Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
Certification
Reason for leaving
Timeline
Generic

Thabo Zako

Network Engineer
Johannesburg

Summary

Network Engineer with practical delivery across routing, switching, MPLS, and VoIP in ISP and enterprise settings. Configures OSPF, BGP, VLANs, SD-WAN, and site-to-site connectivity, then uses Wireshark, traceroute, and log analysis to isolate faults quickly. Supports topology design, device patching, and service restoration across mixed vendor environments. Knowledgeable Security Specialist. Adept at identifying and mitigating potential security risks, having successfully implemented various security protocols and measures. Proven ability to manage security operations and demonstrate keen problem-solving skills with attention to detail.

Overview

2
2
Languages
13
13
Certifications
11
11
years of professional experience

Work History

Security Specialist: Projects

Information Security Architects(ISA)
Johannesburg
01.2023 - Current
  • Assisting the company in providing quality information security services (Where I specialized in FortiGate firewalls) to Enterprise level client (5000 – 20 000 users) such as – Discovery, Capitec Bank, Standard Bank, Sasol, OUTsurance, PPC etc.
  • Involved in firewall projects as a Project Engineer from the Planning phase (To assist with the scoping) to Execution phase.
  • Examples of projects – IT(BAU)/OT Segmentation project for Sasol, Standard Bank Checkpoint to Fortinet migration project.
  • Analyze the client’s traffic and create a rule base as per the environment’s requirements (Interfaces, Objects, Policy based etc).
  • Layer 3 Routing configurations (OSPF, BGP, Route redistribution, AzureSDN connections etc).
  • Layer 2 Switching (Vlans, EMAC Vlans, Interface Aggregation, Virtual Wire Pairs etc)
  • Creating and managing Vdoms and ADOMs (FortiAnalyzer, FortiManager, FortiGate).
  • Creating and managing security profiles (IPS, Web Filter, DNS filters etc).
  • Certificate Management
  • Firewall Resilience – Configuration and troubleshooting of High Availability.
  • Installation and Post installation Firewall support.
  • Device management – Patch management, FortiCloud/FortiGuard registrations, ensure security standards compliant system logging (Most through the FortiAnalyzer).
  • Assist the SOC incident response with incoming firewall related incidents.
  • Assist with Managed services monthly tasks – Health Checks, Configuration Backups and verification, Monthly Operations reports.
  • Create clear and easily understandable Network topology diagrams (Using Ms Visio) as a managed service.
  • FortiAnalyzer – Device onboarding, memory configs, system setting, Administration domains (ADOMS) etc.
  • FortiManager – Device onboarding, Import config, Policy packages installations, Installation Target management, Administration domains (ADOMS) etc.
  • Manage CVEs – Inform clients of vulnerability before CVE release and recommendations for resolution.
  • Information Security Architects
  • Position:
  • Period of employment:
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Networking and Security Consultant

Brilliant Link
Johannesburg
03.2021 - 12.2022
  • Overall management and maintenance of networking equipment in the Data Center, Internal Networks and SLA Client Sites.
  • Configuration of network equipment both hosted environment and on client equipment.
  • Troubleshooting of network and hosted applications using various CLI or GUI tools (pier, Dig, traceroutes, pings, Wireshark sniffers etc.)
  • Configuration of firewall devices and monitoring of security at a Data Centre and onsite hosted environments (Policies, Security groups, Application access and SNAT and DNATs, Logging and monitoring etc.)
  • Configuration and management of SSL-VPN and IPsec (Site to Site and Site to Multisite), including the FortiClient software.
  • User access and authentication management on VPN and RDP access on the Firewall and Windows Active Directory (LDAP and local users).
  • Network device firmware and Licensing management (FortiGate FortiCloud, Mikrotik, Ubiquity, Sophos, etc.)
  • Using N-Able to manage security alerts for various security logs like “Failed logins attempts” from the Event viewer.
  • Monitoring TCP connections on Windows Shell and CMD up to FortiGate and Mikrotik routers for invalid connections.
  • Assisting clients on SLA Onsite server and Hosted servers within house Sage application connections to Client applications.
  • Deploying data backup for hosted and onsite SQL services on Redstor Enterprise and Server editions and on Altaro hosted Solution, maintaining Backup and Disaster recovery schedules.
  • Virtual Machines deployment on Hyper V using various Windows Server OS and a good understanding of other VM OS environments.
  • Troubleshooting and support of 3cx Hosted Services as Managed service (Onsite and Hosted deployments).
  • Hosted Sage Evolution Provider, Randburg Johannesburg
  • Position:
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Network Support Engineer (FTTx and Wireless Dpt)

Jurumani Solutions
Johannesburg
08.2019 - 02.2021
  • Provide 2nd level of network support and act as an escalation point for 1st line Support
  • Support subscribers/Clients on Vodacom Fibre network.
  • Conduct necessary coaching for the 1st line team.
  • Provide a proactive reaction to client and network outages (Integrity network monitoring system).
  • Provide diagnostic capabilities to identify the fault or problem.
  • Troubleshoot and configure the network as per client requests or specifications.
  • Resolve trouble tickets using the helpdesk system (Siebel).
  • Provide technical support to the order fulfillment team
  • Dispatch field Techs when necessary and provide tech support thereafter.
  • Log and coordinate clients Fibre and LTE links.
  • Liaise and keep the customer informed during the entire life cycle of an Incident.
  • Troubleshoot the service to identify the most appropriate resolution path.
  • Liaise with client’s IT support to resolve network related tickets.
  • 2nd level support and maintenance of clients VOIP B/OSS (BroadSoft).
  • Voice traffic monitoring on Oracle Communications.
  • Subscriber management and troubleshooting on Vodacom BNG’s within the Core MPLS network.
  • Manage Subscriber account on Cisco Radius interface (CPS).
  • Splunk Log query and analysis.
  • Vodacom Contractor (Midrand)
  • Position:
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  • Supported users in setup and configuration of wireless bridge networks.

