Shahzad Ahmed Email & Phone Number

Karāchi, Sindh, Pakistan

Achieved successful ERP/CMS enhancements through effective communication with stakeholders, streamlining business processes and improving overall system efficiency.Provided strategic direction and oversaw the operation, support, and development teams, ensuring efficient and aligned IT operations.Spearheaded a network architecture overhaul, improving system performance, security, and scalability. Streamlined document workflows and ensured long-term preservation with a… Show more Achieved successful ERP/CMS enhancements through effective communication with stakeholders, streamlining business processes and improving overall system efficiency.Provided strategic direction and oversaw the operation, support, and development teams, ensuring efficient and aligned IT operations.Spearheaded a network architecture overhaul, improving system performance, security, and scalability. Streamlined document workflows and ensured long-term preservation with a centralized document repository and archive.Implemented a robust payment gateway integration, enabling secure and convenient online transactions for various university services. Show less

Successfully implemented a comprehensive Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system, encompassing critical modules like finance, HR, admissions, academics and student registration. This project streamlined processes across various departments and improved overall operational efficiency.Enhanced organizational efficiency by integrating and optimizing university process workflows forvarious implemented modules. This initiative led to a remarkable 35% improvement in on-time… Show more Successfully implemented a comprehensive Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system, encompassing critical modules like finance, HR, admissions, academics and student registration. This project streamlined processes across various departments and improved overall operational efficiency.Enhanced organizational efficiency by integrating and optimizing university process workflows forvarious implemented modules. This initiative led to a remarkable 35% improvement in on-time revenuecollection and the generation of more efficient, accurate, and timely reports.Successfully completed a comprehensive data center migration project, which included a completeoverhaul of the data center network structure. The project resulted in a more streamlined andstandardized network layout, aligning it with industry best practices. This initiative significantlyminimized network downtime and substantially enhanced network availability throughout the entirecampus.Reduced network downtime through the implementation of a gradual network and IT infrastructurerevamp project, including identification and resolution of network infrastructure issues and upgradingof infrastructure. This project contributed to a more robust and efficient network ecosystem, ultimatelyensuring smoother operations and greater network reliability across the organization. Show less

Karachi

Implemented the finance and accounting module of open source ERP to manage university accountingoperations, ensuring compliance with audit requirements at no additional software cost.Designed and implemented a scalable IT infrastructure for the new campus at DHA City, includingnetworking, data storage, servers, and security measures. Ensured that the infrastructure met thecampus' application and software requirements and was scalable for future growth… Show more Implemented the finance and accounting module of open source ERP to manage university accountingoperations, ensuring compliance with audit requirements at no additional software cost.Designed and implemented a scalable IT infrastructure for the new campus at DHA City, includingnetworking, data storage, servers, and security measures. Ensured that the infrastructure met thecampus' application and software requirements and was scalable for future growth. Successfullydelivered the infrastructure on time and within budget, enabling a smooth transition to the new campus.Oversaw the software development team in maintaining and enhancing the in-house developedbusiness applications. Led the development and implementation of new modules and payment gateway integrations to improve the functionality and performance of the applications.Designed and implemented automated CI/CD pipelines for development, staging, and production environments to minimize manual intervention, reduce the risk of human error, and increase the speed and reliability of deployments. This allowed the development team to focus on delivering features and fixing bugs, while I took care of the infrastructure and deployment tasks.Reduced data center operations footprint through efficient utilization of hardware, energy, software, and human resources.Provided Level 3 Linux system administrator support for email services, SAN storage, networkinfrastructure, virtualization, backup, and security.Implemented best practices and technologies to optimize resource utilization and reduce costs in thedata center.Maintained high up time and reliability, and resolved complex issues as a Linux system administrator.Contributed to the development of new processes and procedures to improve operational efficiency Show less

Karachi

Built the foundational infrastructure of the DSU data center, including cost-effective storage, network, and virtualization solutions, which are now prerequisites for any IT service at DSU.Deployed and maintained an open-source-based university data center, utilizing technologies such as Citrix XenServer, Ubuntu Server, OpenDJ LDAP, GoSa, OpenVPN, SSLVPN, Horde, Postfix, Samba, Bind, Nagios, Nagvis, iSCSI, NFS, SAN, Apache, MySQL, PHP, and Monit.Reduced data center operational… Show more Built the foundational infrastructure of the DSU data center, including cost-effective storage, network, and virtualization solutions, which are now prerequisites for any IT service at DSU.Deployed and maintained an open-source-based university data center, utilizing technologies such as Citrix XenServer, Ubuntu Server, OpenDJ LDAP, GoSa, OpenVPN, SSLVPN, Horde, Postfix, Samba, Bind, Nagios, Nagvis, iSCSI, NFS, SAN, Apache, MySQL, PHP, and Monit.Reduced data center operational costs by enabling efficient, scalable use of computing resources through the deployment of enterprise-grade Citrix Xenserver-based virtualization.Managed multiple iSCSI-based SAN storage, integrated SAN volumes with the virtualization layer, and managed volume allocation to servers. Configured replication between primary and backup SANs for critical VM backups.Implemented a centralized global authentication scheme for all data center services using OpenDJ LDAP multi-master synchronized servers and sssd-based unified LDAP member server configurations.Deployed a high-availability ThinClient solution with custom-built Linux firmware for VDI and Windows Terminal Server access, minimizing client terminal downtime.Set up pfSense firewalls in an Active-Standby CARP redundant configuration with multi-WAN failover and load balancing, serving as a front-line mail gateway with RBL and postfix header checks on incoming SMTP sessions.Deployed the KOHA library management system with multi-library facilities and implemented the DSPACE digital library repository with over 6,500 subject-wise classified books and assets that are full-text indexed and searchable.Led a team of network and system professionals in overseeing data center services and maintenance activities. Show less

