Hardik PanchalSenior System Administrator

Own the Windows Server, Azure, Microsoft 365 and network estate end to end — identity, endpoints, virtualisation, backup and security operations.

• Administer Windows Server 2012/2016/2019 environments — Active Directory, DNS, DHCP, Group Policy, file and print services, and WSUS.
• Manage Azure and AWS environments: subscription management, virtual machines, Microsoft 365 administration (MFA, Conditional Access, users, groups, security policies), SharePoint Online, Teams Admin Center, Purview eDiscovery and licence administration.
• Run Microsoft Intune and Entra ID — device enrolment, compliance policies, application deployment, Autopilot and identity management — alongside Exchange Online mailbox, shared mailbox, distribution group and mail-flow administration.
• Operate VMware ESXi and Hyper-V estates (deployment, migration, backup, performance tuning) and maintain backup and disaster recovery with Veeam Backup & Replication and Azure Backup.
• Manage endpoint and cloud security with Microsoft Defender for Endpoint, Defender for Office 365 and Microsoft Sentinel, plus firewall administration across Fortinet, SonicWall, Cisco ASA/FTD and Palo Alto.
• Handle patch management, vulnerability remediation and OS upgrades; run IT asset, access and SOC/ISO 27001 audits; and maintain SOPs, DR procedures and infrastructure diagrams.

Three years supporting US client infrastructure across 3,000+ locations and 20,000+ devices — routers, switches, laptops, VoIP phones, printers, scanners, thermostats and Shopper Trak — progressing from Network Engineer to leading a team of five.

• Led and managed a team of five, owning client infrastructure operations, issue resolution and service delivery against SLA timelines.
• Configured and administered Layer 2 / Layer 3 network devices — routers, switches, Cisco ISE and wireless LAN controllers — across a multi-site US estate.
• Installed and configured UniFi routers and APs, Ruckus Wireless, Cambium Networks and enterprise-grade routers and switches, coordinating with ISPs to clear outages and connectivity faults.
• Worked across SonicWall, Fortinet and Palo Alto firewalls — LAN/WAN configuration, security policy management and troubleshooting.
• Ran incident response, vulnerability management, security policy, endpoint security and disaster recovery work in step with security and business operations teams.
• Deployed and supported VoIP systems and IP camera infrastructure including ExacqVision, IVMS, Hikvision, CP Plus, Dahua and QVR, including port forwarding for remote CCTV access.
• Used enterprise ticketing systems to prioritise, track and resolve high-volume support cases within SLA, alongside Kaseya and LogMeIn for remote management, and handled Windows 10 and Office 365 installation, configuration and troubleshooting.
• Maintained network documentation, topology records and asset inventory for compliance and operational visibility, and worked with clients' Azure PaaS/IaaS, AWS EC2/S3, virtual networking and VPN gateway platforms.

Network engineering and infrastructure support for US-based clients — routing and switching changes, firewall and VPN administration, and day-to-day escalations.

• Configured and maintained routers, switches and wireless access points across client sites, including VLAN assignment, IP addressing and routing changes.
• Troubleshot LAN/WAN connectivity, latency and outage incidents end to end, coordinating with ISPs and hardware vendors through to resolution.
• Administered firewall policy and site-to-site and client VPN access on SonicWall and Fortinet appliances.
• Supported Windows Server and Active Directory tasks — user and group administration, DNS and DHCP records — alongside Office 365 mailbox and licence administration.
• Worked tickets to SLA in an enterprise ticketing system and kept network documentation and asset records current for each supported site.

On-site desktop, hardware and network support across client offices, covering everything from imaging a laptop to standing up a small office network.

• Installed, configured and troubleshot Windows desktops, laptops, printers, scanners and other peripherals at client premises.
• Diagnosed hardware faults, carried out component replacements and managed warranty repairs with vendors.
• Set up and maintained small office networks — switches, routers, wireless access points, structured cabling and IP addressing.
• Handled user account, mailbox and password support, plus OS re-imaging, data backup and migration onto replacement machines.
• Logged every site visit and resolution in the ticketing system so recurring faults could be tracked and escalated.

First IT role — field support for desktops, peripherals and local networks, and the grounding for everything that followed.

• Provided on-site and remote support for Windows desktops, laptops and peripherals across customer locations.
• Installed operating systems, drivers and business applications, and performed routine preventive maintenance.
• Assisted with LAN setup and fault-finding — cabling, switch ports, IP configuration and internet connectivity issues.
• Escalated complex network and server problems to senior engineers, building the fundamentals later applied in network engineering roles.