Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
Certification
Community Service
Core Expertise
Timeline
Generic

Montasir Ahmed

Maple Grove,MN

Summary

Senior IT & Cybersecurity Leader with over 15 years of experience driving secure product development, infrastructure protection, and compliance across highly regulated environments, including medical device manufacturing and federal systems. Proven ability to build and lead high-performing security teams, embed security-by-design across the SDLC, and align security programs with regulatory frameworks (FDA, NIST CSF, ISO 14971, IEC 62304, HIPAA, GDPR). Trusted partner to R&D, Quality, and Regulatory teams. Currently pursuing CISSP to further strengthen secure SDLC and governance capabilities.

Overview

21
21
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification

Work History

Founder & Principal Security Consultant

IT Essentials LLC
Minneapolis, MN
03.2020 - Current
  • Lead strategic cybersecurity and IT infrastructure engagements with mid-sized healthcare and manufacturing clients.
  • Conduct security architecture reviews, penetration test oversight, and audit readiness assessments (SOC II, PCI DSS).
  • Integrate IEC 62304 and ISO 14971 principles into clients’ secure SDLC and validation frameworks.
  • Develop security awareness and incident response programs to reduce organizational risk and containment times.

Cloud & Security Solutions Lead (Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond)

Booz Allen Hamilton
McLean, VA
10.2024 - 03.2025
  • Architected secure enterprise infrastructure using Palo Alto NGFW, F5 appliances, AWS Transit Gateway, and Azure Virtual WAN.
  • Automated security provisioning with Terraform, Ansible, and ARM templates, improving repeatability and reducing misconfigurations.
  • Drove secure cloud network roadmaps from design through operational handoff in a regulated federal environment.

IT Network Manager

Intricon Corporation
Arden Hills, MN
01.2021 - 02.2024
  • Spearheaded cybersecurity programs protecting medical device ecosystems and patient data under FDA and NIST CSF.
  • Partnered with R&D, Quality, and Regulatory teams to implement threat modeling, secure design, and post-market surveillance.
  • Reduced vulnerabilities by 45% through advanced IDPS deployment and Layer 7 protocol enforcement.
  • Migrated security infrastructure to Palo Alto NGFW, integrating IPS/IDS, WildFire, DLP, and URL filtering.
  • Embedded SIEM into IR workflows, cutting incident containment time by 30%.
  • Led security training initiatives to establish a security-first culture across the organization.

Network Manager

Trimble Transportation
Minnetonka, MN
07.2018 - 08.2020
  • Led cloud and cybersecurity strategy, achieving SOC II compliance through segmentation and continuous vulnerability scanning.
  • Decreased incidents by 50% via optimized NGFW rules and automated patch management.
  • Managed secure AWS and Azure environments with 20% cost reduction.

Senior Network Manager • Manager of WAN & Cybersecurity • Sr. Network Engineer

Open Access Technology International
Minneapolis, MN
01.2005 - 07.2018
  • Designed a $60M Tier IV data center, ensuring full compliance with NERC CIPC, NIST, and WebTrust CA standards.
  • Managed enterprise cybersecurity, including IDS/IPS, firewall architecture, VPN/MPLS, and access controls.
  • Consolidated telecom vendors, saving $30K annually while improving WAN/LAN/VPN security.
  • Oversaw lifecycle management of LAN/WAN/wireless infrastructure with proactive monitoring and auditing.

Education

Bachelor of Science - Information Assurance and Cybersecurity

Capella University
Minneapolis, MN

Skills

  • Product Security
  • Threat Modeling
  • Patient Data Protection
  • Vulnerability Management
  • Risk Management
  • Penetration Testing
  • Third-Party Assessments
  • Secure SDLC
  • Architecture
  • IEC 62304
  • ISO 14971
  • ISO/IEC 27001
  • IEC 62443
  • Regulatory Compliance
  • FDA
  • NIST CSF
  • HIPAA
  • GDPR
  • SOC II
  • PCI DSS
  • SOX
  • Incident Response
  • SIEM Integration
  • Cloud Security
  • Network Security
  • AWS
  • Azure
  • Palo Alto
  • Security Governance
  • Policy Development
  • Post-Market Surveillance
  • Audit Readiness
  • DevSecOps
  • Automation
  • Terraform
  • Ansible
  • NGFW
  • Cross-Functional Collaboration
  • R&D
  • Quality
  • Regulatory Teams
  • Leadership
  • Security Culture
  • Awareness Programs
  • Team Development

Certification

  • CISSP, In Progress, 2026
  • PCNSA, Former
  • CCNP, Former
  • CCNA, Former
  • MCSE, Former

Community Service

Volunteer Den Leader, Cub Scouts Pack 532, MN, Organized STEM and cybersecurity activities for youth development., Led outdoor and team-building programs fostering collaboration and critical thinking.

Core Expertise

  • Product Security & Threat Modeling
  • Patient Data Protection
  • Vulnerability & Risk Management
  • Penetration Testing & Third-Party Assessments
  • Secure SDLC & Architecture
  • IEC 62304, ISO 14971, ISO/IEC 27001, IEC 62443
  • Regulatory Compliance
  • FDA, NIST CSF, HIPAA, GDPR, SOC II, PCI DSS, SOX
  • Incident Response & SIEM Integration
  • Cloud & Network Security (AWS, Azure, Palo Alto)
  • Security Governance & Policy Development
  • Post-Market Surveillance & Audit Readiness
  • DevSecOps & Automation
  • Terraform, Ansible, NGFW
  • Cross-Functional Collaboration
  • R&D, Quality, Regulatory Teams
  • Leadership & Security Culture
  • Awareness Programs, Team Development

Timeline

Cloud & Security Solutions Lead (Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond)

Booz Allen Hamilton
10.2024 - 03.2025

IT Network Manager

Intricon Corporation
01.2021 - 02.2024

Founder & Principal Security Consultant

IT Essentials LLC
03.2020 - Current

Network Manager

Trimble Transportation
07.2018 - 08.2020

Senior Network Manager • Manager of WAN & Cybersecurity • Sr. Network Engineer

Open Access Technology International
01.2005 - 07.2018

Bachelor of Science - Information Assurance and Cybersecurity

Capella University

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Montasir Ahmed