Network Security Consultant

Introduction
A career in IBM Consulting is rooted by long-term relationships and close collaboration with clients across the globe.
You’ll work with visionaries across multiple industries to improve the hybrid cloud and AI journey for the most innovative and valuable companies in the world. Your ability to accelerate impact and make meaningful change for your clients is enabled by our strategic partner ecosystem and our robust technology platforms across the IBM portfolio; including Software and Red Hat.
Curiosity and a constant quest for knowledge serve as the foundation to success in IBM Consulting. In your role you’ll be encouraged to challenge the norm investigate ideas outside of your role and come up with creative solutions resulting in ground breaking impact for a wide network of clients. Our culture of evolution and empathy centers on long-term career growth and development opportunities in an environment that embraces your unique skills and experience.

Your Role and Responsibilities

Role & Responsibilities:

• We are seeking a highly skilled and motivated Technical Network Security Engineer who will be
• responsible for providing Expert Support (Design Configuration and Troubleshooting) to our customer focusing on Cisco’s Security Technology Portfolio -Cisco Stealthwatch (Secure Network Analytics).

Customer Support:

• Respond promptly to customer inquiries troubleshoot and resolve issues related to target technologies.
• Provide remote support and on-site assistance as required ensuring timely issue resolution.
• Working in co-ordination with customer and customer NI team ensuring to get deep understanding of customer network and traffic flows.

Technical Expertise:

• Demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of Cisco’s Security Products Portfolio.
• Stay updated on the latest developments in Cisco technologies and incorporate them into troubleshooting and support activities.
• Troubleshooting and Problem Resolution
• Excellent knack to Diagnose and resolve complex security and data routing issues involving Cisco hardware software and protocols in the shortest period.
• Ability to use advanced Troubleshooting methodologies
• Deep command of software diagnostic capabilities (traces logs show commands performance measurements deep knowledge of security Switching and Routing protocols).
• Utilize network programming languages like Python and automation tools such as Ansible for efficient data collection correlation and issue resolution.
• Provide technical troubleshooting and guidance during maintenance windows.
• Ability to work on interoperability scenarios
• Ability to Setup simulation topologies within the client network or in Cisco labs to recreate complex or intermittent issues identifying causes triggers and potential solutions.

Maintenance Window Support:

