Michael Avni Email & Phone Number

Tel Aviv District, Israel

Cyber Security Consultant

Tel Aviv-Yafo, Tel Aviv District, Israel

Architected, built, and managed the IT infrastructure for the Innovation Lab, incorporating VMware vCenter, Hyperconverged HP & Cisco servers (Simplivity, UCS), Cisco switches, PAN firewalls, multiple domains, VPN, Git, Jira, Confluence, SIEM (Splunk), and monitoring systems.Conducted comprehensive market research and hands-on evaluations of various cybersecurity technologies, culminating in the successful deployment of several solutions, such as FireEye (BAS), Agari (Email security), Crowdstrike (EDR), Symantec (DLP), ExtraHop (Packet Analysis), and more.Designed and executed product evaluations in both lab and production environments, involving the creation of dedicated environments, deployment of products, generation of test data and scripts, and conduction of rigorous testing procedures including simulated cyber attacks.Provided guidance to numerous startup CEOs and CTOs on product maturity and business development strategiesAuthored a comprehensive report on attack surface mitigation concerning remote work during the COVID-19 pandemic. The report extensively addressed potential risks associated with data exfiltration from employee laptops while working from home and outlined effective strategies for mitigating such risks.

Tel Aviv Area, Israel

Redesigned and standardized multiple cybersecurity labs, streamlining management and boosting operational efficiency.Launched the transformative "Lab as a Service" initiative, which automated the deployment of fully configured environments. This impactful change significantly expedited setup times, enabling users to concentrate on their core responsibilities, and establishing a new benchmark within the organization.Innovated an automated malware analysis tool, culminating in two patent submissions in Canada.Earned several "Above and Beyond" awards for exceptional performance and contributions across multiple projects.Led and technically managed a global SecOps team.Facilitated various internal security teams within TD by providing custom-built environments for diverse cybersecurity projects.

Tel Aviv Area, Israel

Designed and built the Cyber Lab from the ground up, including the procurement and setup of hardware, implementation of VMware virtualization, and configuration of all necessary software, resulting in a robust environment for cybersecurity testing and product evaluations.Led a team (2), fostering growth and collaboration while effectively managing relationships with new stakeholders to ensure the success of cybersecurity initiatives.Designed and executed product evaluations for Content Disarm and Reconstruction (CDR) technologies, including OPSWAT and ReversingLabs, integrating these technologies into the existing cybersecurity infrastructure.Built a comprehensive malware repository for effective evaluation and comparison of various cybersecurity solutions.Developed scripts for the comparative analysis of different cybersecurity products, leading to informed decision-making on product deployment.Continuously monitored and improved lab operations, ensuring high availability and performance.

Tel Aviv, Israel

Designed and managed large scale global projects. Some of which have become the company's flagship projects.Designed and maintained complex VMware based virtual environments including multi-datacenter based vCenter servers with hundreds of ESX hosts and VMware View VDI based platforms.Created tailored virtual environments for the R&D and QA departments, deploying a wide range of applications and security platforms.Developed scripts and automated tools to enhance productivity and operational efficiency, using languages such as PowerShell, Python, and Bash.

Tel Aviv, Israel

Joined the company in its early days and played a pivotal role in establishing and expanding the IT infrastructure.Designed and implemented a ground-up, robust infrastructure encompassing hardware, networking, and virtualization.Evolved into the design and management of large-scale, global infrastructures.Cyvera was acquired by Palo Alto Networks

Tel Aviv, Israel

Administered comprehensive IT services for over 350 SOHO and SMB customers.Provided IT tailor-maid turnkey solutions for conventions around the world.Hired and managed employees and contractors.Managed budgets, salaries and vendor payments.

Tel Aviv, Israel

Lead a team of IT Helpdesk specialists, providing IT services for SOHO and home users.