Gareth Thomas Email & Phone Number

Specializing in cloud security

Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand

Auckland, New Zealand

A return to the operations team to focus on infrastructure security and project escalations. I've designed and implemented multiple Microsoft security and identity solutions (including server and AD hardening), and I'm accustomed to CIS and Microsoft frameworks surrounding cloud, server, privileged identity, and mail security.Aside from design and implementation I can be called upon to troubleshoot the most complex of issues - even if I haven't worked with the technologies before… Show more A return to the operations team to focus on infrastructure security and project escalations. I've designed and implemented multiple Microsoft security and identity solutions (including server and AD hardening), and I'm accustomed to CIS and Microsoft frameworks surrounding cloud, server, privileged identity, and mail security.Aside from design and implementation I can be called upon to troubleshoot the most complex of issues - even if I haven't worked with the technologies before. Aside from vendor support I make use of RFCs, vendor documentation, and tools such as procmon and wireshark. I freely share my knowledge with my teams through one-on-one and documentation. Show less

Auckland, New Zealand

Watercare's Strategic Transformation is a cross-functional programme aiming to provide value not just in IT Systems, but our ways of working, and our customers and community. I bring my intimate knowledge of Watercare's systems and policies to provide technical leadership and consultation across the programme. I work closely with architects and other technical subject matter experts, as well as stakeholders across the business. From a technical perspective, the programme focuses on the move… Show more Watercare's Strategic Transformation is a cross-functional programme aiming to provide value not just in IT Systems, but our ways of working, and our customers and community. I bring my intimate knowledge of Watercare's systems and policies to provide technical leadership and consultation across the programme. I work closely with architects and other technical subject matter experts, as well as stakeholders across the business. From a technical perspective, the programme focuses on the move from on-premise systems to SaaS and public cloud, from traditional IT to agility and DevOps.My duties include:*Providing technical expertise and design for solution architecture building blocks*Identifying potential areas of architectural significance*Identifying possible constraints and conflicts, negotiating outcomes*Defining the required environments (prod / test / etc) for the delivery of the programme*Scoping solutions*Architecting the identify management requirements of business users, external consultants, administratorsAWS Organization and IAM architectureWorked with internal stakeholders to identify requirements, and procured a design from external consultants. I refined this design through further collaboration internally, and created a privileged management model based on multiple AWS and industry whitepapers.*Working with business and technical stakeholders, defined the metadata taxonomy for security, management, and billing reporting purposes.*Used industry security baselines to protect our information assets*Worked with our DevOps lead to cement Infrastructure as Code standards for applying and maintaining the environment. Show less

Auckland, New Zealand

New role / promotion created to reflect change in scope.This role places a heavy emphasis on projects, security,continuous improvement, and technical evaluation of new solutions. I'm also the go-to for high impact / visibility incidents and requests, and the technical lead for our Azure, Azure AD, and Office 365 cloud presence, Exchange, FIM, PowerShell, Active Directory, and more.I work closely with our architects - peer reviewing the in-depth technical components (wholly or a… Show more New role / promotion created to reflect change in scope.This role places a heavy emphasis on projects, security,continuous improvement, and technical evaluation of new solutions. I'm also the go-to for high impact / visibility incidents and requests, and the technical lead for our Azure, Azure AD, and Office 365 cloud presence, Exchange, FIM, PowerShell, Active Directory, and more.I work closely with our architects - peer reviewing the in-depth technical components (wholly or a subset) of their solutions, or having my own peripheral solutions' architecture reviewed (such as a password management system). Show less

