Jay Rao
Chicago,Illinois
Summary
Cybersecurity and IT Analyst with hands-on experience supporting enterprise security operations, infrastructure, and cloud environments. Skilled in implementing and managing security controls across endpoint, email, network, and identity platforms while aligning practices to NIST CSF. Actively leverage AI-driven tools and automation to enhance threat detection, incident response, and operational efficiency. Microsoft Certified: Azure Fundamentals (AZ-900), with strong expertise in Microsoft 365, Entra ID, CrowdStrike, and Check Point, and a continuous-learning mindset focused on modern security and IT best practices.
Overview
1
1
year of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
IT & Cybersecurity Analyst
Automann
08.2024 - Current
Email Security Architecture & Management
- Led the migration of the enterprise email security stack from Proofpoint to Check Point Harmony Email & Collaboration, decommissioning the legacy environment to achieve a $15,000 annual cost saving.
- Engineered advanced Safe Sender/Block lists and tuned Anti-Phishing thresholds, resulting in a 60% decrease in false positives and a 90% reduction in user-reported phishing attempts.
- Neutralized 10+ targeted campaigns per month by configuring threat policies to block malicious attachments and macro-enabled files.
Security Operations (SecOps) & Threat Hunting
- Manage daily security operations using CrowdStrike Falcon, performing proactive threat hunting and endpoint remediation.
- Maintained a 15-minute Mean Time to Respond (MTTR) for critical security alerts, ensuring rapid containment of potential threats.
- Triaged and resolved 15+ security tickets weekly using NinjaOne and Microsoft 365, focusing on conditional access and device compliance.
Governance, Risk, and Compliance (GRC)
- Authored and operationalized core security documentation, including the Incident Response Plan (IRP) and Business Continuity Plan (BCP).
- Conducted annual Third-Party Vendor Risk Assessments for 20+ strategic vendors to ensure alignment with internal security standards.
- Standardized IR workflows, reducing team mobilization time by over 30% during simulated incidents.
Infrastructure Hardening & Vulnerability Management
- Improved external security score by 70+ points by hardening Cisco Meraki firewall configurations and utilizing NinjaOne for automated patch management.
- Enforced "Least Privilege" principles by auditing and reducing Administrator roles within Microsoft 365 and local endpoints.
Education
Certificate - Certificate in Cyber Security
Northwestern University
Evanston, IL12-2022
High School Diploma -
Schaumburg High School
Schaumburg, IL05.2017
Skills
- Security Operations: CrowdStrike Falcon EDR (Endpoint Detection & Response), Threat Hunting, Incident Response, Security Automation
- Cloud & Identity: Microsoft Entra ID (Azure AD), Cloud IAM, Microsoft 365 Security
- Network & Email Security: Check Point Harmony, Cisco Meraki, Proofpoint, Network Hardening
- Compliance: NIST CSF, Governance, Risk & Compliance (GRC), Vendor Risk Management, BCP/DRP
- Systems Administration: Active Directory (AD), Microsoft 365 (O365) Administration, User/Group Creation, NinjaOne (RMM)
- Systems Administration: Active Directory (AD), Microsoft 365 (O365) Administration, User/Group Creation, NinjaOne (RMM)
Certification
Microsoft Certified: Azure Fundamentals (AZ-900)
Timeline
IT & Cybersecurity Analyst
Automann
08.2024 - Current
Certificate - Certificate in Cyber Security
Northwestern University
High School Diploma -
Schaumburg High School