Rawad's CV
Profile summary
Cloud Architect with 45 years of experience across 9 organizations, specializing in hybrid cloud architecture and enterprise security strategy. This adaptable professional transitioned from system engineering roles at ACTS in Lebanon to cloud architecture leadership within the GCC. Expertise spans multi-cloud operations, disaster recovery planning, and infrastructure lifecycle management. Committed to maintaining high service availability and rigorous IT governance standards through technical precision and strategic planning.
Career highlights
Cloud Infrastructure Architecture: Designed and implemented a hybrid Azure environment for 1,000 users, reducing operational costs by 30% through automated deployment and scalable design principles.
Multi-Cloud Operations: Managed enterprise infrastructure across Azure, AWS, and OCI for 3,000 users, achieving 99.99% uptime and reducing cloud spend by 15% via resource optimization.
Security and Disaster Recovery: Developed disaster recovery plans and implemented Zero-Trust Network Access controls, reducing potential downtime risks by 70% and blocking 95% of malicious traffic.
Technical Certification: Maintained professional standards through the acquisition of 10 industry certifications, including AZ-104 Microsoft Azure Administrator and Cisco CCNA Routing and Switching.
Key skills
Professional experience
Architects the hybrid cloud infrastructure and enterprise security strategy for Raibal Holding. Steers the digital transformation of core business systems while managing the lifecycle of virtualization, identity management, and network security across the organization.
- Designed & implemented a hybrid Azure/on-premises environment, reducing costs by 30% & eliminating unplanned downtime by performance optimization, Load balancing & scalable design principles.
- Administered Windows servers, Linux servers & VMware virtualization, ensuring high availability, a security first mindset & maximizing the value generated from IT investments.
- Managed Microsoft 365 (Exchange Online, SharePoint, Teams) for seamless collaboration, migrated 500+ mailboxes from Google workspace, reducing email latency & cutting licensing costs by 50%.
- Led & executed lift-and-shift cloud migration of 20+ on-premises servers, ERP, HRMS & CRM systems to Azure, enhancing scalability & accessibility.
- Implemented Darktrace, Microsoft Defender, Mimecast, IAM, Intune solutions & VLANs segregation to enforce IT governance policies, Zero-Trust Network Access controls for secure access control & threat protection.
- Deployed FortiGate firewalls with secure site-to-site VPNs for 20+ branches & remote connectivity blocking 95% of malicious traffic & reducing bandwidth costs by 20%.
- Architected Veeam & Azure backup / recovery procedures, safeguarding critical data implementing Data Loss Prevention (DLP) measures & ensuring rapid disaster recovery.
- Automated deployment, monitoring & support for over 1,000 users, leveraging ITIL & Agile/Scrum practices to reduce operational costs & enhance system efficiency (PowerShell scripts, GPO, Terraform, ARM templates).
Steered enterprise infrastructure operations across Azure, AWS, and OCI environments. Defined technical standards for security compliance and IT governance while coordinating service delivery for a large-scale user base.
- Managed enterprise infrastructure through secure multi-cloud (Azure/AWS/OCI), achieving 99.99% uptime & reducing cloud spend by 15% via resources optimization, reserved instances & auto-scaling policies.
- Configured Microsoft operating systems, application servers, security compliance & IT governance infrastructure (Active Directory, DHCP, DNS, SCCM, O365, Intune, Entra ID, McAfee, F5, Zscaler…).
- Provided L3 support for a multi-cloud environment serving over 3,000 users, enhancing incident resolution & service continuity.
- Developed disaster recovery & business continuity plans, reducing potential downtime risks by 70%.
- Mentored a team of technical engineers, coordinating efforts to deliver efficient IT services.
Shaped IT infrastructure strategy for 200 users across UAE and Lebanon, steering the technical roadmap for server environments and cloud platforms. Managed the IT budget, risk management solutions, and strategic planning to ensure business continuity.
- Supported IT operations for 200+ users across UAE & Lebanon, managing Windows Server 2012 / 2016, Thin-clients, VMware, & Hyper-V environments.
- Built & secured Cisco & Meraki networks, ensuring seamless communication & VoIP functionality.
- Managed cloud platforms & mailing systems, including Office 365, G Workspace, Azure, AWS, & Google Cloud.
- Oversaw software deployments, user training, & administration of ECM, CMS, CRM, ERP, & SQL servers.
- Supervised, trained a team of 3 IT support specialists, optimizing support operations & team performance.
- Set IT budget, strategic plan, KPIs, Risk management solutions to drive efficiency & business continuity.
Managed the regional IT department, overseeing a team of 8 IT administrators. Directed the operation of regional network and server datacenter infrastructure to support 400 users across branches in UAE, KSA, and Lebanon.
