Vangirai Stany Chikuni
Henley On Klip,South Africa
Summary
Versatile IT Professional with sourd knowlegde of Azure Cloud Technology, Infrastructure, skilled in Change Management, Risk Analysis and Mitigation. With over 17 years of experience working in the tech industry. Started out as an Information Technology Support Engineer and made a decent career progress up to the Enterprise Engineer, responsible for the entire Microsoft Solutions, MS Azure, Office 365, Licensing, Exchange Migrations, Active Directory and Azure Active Directory and Azure subscriptions. Proven ability to review workload, system dependencies, business applications, and security needs to optimise Azure subscriptions, vNet design, routing, and resource manager deployment models. Passionate about leading teams who value agility within fast paced environments.
Overview
19
19
years of professional experience
Work history
Senior Solutions Architect: Microsoft
Vodacom South Africa
08.2022
- Documenting the solutions proposal in response to customers’ needs
- Designing and implementing cloud-based solutions using Microsoft Azure platform
- Perform role of Interface between customer, commercial and technical entities by translating between business requirements and technical specifications
- Collaborating with stakeholders to understand business requirements and translate them into technical solutions
- Providing hands-on Technical Sessions to the clients at their locations
- Providing expertise and guidance on cloud architecture best practices and design principles
- Creating, validating, and reviewing solutions and effort estimate for data center migration to Azure Cloud Environment, conducting proof of concept for latest Azure Cloud-based service
- Monitoring and optimizing cloud infrastructure to ensure performance and cost efficiency
- Conduct research on and keep abreast of ICT trends to identify new product opportunities
- Identify opportunities within client’s environment for solutions or new product development
- Identify the prospective issues in Azure Migration and suggesting feasible solutions to clients
- Provide a solution focused consultancy service to clients
- Provide high level assistant and support prior to solution implementation and post implementation
- Respond to business and wholesale customer queries as per Request for Information (RFI) and Request for Proposal (RFP)
- Technical relationships and strategies between our customers and Microsoft
- Pro-actively recommend changes to Domain implementations to introduce new functionality, reduce IT cost, or improve levels of service
- Documentation of Azure processes for Company’s future use
- Responsible for Training Team members and customers on Migrating customers from on-prem PABX to Microsoft Teams Direct Routing or Operator Connect for Microsoft Teams.
Specialist: Hosting, Enterprise Cloud Services
Vodacom South Africa
09.2017 - 07.2022
- Employed as a consultant to Vodacom Business Africa to support the development and implementation of the design, architecture, and topology of IP Systems on which the product and service suite of Vodacom Converged Solutions is delivered
- Inclusive of Service Provider IP Systems Technologies, e.g., Microsoft Hosted Exchange 2010 & 2016, Microsoft Exchange On-Prem Migrations to Exchange Online, Microsoft Azure Support and Management – building customer maintain customer O365 Tenants
- Great exposure and understanding of MS/O365 licensing Models, Microsoft Azure Subscription Migration (CSP to CSP, EA subscription to CSP), Microsoft Teams Support and Management, Microsoft Teams Direct Routing Configurations (Voice Breakout) – Dial plans, and voice Route Policies within MS Teams, Sip trunking and SBC exposure, Vodacom Business Cloud Marketplace Support and Management, Hostopia Support and Management, Cortex/Atria Application Administration and Management, Microsoft Forefront, Sharepoint, Active Directory, Microsoft Systems Center Operations Manager, MS SQL server, IIS, Microsoft Skype for Business 2015, MS Data Protection Manager, WSUS.
Infrastructure Team Lead
Bytes System Integration
09.2014 - 08.2017
- Head up the Infrastructure Team to deliver daily operational tasks to business
- Responsible for Daily operations tasks of Visualization Technologies (VMware & Hyper-V)
- Responsible for planning, installing, and configuring, and upgrading support for vCenter and VMware ESXi
- Responsible for maintaining and Management of a highly available and scalable virtual infrastructure, including storage, virtual machines, resource allocation and virtual server provisioning
- Daily Health Checks on all systems, including Storage (Dell Equallogics and NetApp)
- Strong working knowledge on Windows server 2012, Windows 2008 R2
- Strong working knowledge on Exchange 2010, and ability to resolve exchange Issues
- Maintain the enterprise Active Directory and Exchange environment including troubleshooting, performance planning, capacity planning and continuity planning
- Responsible for operational reports to the management
- Server warranty Status Renewals
- Keeping management and clients updated on projects progress.
