Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
Relevant Skills
Timeline
Generic

Kevin Kosters

Vancouver,WA

Summary

Dynamic and results-driven Cloud Operations Specialist and DevOps/SRE Engineer with over 14 years of experience in IT security, cloud infrastructure management, and systems administration. Proven expertise in optimizing cloud environments and managing server clusters, ensuring compliance with security frameworks (NIST, ISO), and driving initiatives to enhance security posture across enterprise systems. Proficient in Linux system administration and automated server provisioning using Ansible, with a track record of maintaining high-availability applications and implementing robust monitoring and alerting systems. Skilled in deploying automation tools, managing SaaS solutions, and troubleshooting complex issues while effectively communicating with stakeholders. Committed to fostering collaborative engineering practices, reducing technical debt, and advancing digital preservation and knowledge sharing in diverse organizations. Eager to contribute to impactful projects at the Internet Archive, supporting its mission of universal access to knowledge.

Overview

13
13
years of professional experience

Work History

Cloud Operations Secialist

PlanetTogether
04.2023 - Current
  • Collected, arranged, and input information into thedatabase system.
  • Assisted in the successful completion of security audits, resulting in a boost of client trust and confidence.
  • Performed risk analyses to identify appropriate security countermeasures.
  • Encrypted data and erected firewalls to protect confidential information.
  • Optimized data center operations by automating tasks using PowerShell, Python, and Ansible scripts.
  • Delivered scalable solutions by leveraging cloud-based infrastructure services like AWS or Azure.
  • Over 5 years of experience in product and program management, focusing on technology services, particularly SaaS solutions, for institutional users. Proven ability to lead cross-functional teams, develop product roadmaps, and drive the successful delivery of digital services that meet user needs and organizational goals.
  • Boosted customer satisfaction, addressing client concerns in a timely and professional manner.

Security Analyst

Bowflex / Nautilus Inc.
08.2016 - 02.2023
  • Managed the firewall, network, and server monitoring both on- and off-site.
  • Coordinated incident response efforts across multiple departments, fostering teamwork in resolving complex issues effectively.
  • Assisted in the successful completion of security audits, resulting in a boost of client trust and confidence.
  • Conducted security audits to identify vulnerabilities.
  • Performed risk analyses to identify appropriate security countermeasures.
  • Collaborated with IT teams to develop comprehensive cybersecurity strategies, reducing risks from external attacks.
  • Implemented multi-factor authentication measures, strengthening overall network defenses against unauthorized access attempts.
  • Conducted regular vulnerability assessments to identify weaknesses and implement appropriate countermeasures.
  • Collaborated with law enforcement agencies during cybercrime investigations when necessary, supporting theapprehension of malicious actors.
  • Participated in tabletop exercises simulating cyberattacks, leading to better preparedness for real-world incidents.
  • Advocated for regular security updates and patches across all systems, maintaining robust defense against emerging threats.
  • Led cybersecurity awareness training sessions, increasing employee understanding of potential security threats and preventive measures.
  • Evaluated third-party vendors'' security posture during contract negotiations, ensuring adherence to organizational requirements and minimizing risk exposure.
  • Provided continued maintenance and development of bug fixes and patch sets for existing web applications.
  • Reduced security risks by 67% through enhancing protocols and ensuring adherence to regulations.

Systems Specialist

Gimmal
04.2012 - 08.2016
  • Quickly and accurately answered customer questions, suggested effective solutions and resolved issues to increase customer satisfaction.
  • Provided excellent customer care by responding to requests, assisting with product selection and handling ordering functions.
  • Supplied essential technical support for clients on a wide range of company products.
  • Installed, configured, tested and maintained operating systems, application software, and system management tools.
  • Provided responsive remote support for users experiencing technical difficulties, resolving issues efficiently while maintaining excellent customer relations skills throughout interactions.
  • Assisted in the selection of new technology tools, ensuring alignment with organization objectives and budget constraints.
  • Improved system efficiency by optimizing hardware and software configurations.
  • Designed compliance measures to maintain adherence to regulatory guidelines such as SOX, PCI DSS, NIST, and SOC 2.
  • Prepared documentation on policies and procedures for operating a variety if internal CI/CD systems.
  • Set system metrics and thresholds to maintain proper operational continuity.
  • Collaborated with stakeholders to enhance system utilization and efficiency by customizing business processes.
  • Identified and resolved technical issues quickly, minimizing disruptions to operations and maintaining high service levels.
  • Collaborated with cross-functional teams to develop customized solutions for unique business needs.
  • Set up hardware and software in optimal configurations to meet network performance requirements.
  • Diagnosed and executed resolution for network and server issues.
  • Improved overall user experience through support, training, troubleshooting, improvements and communication of system changes.

Education

Bachelor of Science - Criminal Justice & Digital Foresnics

Sam Houston State University
Huntsville, TX
05-2012

Skills

  • Well-experienced with Ansible and Terraform
  • 6 years ofwork experience in a collaborative software development environment Experienced with SLDC
  • Data backup and retrieval
  • Skilled in configuring and optimizing web servers, implementing load-balancing solutions, and utilizing caching mechanisms with technologies like Nginx and HAProxy to enhance application performance and reliability
  • Proficient with monitoring, security analysis, and technical issues analysis
  • Collaborated with engineering teams
  • Conducted user discovery sessions
  • Experienced in managing network and DNS configurations to ensure optimal connectivity and reliability for various applications and services Experienced in troubleshooting internally and with service providers/contractors
  • Customer service
  • Strong experience with both Windows and Linux servers
  • G-Suite & M365/Azure
  • Excellent with website and server security
  • VMWare, Nutanix, and Hyper-V
  • Clustering and Containerization, like Docer
  • Very familiar with Atlassian suite (Jira, Confluence, etc - general Agile platforms and methodology

Relevant Skills

  • Cloud Infrastructure Management: Experience managing cloud environments (e.g., Azure, Google Workspaces, AWS) ensures familiarity with modern deployment architectures and services.
  • Improve system performance and reliability by thoroughly evaluating and correcting different hardware and software issues. Monitoring for patterns and anomalies.
  • Automated Server Provisioning: Expertise in using Ansible for provisioning and configuration, aligning with the role's focus on maintaining an Ansible-managed production cluster.
  • Windows and Linux System Administration: Strong proficiency in managing Linux servers, essential for maintaining the Archive.org servers and services.
  • Security Best Practices: Familiarity with website and server security measures, ensuring the integrity and availability of Archive.org services
  • SaaS Solutions Management: Background in managing SaaS products, relevant for the Archive’s services and potential contributions to front-end development.
  • JIRA/Atlassian and other Agile Methodologies: Familiarity with Agile project management practices, enhancing teamwork and efficiency in a remote working environment.
  • Web Servers and Load-Balancing: Familiarity with web servers (e.g., nginx, HAProxy) can be beneficial for managing and optimizing the production environment.
  • Network & DNS Configuration: Understanding of networking and DNS management adds value to server and application performance.
  • Driving initiatives to enhance security posture across enterprise systems. This not only includes InfoSec initiatives, but also ones surrounding GRC (governance, risk, and compliance.) I am very familiar with SOX, NIST, and SOC 2 compliance audits and on-going requirements that must be fulfilled year-round.

Timeline

Cloud Operations Secialist

PlanetTogether
04.2023 - Current

Security Analyst

Bowflex / Nautilus Inc.
08.2016 - 02.2023

Systems Specialist

Gimmal
04.2012 - 08.2016

Bachelor of Science - Criminal Justice & Digital Foresnics

Sam Houston State University

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Kevin Kosters