- Led the regional IT department & supervised a team of 8 IT administrators.
- Supervised software implementation & smooth operations (LIMS, CRM, HRMS, Microsoft Dynamics NAV).
Managed technical infrastructure and end-user systems, providing direct support for hardware and software environments. Coordinated maintenance schedules to ensure system availability and addressed operational issues for internal staff.
- Executed preventative maintenance routines for hardware and software assets to minimize system downtime.
- Resolved technical incidents through helpdesk ticketing and direct troubleshooting of workstation configurations.
Influenced emergency response operations by coordinating field teams and managing the intake of new personnel. Steered recruitment efforts to maintain staffing levels for medical transport and disaster relief services.
- Managed emergency medical technician duties during field operations to provide patient care.
- Coordinated team activities and training sessions to ensure operational readiness.
- Executed recruitment processes to onboard new volunteers between 2012 and 2021.
Architects cloud infrastructure strategy, steering the migration and maintenance of enterprise systems across Azure environments. Coordinates cross-functional technical operations to ensure system availability, security compliance, and operational scalability for the organization.
- Administered Windows servers, Linux servers & VMware virtualization, ensuring high availability, a security first mindset & maximizing the value generated from IT investments.
- Managed Microsoft 365 (Exchange Online, SharePoint, Teams) for seamless collaboration, migrated 500+ mailboxes from Google workspace, reducing email latency & cutting licensing costs by 50%.
- Led & executed lift-and-shift cloud migration of 20+ on-premises servers, ERP, HRMS & CRM systems to Azure, enhancing scalability & accessibility.
- Implemented Darktrace, Microsoft Defender, Mimecast, IAM, Intune solutions & VLANs segregation to enforce IT governance policies, Zero-Trust Network Access controls for secure access control & threat protection. of malicious traffic & reducing bandwidth costs by 20%.
- Architected Veeam & Azure backup / recovery procedures, safeguarding critical data implementing Data Loss Prevention (DLP) measures & ensuring rapid disaster recovery.
- Automated deployment, monitoring & support for over 1,000 users, leveraging ITIL & Agile/Scrum practices to reduce operational costs & enhance system efficiency (PowerShell scripts, GPO, Terraform, ARM templates).
Directed enterprise infrastructure operations across Azure, AWS, and OCI environments. Oversaw technical service delivery for 3,000 users while establishing governance frameworks for security compliance and disaster recovery protocols.
- Managed enterprise infrastructure through secure multi-cloud (Azure/AWS/OCI), achieving 99.99% uptime & reducing cloud spend by 15% via resources optimization, reserved instances & auto-scaling policies.
- Configured Microsoft operating systems, application servers, security compliance & IT governance infrastructure (Active Directory, DHCP, DNS, SCCM, O365, Intune, Entra ID, McAfee, F5, Zscaler…).
- Provided L3 support for a multi-cloud environment serving over 3,000 users, enhancing incident resolution & service continuity.
- Developed disaster recovery & business continuity plans, reducing potential downtime risks by 70%.
- Mentored a team of technical engineers, coordinating efforts to deliver efficient IT services.
Directed IT operations for 200 users across UAE and Lebanon, overseeing infrastructure, cloud platforms, and enterprise software systems. Established strategic plans, risk management protocols, and budget allocations to maintain business continuity and operational standards.
- Supported IT operations for 200+ users across UAE & Lebanon, managing Windows Server 2012 / 2016, Thin- clients, VMware, & Hyper-V environments.
- Built & secured Cisco & Meraki networks, ensuring seamless communication & VoIP functionality.
- Managed cloud platforms & mailing systems, including Office 365, G Workspace, Azure, AWS, & Google Cloud.
- Oversaw software deployments, user training, & administration of ECM, CMS, CRM, ERP, & SQL servers.
- Supervised, trained a team of 3 IT support specialists, optimizing support operations & team performance.
- Set IT budget, strategic plan, KPIs, Risk management solutions to drive efficiency & business continuity.
Directed regional IT operations and infrastructure, reporting to executive leadership. Supervised a team of 8 IT administrators to maintain network stability and server performance across branches in the UAE, KSA, and Lebanon.
- Led the regional IT department & supervised a team of 8 IT administrators.
- Operated regional network & server datacenter serving 400 users across UAE, KSA & Lebanon branches.
- Supervised software implementation & smooth operations (LIMS, CRM, HRMS, Microsoft Dynamics NAV). IT Technical Support
- Perform helpdesk duties, hardware/software preventative checkup & troubleshooting.
Education
information technology
Certifications
Languages
Arabic · Native
English · Fluent