As a Top Rated part-time freelancer on the platform during the time, I have completed 56 projects with a 100% success rate and received outstanding feedback from clients. My portfolio can be viewed at https://www.upwork.com/freelancers/~0139015a77c32b3505

Karachi

Managed the operation, infrastructure and support of network department. Leading the team of ITprofessionals for managing a multi-campus network of approximately 1500+ users.Designed and implemented campus IT policies and outlining standard operating procedures (SOP) fordifferent activities.Built and maintained vendor relationships, SLAs, purchase and recommendation of hardware andsoftware products solutions.Planned IT equipment upgrades, procurement… Show more Managed the operation, infrastructure and support of network department. Leading the team of ITprofessionals for managing a multi-campus network of approximately 1500+ users.Designed and implemented campus IT policies and outlining standard operating procedures (SOP) fordifferent activities.Built and maintained vendor relationships, SLAs, purchase and recommendation of hardware andsoftware products solutions.Planned IT equipment upgrades, procurement, budgeting and routine maintenance.Configuration management of Cisco ASA 5510, pfSense Firewalls, Cisco 2921 and Huawei QuidwayN20E series routers internet routers, Cisco 3750 and HP Procurve Switches.Deployed campus wide Wi-Fi infrastructure network employing EAP, radius, and integrated ActiveDirectory authentication of 802.1x mobile clients.Deployed VPN and WebVPN solutions for remote user connectivity and site to site VPNs for secureinter campus connectivity.Virtualization of data center services employing VMware ESXi for enhancing availability and scalabilityof available resources.Employed QoS Diffserve model in campus network to support the integration of data, video and voice,thus supporting multi-campus video conferencing over the network.Provisioned internet services, bandwidth management and caching with Squid and ISA Serversemploying multi tier traffic filtering using squidgaurd, ufdbgaurd, opendns and Untangle Unified ThreatManagement solutions. Show less

Custom House Karachi

As part of NOC team involved in 24X7 operation of Federal Board of Revenue Datacenter supportinghigh availability revenue collection databases, array of web based application servers and connectivityto multi site corporate network spanning different customs terminal of Karachi.Configured and customized open source Network Monitoring Server using Nagios, Cacti and Zenoss.Management, troubleshooting and SOP process documentation of MS SQL 2000 server cluster and IIS7… Show more As part of NOC team involved in 24X7 operation of Federal Board of Revenue Datacenter supportinghigh availability revenue collection databases, array of web based application servers and connectivityto multi site corporate network spanning different customs terminal of Karachi.Configured and customized open source Network Monitoring Server using Nagios, Cacti and Zenoss.Management, troubleshooting and SOP process documentation of MS SQL 2000 server cluster and IIS7 based load balanced web application servers.Deployed Radius based centralized authentication mechanism of network devices all across thecountry.Integrated Open Source UTM solution for parameter protection of internal network.Configured Linux based radius server and jabber server for secure inter organizational communication.Managed Microsoft Active Directory Server 2003 group policy, Semantic Central AV Server. WSUSServer and ISA 2004/2006 Server, rules management and policy enforcement.Developed security policies for web and database servers, documentation management and accesscontrol. Deployment of various LAMP architecture based Open source tools.Developed bash scripts for automated backup of MySQL databases, files and configuration data forLinux based systems.Performed penetration testing of data center security using back-track, Metasploit framework andNessus vulnerability scanner.Set up centralized log management of network devices using syslog server. Show less

Karachi

Involved in the evaluation and testing of Data warehousing software as per specification andrequirements, batch scripting.Wrote automated Test scripts writing, black box testing and SQL scripting. Managed MS-SQL2000departmental databases.Researched requirement documents and evaluated software in order to comply with clientrequirements. Devised and conducted testing plans and lead a team of software testing engineers.

Karachi

Involved in deployment and implementation of SAP R/3 Plant Maintenance Module in Electrical Maintenance department. Implementation of preventive maintenance schedules and routine maintenance activities.

Master Of Engineering, Computer Networks & Performance Evaluation

Bachelor’S Degree, Electrical Engineering

Education record