Network Support Engineer (1st and 2nd Line)

WIRUlink
Johannesburg
06.2018 - 07.2019
  • 1st and 2nd line telephonic support to clients (SOHO and SME Business networks).
  • Email assistance to clients and Zendesk CRM Ticketing system.
  • Ticket logging and tracking till resolution according to the SLAs.
  • Troubleshooting client connections on the company core MPLS network running on BGP and OSPF configuration.
  • Troubleshooting and configuration of network devices (Mikrotik routers, Cisco Routers and Switches, Unifi and Mikrotik AP's, etc.).
  • Third-party link troubleshooting with various vendors on the various links (Fibre, ADSL, LTE, Wireless, etc.
  • Configure and Troubleshoot support to the Wireless Infrastructure (Cambiums and Ubiquiti Devices).
  • Network monitoring on Zabbix for Outage and other network alerts.
  • Voice gateways configurations and support.
  • 2nd Line VOIP configuration for various clients on PortaOne and 3cX Soft PBX (Managing extensions, Queues, Hunt groups etc).
  • 1st Line support of Hosted email and website (cPanel Hosting Platform).
  • Fax gateway config and support (IP fax to email account setups and maintenance).
  • Appoint.
  • Johannesburg, Constantia kloof
  • Position:
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Network Field Engineer (Data & Voice)

iConnect Telecoms
Johannesburg
04.2017 - 05.2018
  • Attending callouts for various purposes (Cutover, Support, Line Verification, Equipment Installation, etc.)
  • Layer 2 network configurations (PPP, Access VLANs, L2TP, PPTP) on various platforms (Mikrotiks, Cisco).
  • Layer 3 network configurations (BGP, OSPF).
  • Configuration of network peripheral devices (Unifi AP's, Switches, Routers, IP Phones, Virtual Fax Devices, Yealink, iServ IP Phones, Wi-Fi Extenders, and boosters).
  • Onsite and remote Troubleshooting of Network and peripheral network devices.
  • One week of assisting the support team and after-hour support monthly.
  • Experience in Cherwell ticketing systems.
  • Onsite configuration of hosted services (Voice, Fax, Mail).
  • Assisting in PRTG monitoring and updating.
  • Onsite equipment collection, testing and compiling fault reports.
  • Liaising with various link providers for troubleshooting purposes.
  • Johannesburg, Bryanston
  • Position:
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IT Administrator

Makro SA
Johannesburg
05.2015 - 03.2017
  • Network accounts management (Active Directory on Windows Server 2012).
  • New employee and transfer IT onboardings.
  • 1st line VIP Payroll system support.
  • Request new hardware including network points as per business expansion needs and install the relevant hardware.
  • 1st and 2nd line support of Printers mainly Xerox (Bytes Xerox).
  • 1st line Network Support.
  • 1st line support for VOIP PBX and Biometric Access control systems.
  • Follow Documented processes i.e., implementing change control procedures.
  • System upgrades on all workstation.
  • Asset management and repair logistics.
  • Crown Mines Branch
  • Position:
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Education

ND - Information Technology

NELSON MANDELA METROPOLITAN UNIVERSITY
Port Elizabeth
11-2009

University Foundation Program - Science

NELSON MANDELA METROPOLITAN UNIVERSITY
Port Elizabeth
11-2005

Secondary School Certificate - undefined

HILLSIDE SECONDARY SCHOOL
Port Elizabeth
01-2004

Skills

Fortinet Fabric

VPN configuration

Network troubleshooting tools

SD-WAN configuration

Layer 3 protocols

Firewall policy management

High availability configuration

Security profile management

Certificate management

Certification

Cisco certified: IT Essentials PC Hardware and Software

Reason for leaving

  • Retrenched due to company downsizing reasons
  • Appointment as Network Field Engineer

Timeline

Security Specialist: Projects

Information Security Architects(ISA)
01.2023 - Current

Networking and Security Consultant

Brilliant Link
03.2021 - 12.2022

Network Support Engineer (FTTx and Wireless Dpt)

Jurumani Solutions
08.2019 - 02.2021

Network Support Engineer (1st and 2nd Line)

WIRUlink
06.2018 - 07.2019

Network Field Engineer (Data & Voice)

iConnect Telecoms
04.2017 - 05.2018

IT Administrator

Makro SA
05.2015 - 03.2017

Secondary School Certificate - undefined

HILLSIDE SECONDARY SCHOOL

ND - Information Technology

NELSON MANDELA METROPOLITAN UNIVERSITY

University Foundation Program - Science

NELSON MANDELA METROPOLITAN UNIVERSITY
Thabo ZakoNetwork Engineer