• Collaborate with clients and network operators to plan and execute maintenance windows effectively.
• Creative problem solver comfortable with challenging the status quo and rapidly responding to escalated issues.
• Define Maintenance Window Actions Objectives and review or prepare Method of Procedures (MOP) encompassing Execution Steps Timing Plan-B/Recovery Options Validation Steps/Methods and benchmarks.
• Ensure technical governance of the maintenance window to guarantee a successful outcome.
• Lead or contribute to Systems/Service recovery plans for potential failure scenarios.
• Provide problem root-cause analysis at the network infrastructure and application level and produce detailed technical reports that include root causes next steps and recommendations for corrective and preventive actions.
• Work with TAC team to recreate the issue and drive towards root-cause analysis
• Shorten the time to resolution during complex situations by using knowledge of the customer network and their operations.
• Provide technical oversight during maintenance window execution ensuring adherence to established procedures and minimizing service interruptions.
• Continuous Improvement:
• Proactively identify areas for improvement in network performance reliability and efficiency.
• Collaborate with internal teams to implement enhancements updates and optimizations based on identified improvement opportunities.
• Contribute to the development of new tools processes and best practices to streamline support and maintenance activities.
• Configuration Best Practices Audit:
• Perform regular audits of network configurations against Cisco’s Design and Configuration recommendations.
• Ensure adherence to best practices and recommend adjustments to optimize network performance and security.
• Collaborate with network operators to implement recommended configuration enhancements.
• Software Life Cycle Recommendations and Bug Scrubs:
• Undertake bug scrubs against target software releases as suggested by Cisco TAC Cisco Engineering or other Cisco reference documents.
• Scrutinize software releases for features and capabilities relevant to the client’s deployment.
• Leverage Cisco CX and Engineering scrub tools methods and processes to ensure software reliability and address potential issues.
• Strong understanding of PSIRT & Field notice and provide recommendations on the customer installed based on regular basis.
• Automation Skills:
• Apply automation skills to streamline repetitive tasks and enhance overall operational efficiency.
• Develop and maintain scripts and automation playbooks using languages like Python to automate network processes and tasks.
• Tool Proficiency:
• Proficiency in network topology tools such as MS Visio or equivalent for creating and documenting network designs.
• Familiarity with common customer tools including but not limited to NMS Ticketing Knowledge and Document Management Syslog’s Data Correlation etc.
• Understanding and ability to use troubleshooting tools such as Wireshark and equivalent tools.
• Soft Skills:
• Self-Leaner and a love for troubleshooting and getting under the hood.
• Team player who leads by helping others and being available when the client/team needs them
• Exhibit excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Demonstrate the ability to stay calm and focused during outages and client escalations.
• Think on the feet to make quick and effective decisions under pressure.
• Engage Cisco partner and/or customer stakeholders to restore services at the earliest using any method agreeable to the client.
• Build lasting trust and interpersonal relationships with all key stakeholders.
• Demonstrate the ability to address senior management at the client partner or Cisco.
• Documentation:
• Create and maintain detailed documentation including knowledge base articles troubleshooting guides best practices and comprehensive records of maintenance window activities.
• Document automated solutions using scripts and playbooks for future reference.
• Customer Training:
• Conduct training sessions for customers to enhance their understanding of Cisco Data Centre Networking technologies with a focus on automation scripting configuration best practices software life cycle management tool usage and troubleshooting techniques.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration:
• Work closely with internal teams including Engineering Sales and Product Management to communicate customer needs and contribute to product improvement.
• Collaborate with Cisco TAC (Technical Assistance Centre) for advanced issue resolution and contribute to the development of automated support tools.
• Mentor and support L1 team for technical expertise and skills.
• Responsible for L1 team members skill development and trainings.
• Drive Process and technology standardization.
• Participate in periodic customer meetings.
• Ready to work in 24×7 rotational shift model including night shift.
• Explore different technologies available in the security industry.
• Closely work with SOC team and be responsible for incident detection triage analysis and response.
• Support the incident response team during major security incident with advance investigation skills.

Required Technical and Professional Expertise

• 6-7 years of experience in working Cisco’s Security Technology Portfolio and working as a Technical Specialist to manage the overall operation for ‘Secure Network Analytics’ (formerly Steathwatch)
• 6-7+ years’ experience in a technical capacity; preferably in a role related to any of the following disciplines: security operations network monitoring or analysis intrusion or anomaly detection
• minimum of 3-4 years of relevant experience
• Bachelor’s degree in Electronics and Communication Computer science Information Technology or related field
• A solid foundation in Electronics and Communication computer science or a related field provides the fundamental knowledge required for understanding networking principles and technologies.
• Cisco Certifications
• CCNP (Cisco Certified Network Professional)
• Demonstrates advanced knowledge and skills in Cisco networking.
• Validates the ability to plan implement verify and troubleshoot complex network solutions.
• CCIE (Cisco Certified Internetwork Expert) Preferred
• A highly regarded expert-level certification that demonstrates a deep understanding of Cisco networking technologies.
• Expert written and oral communication skills including experience with executive-level presentations.
• Knowledge of and experience with standard network logging formats network management systems and network security monitoring systems security information and event management network packet analysis tools and forensic analysis tools.
• Knowledge of and experience with web proxy firewalls IPS IDS mail content scanning appliances enterprise Antivirus solutions Network Analysers and domain name servers desired
• Demonstrated knowledge in one or more of the following areas: network security principles host-based security principles network and system administration forensic analysis principles
• Knowledge related to the current state of cyber international relations adversary tactics and trends.
• Ability to work quickly and a willingness to complete ad hoc time-sensitive assignments.
• Demonstrated oral and written communications skills ability to document technical analysis and articulate outcomes to non-technical audiences
• Strong analytical skills and the ability to effectively research write communicate and brief to varying levels of audiences including at the executive level
• Previous experience managing cross-functional and interdisciplinary project teams to achieve tactical and strategic objectives.

Preferred Technical and Professional Expertise

• None