google Cloud with a vision of pioneering and leading the data services for the enterprise. My role is to work with the various Stakeholder, understand the business & technical requirements, and translate them to a data driven solution. The strategy is to migrate their current CRM platforms into Google Cloud taking into consideration the vision, key drivers, and challenges. Constructing HLD’s and options papers for GCP various tools: Data Transfer Service, Dataflow, Dataproc, Datafusion, Dataprep, BigQuery, and Looker Studio.
Supporting the on-going development of the strategic reference architecture
Lead the ‘MVP to production’ Data reference architecture, including development Patterns, Principles, Standards and Capabilities
Provide guidance in data modelling, lineage, quality, metadata and governance
Ensure all deliverables and products have been communicated to stakeholders via weekly SteerCo session
Introduce and promote and evangelise architecture best practices in Analytics and Operational System Design
Rationalise and simplify the current data architecture to reduce technical debt and data duplication
bp
March 2022 - Sept 2022
Accelerate is a new developer platform for all 20,000 software professionals across bp. The vision here is for all developers to use a single platform, to leverage all the technology, community contributions, best practices, and support channels to help them accelerate the delivery of continuous value for their users in an efficient, stable, compliant, and sustainable manner. Working with various product owners to deliver a useable, resilient, and secure infrastructure in AWS, designing solutions and using design best practices. In tandem, engaging with DevOps engineers, in agile teams, and squads, to deliver several MVP’s
Working collaboratively with Digital Security and Cloud Technical Governance to define the to-be architecture, using a clear DevSecOps framework/architecture, incorporating ADO
AWS Serverless technologies, microservice app deployments in an AWS ElasticBeanstalk and EKS cluster using terraform and ADO pipelines. Implementing tooling such as Prometheus, Istio AppMesh, Aqua Container Security and Chaos engineering (Operatorhub.io, AWS FIS and kube-monkey)
CI/CD designs (ADO), frameworks, best practices, while applying automated testing in Dev, Test, Int, Pre-prod/Prod. Collaborative work ethic using ADO Epics, Feature, and Boards. Creating PBI’s and following through with DevOps engineers
Understanding of EA/Business models and frameworks as well as DevSecOps architecture practices
Native AWS tooling/services – Shield, WAF, Firewall Manager, ALBs/NLBs, Lambda, cloudformation as well as terraform
Serverless, containers (EKS, ECS), monitoring and managed services, EventBridge architecture, Microservices (& Micro-front End Architectures). Observability solution using Open Telemetry and Honeycomb
Understanding of modern data paradigms including architecture and technology to support digital use-cases
Broad understanding of modern AI & ML paradigms
Appreciation of DevOps, CI/CD and Agile SDLC approaches (Agile, SaFE)
Sopra Steria
Oct 2021 to Date
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First Project - As the Lead AWS Enterprise Architect, currently assigned to (ADS) Defence, Aerospace and Security division, designing the new AWS Infrastructure for Morpheus Project. Working as the Lead, cloud-native Architect, my role is to capture the ‘new’ business requirements, as the shift had changed from on-premises, to AWS. Translating those requirements into a viable, operational architectures, that is fit-for-purpose, while also owning the HLD. Overseeing the design & implementation of the AWS infrastructure, from networks, IAM, RBAC, VPC’s, subnets, ELB’s, WAF & cybersecurity (NCSC) framework. The objective is to produce a data lake solution using Oracle products (OAM, OID etc). Services consumed will be: KMS, ACM, Patch Manager, Security Hub (GuardDuty, Secrets Manager), WAF and Firewall Manager etc. Extensive experience in cloud design principles and modern application architectures, that underpin the CAF (Cloud Adoption Framework), while also implementing cloud security principles, such as: Data encryption, operational security, secure configuration change and management, secure user management, external interface protection and auditing.
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Working closely with other Infosec, business architects, engineers, and analysts (Babcock & MoD) to collectively provide a functional and technological viewpoint into technical solutions, while also providing mentoring and training leadership
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Collaborate with SMEs from Cloud, Integration, Data, Security & Digital to bring an end-to-end solution architecture for the business requirement, while following the www.ncsc.gov.uk guidelines
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Providing advice and guidance on Azure Landing Zones, using Microsoft CAF policy, incorporating best practices, governance, and design patterns for IaaS & PaaS)
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2nd Project – Working collaboratively with various parties, my role is the Technical Lead for designing the HLD to deliver the Digital Toolset for the HE (Highways England), to include a CDM (Common Data Model). There vision is to improve the was we connect with supply chain, and reduce wastage and inefficiencies in how we capture, exploit and manage data.
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After an initial discovery phase of various sources, the immediate requirement is to produce an MVP in Azure using cloud-native tools, such as, ADLS (Azure Data Lake Storage, ADF, Data Bricks, Synapse Analytics and Power BI)), and ingesting data into various zones (Raw, Structured, Curated and Audit)
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Lead best practices and create documentation around data governance, data security, and master data management to establish guidelines. Partnering with Kaiasm, and working with Deloitte and Microsoft to deliver the solution
Bio
Professional Consulting
Projects can be challenging; I’m here to lighten the load off your shoulders. I’m an honest and positive professional whose first priority is always the interests of my clients; providing capability, adaptability, and scalability.
I am passionate about the cloud. Always thinking 'out of the box' and providing relevant business and architectural solutions, that are 'fit-for purpose', and add real value to the end customer. A team player, where I can work with all levels of the business, from local operations teams to CxO level
Tremendous experience working as an Enterprise Cloud Architect
Leading business and technical teams (eg business analysts, SMEs, technology architects) and the early stages of a project to complete the scoping with high-level designs
Demonstrate ability to communicate, present and influence credibly and effectively at all levels of a customer's technology organization
Experienced in working and setting up practices for agile architecture practices, including knowledge/qualification on agile and lean architectural frameworks.
Experience implementing and supporting enterprise solutions and large operational platforms
Knowledge of process automation, user experience, and workflows
I Thrive on the unknown: I love to be creative and solve problems businesses are facing, with limited input and resources, in a high-pressured environment
Experienced in leading transformational initiatives that are company-wide