Auckland, New Zealand

Project and support role with multi-disciplined responsibilities:Project technical lead, designer, implementer, some costings based on NPV3rd level incidents and service requests across the Microsoft stackPowerShell lead - complex and simple scriptsProblem managementDesktop and server security hardeningI've been involved in multiple projects as an implementer, below are those where I took on design or tech lead roles:Completed projects as technical or… Show more Project and support role with multi-disciplined responsibilities:Project technical lead, designer, implementer, some costings based on NPV3rd level incidents and service requests across the Microsoft stackPowerShell lead - complex and simple scriptsProblem managementDesktop and server security hardeningI've been involved in multiple projects as an implementer, below are those where I took on design or tech lead roles:Completed projects as technical or design lead2016: CRM Online - Tenant / instance level activities - tech lead2016: Password Manager Pro - Complete design including policies, architect, tech lead2016: SAP FIORI - ADFS lead2015: Active Directory upgrade - design and tech lead.2015: Azure Platform - Synchronisation, account security - tech lead2015: FIM cleanup - coding and logic updates - tech leadI've also deployed many smaller capabilities:Local Administrative Password Solution, including a PowerShell script that allows more granular control than is provided in the base productActive Directory Recycle BinMicrosoft Azure Multifactor Authentication ServerScripts to monitor and notify of changes to local groups and active directory groups Show less

Client-focused role spanning multiple technologies.Expanded technical scope. Team primary resource for Active Directory/DHCP/DNS/DFS/Group Policy/PKI/file server technologies.Other technologies supported include:Cluster serversDesktops (L2/3)Server operating systemsPatchingPrintersBackups - ARCServe, CommVault, NetBackupVMwareCitrixExchange 2003/2010/Office 365Gateway technologies (Webmarshal/Threat Management Gateway)PowerShell… Show more Client-focused role spanning multiple technologies.Expanded technical scope. Team primary resource for Active Directory/DHCP/DNS/DFS/Group Policy/PKI/file server technologies.Other technologies supported include:Cluster serversDesktops (L2/3)Server operating systemsPatchingPrintersBackups - ARCServe, CommVault, NetBackupVMwareCitrixExchange 2003/2010/Office 365Gateway technologies (Webmarshal/Threat Management Gateway)PowerShell scriptsWriting work instructions for various repeatable "simple" or complex tasksI also contributed heavily to Gen-I's knowledge base. Show less

Auckland, New Zealand

Technology-focused role on the following technologies: - Active Directory- Group Policy- DNS- DHCP- File Servers- DFS-R / DFS-NTasks related to this support included:- L2/L3 incident resolution- Incident prevention- Event reduction- Problem management- Implementing service requests- Design review- Project resource- Writing/reviewing documentation on technology, client environments, and good practices.

Auckland, New Zealand

After hours L1 & L2 outsourced IT Service Desk to various medium enterprise, large corporate, and Government departments. Owing to the technical nature of the desk, I had to call upon my problem-solving skills, persistence and patience all whilst adhering to SLAs and ensuring internal metrics (e.g. call answer times) remained above expected standards.I also wrote documentation and helped modify, rewrite, or create processes to increase efficiency and reduce unnecessary… Show more After hours L1 & L2 outsourced IT Service Desk to various medium enterprise, large corporate, and Government departments. Owing to the technical nature of the desk, I had to call upon my problem-solving skills, persistence and patience all whilst adhering to SLAs and ensuring internal metrics (e.g. call answer times) remained above expected standards.I also wrote documentation and helped modify, rewrite, or create processes to increase efficiency and reduce unnecessary technical escalations by the team. Additionally I helped train and mentor new Analysts.I also was called upon to help cover the Christchurch telco desks during the February 2011 earthquake disaster. I was a primary resource owing to my previous experience and had to manage a high call workload due to the unprecedented and widespread impact, give clarity on exising processes and escalation points, and take incident management ownership of critical health and safety events for organisations including emergency services and Civil Defence. Show less

Christchurch, New Zealand

First level telecommunications helpdesk and incident management.This role gave me significant exposure to multiple industries, internal and external stakeholders, and the critical value of ICT as it relates to business outcomes.My time management and customer service skillset were honed in this fast-paced and dynamic role. I also first encountered ITIL concepts such as Service Level Agreements, incidents, and service requests.Other responsibilities would later include… Show more First level telecommunications helpdesk and incident management.This role gave me significant exposure to multiple industries, internal and external stakeholders, and the critical value of ICT as it relates to business outcomes.My time management and customer service skillset were honed in this fast-paced and dynamic role. I also first encountered ITIL concepts such as Service Level Agreements, incidents, and service requests.Other responsibilities would later include mentoring a new group of CSRs fresh from training, and being called upon to travel to Auckland to help provide support during the Canterbury September 2010 earthquake. Show less

Bachelor Of Business, Business

Diploma In Computer Systems And Network Administration