Nikita Patel

• Configure IPsec VPNs and customer specific outbound access; diagnose NAT/ACL/DHCP/DNS; stabilize Cisco Layer 2 (STP/VTP, VLANs, 802.1Q trunking, EtherChannel).
• Strong experience in Azure networking—partnering with cloud teams to apply NSGs and UDRs, review Effective Routes, and design hub-and-spoke architectures leveraging NVAs, Azure Firewall, and VPN Gateway.
• Responsible for F5 BIG-IP administration: certificate lifecycle management, node maintenance, firmware updates, alert monitoring, and configuration of virtual servers for optimized application delivery.
• Palo Alto firewall expertise in security rule creation, NAT, URL filtering, GlobalProtect troubleshooting, EDL management, and security profile configuration.
• Built Panorama templates and device groups; deployed Palo Alto firewalls at multiple sites; led Cisco to Palo Alto migrations with documented runbooks and controlled change windows.
• Core and access switch migrations with full change management compliance, including pre-implementation planning and post-migration verification.
• Proficient in SD-WAN operations: performing upgrades, adding devices to vManage, implementing new routers at remote sites, and managing templates for centralized configuration and policy enforcement.
• Monitor and optimize network health through NetFlow, sFlow, SNMP protocols, and SolarWinds with advanced alerting and diagnostic logic.

Environment : F5 BIG-IP (LTM/GTM) & BIG-IQ; Palo Alto PA series (incl. PA 7000), Panorama & GlobalProtect; Azure (NSG/UDR/Effective Routes, hub-and-spoke via NVA/Azure FW/VPN GW); Cisco ASR/ISR & Viptela SD-WAN (vManage); Cisco Catalyst 9300/9500; SolarWinds NPM/NCM, NetFlow/sFlow/SNMP; Aruba ClearPass., ASA ,FTD/FMC

• Responsible for Core network design and implementation.
• Worked on configuration and commissioning of the MPLS circuits for various branch offices.
• Providing Daily network support for national WAN consisting of MPLS, VPN and point-to-point site.
• Maintained and managed networks running OSPF and BGP routing protocols.
• Configured & troubleshooting of routing protocol BGP connect one location to other location over the internet with different autonomous system number inside network.
• Involved in L2/L3 Switching Technology Administration including creating and managing VLANs, Port security, Trucking, STP, Inter-VLAN routing, LAN security.
• Involved in configuration of MP-BGP, OSPF, LDP, EIGRP, RIP, BGP v4 and IP access filter policies.
• Cisco IOS experience on 3600/7200 class hardware in complex WAN environment and experience on Cisco OS and IOS on CAT6500 in a complex data center environment.
• Worked on Cisco Routers, Active /Passive Hubs, Switches, TCP/IP.
• Worked on traffic generation tool Spirent.

Environment: MPLS, VPN, Point-to-Point; Cisco IOS (3600/7200), CAT6500; Routing protocols (OSPF, BGP v4, MP-BGP, EIGRP, RIP, LDP); L2/L3 switching (VLAN, STP, trunking, Inter-VLAN routing); Spirent traffic generation.

• Worked with layer 2 switching technology architecture. Implemented L2 and L3 switching functionality, which includes the use of VLANS, STP, VTP and their functions as they relate to networking infrastructure requirements including internal and external treatment, configuration and security.
• Implemented security policies using ACL, firewall, IPSEC, SSL, VPN, IPS/IDS, AAA (TACACS+, RADIUS).
• Routing protocol configuration such as OSPF, EIGRP and BGP, Router redundancy configuration (HSRP, VRRP and GLBP).
• Install, configure and manage Cisco ASA, routers, switches and access points across multiple sites.
• Filter network traffic as well as open and closed ports using ACLs.
• Upgraded Cisco iOS on router and switches.
• Created VLAN and added switch ports. Setup a switch as a VTP client and enable VLAN trunking on a switch port. Setup AnyConnect Remote access VPN.

Environment: L2/L3 switching (VLAN, STP, VTP, trunking), routing (OSPF, EIGRP, BGP), HA (HSRP, VRRP, GLBP), Cisco ASA firewall, IPsec/SSL VPN, AnyConnect, AAA (TACACS+, RADIUS), IPS/IDS, Cisco routers/switches/APs, IOS upgrade.