Network Administrator
Tupperware Southern Africa
04.2014 - 09.2014
- AD Support and Messaging Support (Exchange 2003)
- Responsible for Backups (Backup Exec 2012)
- Support of Tupperware Cloud Environment hosted by Internet Solutions (CaaS)
- Responsible for Tupperware virtualized Microsoft Hyper V Environment (Hyper-v 2012)
- Responsible for proper AD replication amongst 57 sites
- General End user Support, Creating users, printer configurations and Network support
- Setting up user VPN, 3G and Server Documentation
- Implemented SQL Cluster AlwaysOn Availability Group (SQL Server 2012).
Enterprise Engineer
Vodacom Mozambique
05.2012 - 03.2014
- Responsible for a highly virtualized Microsoft Hyper V Environment
- Creating, managing, and administrating virtual machines using Systems Centre Virtual Machine Manager2008 R2 (total number of virtual servers 60)
- Creating transport rules and disclaimer definitions for all company emails
- AD support (Windows Server 2008), Messaging Support (Exchange Server 2010)
- Blackberry Server Administration, Windows and Hyper-V clustering
- Blades server architectures and virtualization
- Mail Marshal and TMG Server Support
- Support on 120 servers and 885 Users
- Managing FTP access security externally and internally
- Creating DNS (AAA records, and CNAME records for local sites
- Creating Group policies for the Enterprise as well as for the OUs for password complexity, mass storage devices access control
- Documentation and continual update of operational procedures
- Audit and Governance Compliance
- Vendor liaison for third party support
- Remotely assisting help desk technicians using VNC
- Managing and administering Microsoft Volume Licensing
- Attending to automated systems health alerts from SCOM
- Extracting SCOM servers Performance reports and fine-tuning systems hardware according to load requirements
- Configuring DAG’s
- Creating mailboxes and distribution lists
- Manage the Mail Marshal server
- Tracking mails
- Configuring emails on mobile phones
- Install Active Directory and configure it on server 2008 R2
- Creating Users, Groups and Computers
- Grant permissions for access to resources
- Creating logon scripts
- Creating Group Policies
- Releasing blocked emails
- Creating Email Policies, transport rules
- Configuring emails on mobile phones.
Systems Engineer
Systeque Computers
03.2009 - 04.2012
- Responsible for IT support for five different companies including SAA
- Active Directory, Windows server 2003, 2008, Exchange Server 2007, 2010, BES Server, VMware configurations and support
- HP Blade servers, Hosted exchange- implementing RPC/HTTPS outlook anywhere
- Microsoft based Network infrastructure capacity planning and implementation
- Requesting and renewing Domain Certificates
- Installation and configurations of Nano Stations
- Installation of Windows Server 2003 Small business as well as Enterprise Edition, Server 2008 Standard R2
- Installation and integration hence migration of Exchange Server 2003 to Exchange Server 2007, Terminal Services implementation, and remote assistance to users
- Performing Backups using Symantec Backup Exec 2010, Backing SQL database, Exchange, and User Data and that the server data is secure from unauthorized access
- Performing routine audits of systems and software; Trend Micro, Windows updates Licenses, patches, and configuration changes
- Manage and maintaining SQL 2008, Set up, maintaining, and administering the e-mail system
- Administer and maintain Windows security patches
- Set up, maintain, and administer a monitoring system tool to monitor the health of the servers
- Management and Administering Hosted Microsoft Services and Applications
- Hosted Services include the following: Hosted Exchange server (Mailboxes), Hosted Blackberry Enterprise Server, Deployment of Microsoft Office programs.
Systems Engineer
National Economic Development And Labour Council (NEDLAC)
01.2007 - 02.2009
- Performing Backups using Symantec Backup Exec 12.5, Backing SQL, Exchange and User Data and that the server data is secure from unauthorized access
- Performing routine audits of systems and software; Trend Micro, Windows updates Licenses, patches, and configuration changes
- Experience Managing and Supporting Windows Environments; providing support of IT hardware, software, and networks; trouble shooting, administration and support of Windows 2003, 2008 Server and MS Exchange on Dell hardware at all levels
- First, second- and third-line support
- Managing the email system and ensuring the appropriate level of anti-virus protection
- Adding, removing, or updating user account information, resetting passwords; WSUS configuration
- Network and systems security, Configurations of wireless routers, (setting up Wireless Distribution System (WDS)); handling Faxmaker, Pastel installations and configurations
- Analysing system logs and identifying potential issues with computer systems
- Responsible for security and documenting the configuration of the system
- Implementation of standards, security and quality of network, hardware, and software
- Checking all related incident records if they are closed properly and that the problem record contains a full historical description of all events
- Ensuring that the network infrastructure is up and running.
Support Engineer
Sentech Ltd Head Office
08.2006 - 12.2006
- Active Directory, Exchange Server 2003, 2007, VPN, Security, Backups, IIS, DHCP, DNS
- License Management, Configure and troubleshoot Network Printers and Local Printers
- Server and Desktop configurations, Exchange base
- Build/maintain internal servers and desktop systems, managing Users and Groups Permissions – Users Rights and User Permissions, configuring E-Mail (Microsoft Exchange Server)
- Pro-link Internet (Wireless Internet Service Providers).
IT Technician
Pro-link Internet (Wireless Internet Service Providers)
03.2005 - 05.2006
- Remote Desktop Support, Installation of SAP and basic configurations
- Virus, Spyware and Adware cleaning, Configure Machines to clients’ standard settings
- Hardware and Software installation, configuration, and support
- Installation and configuration of 24dbi antennas, Flat Panel antennas (zero wire)
- Install, test, maintain and repair remote site and customer premise wireless-based equipment (Hardware/Software) for services
- Responsible for wireless services procurement & maintenance for all operating companies.
IT Technician
Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority Head Office
11.2003 - 11.2004
- Hardware and software maintenance and procurement
- Networking Experience in the following Technologies-TCP/IP, Access control hubs and Switches
- To develop and implement a security plan including the use of anti-virus software
- Recording All Problems Resolution Activities to The Help Desk & Data Capturing
- Providing Technical Support to Users of All Supported Pc Software Packages
- Installation of Network Cables for WAN & LAN
- Implementation of Standards, Security and Quality of Network, Hardware and Software
- Installation of System & Application Software
- Windows 10, Windows Server family of operating systems, VMware ESXI 4.0, Microsoft Office, Pastel, and GFI fax maker
- Office Automation, Technical Consultancy and Training Office Work.
Education
Bachelor of Science in Informatics (UNISA) -
Skills
- Communication: E-mail
- Spreadsheets: Excel
- Word-processing: Ms Word
- Presentations: PowerPoint
- Research: Internet
Custom
Diligent, Attentive To Detail, Patient, Honest, Persevering, Team Player.
Personal Information
- ID Number: 8102286422189
- Date of birth: 02/28/81
- Gender: Male
- Nationality: Zimbabwean
- Marital status: Married
Timeline
Senior Solutions Architect: Microsoft
Vodacom South Africa
08.2022
Specialist: Hosting, Enterprise Cloud Services
Vodacom South Africa
09.2017 - 07.2022
Infrastructure Team Lead
Bytes System Integration
09.2014 - 08.2017
Network Administrator
Tupperware Southern Africa
04.2014 - 09.2014
Enterprise Engineer
Vodacom Mozambique
05.2012 - 03.2014
Systems Engineer
Systeque Computers
03.2009 - 04.2012
Systems Engineer
National Economic Development And Labour Council (NEDLAC)
01.2007 - 02.2009
Support Engineer
Sentech Ltd Head Office
08.2006 - 12.2006
IT Technician
Pro-link Internet (Wireless Internet Service Providers)
03.2005 - 05.2006
IT Technician
Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority Head Office
11.2003 - 11.2004
Bachelor of Science in Informatics (UNISA) -
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