HAMED AKANNI
Boston
Summary
A results-driven professional with a proven record of exceeding sales targets and building strong customer relationships. Leveraging deep expertise in cybersecurity and a consultative approach, I excel at identifying business challenges and tailoring innovative security solutions that deliver a powerful return on investment. I combine my technical knowledge of PCI DSS, ISO 27001, and NIST CSF with an ability to prospect, negotiate, and close deals, making me uniquely positioned to drive revenue growth and expand market share.
Overview
3
3
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Security Analyst
CyberBridge
08.2021
- Proactively installed critical software updates and patches for Windows operating systems and applications, including antivirus, to secure systems effectively. Mitigated potential security risks and vulnerabilities through timely updates, enhancing business protection.
- Utilized Nessus vulnerability scanner for environmental scans, addressing and mitigating critical vulnerabilities, which led to an 80% reduction in the number of vulnerabilities susceptible to exploitation.
Security Specialist
Randstad
05.2019
- Streamlined Windows patching process to mitigate security risks by ensuring timely and effective updates. Enhanced system reliability and security by maintaining consistent patching, reducing vulnerabilities to cyber threats, contributing to a stable and secure business environment.
- Strengthened cybersecurity through effective virus removal and deployment of antivirus solutions. Ensured a malware-free environment, contributing to a secure operational infrastructure. Enhanced the organization's cybersecurity posture by implementing robust system protection measures.
- Implemented robust access control measures to restrict network access and secure specific locations, including user authentication protocols. Improved security posture to prevent unauthorized access, protect sensitive information, and ensure adherence to security policies for the business.
Senior Customer Representative
Enterprise Rent – A – Car
12.2018
- Successfully maximized profits for the business by consistently meeting daily and monthly sales goals. Simultaneously, acquired comprehensive knowledge of all phases of business operations and management techniques. This resulted in increased revenue for the organization.
- Conducted thorough inspections of credit/debit card readers to identify and prevent potential tampering, employing meticulous attention to detail and utilizing industry best practices. Safeguarding the integrity of payment systems, enhancing overall security and mitigating the risk of fraudulent activities for the benefit of the business and its customers.
- Achieved the #1 sales position in my office and ranked within the top 5 for sales within my region during my first and second month with the company. These contributions significantly increased revenue for the business.
- Effectively maintained multiple accounts with business owners by ensuring customer satisfaction and managing their concerns. These efforts resulted in achieving a 100% satisfaction rate from clients for the business.
Infrastructure Security Operations Analyst
The Computer Merchant
04.2024 - 12.2024
- Enhancing infrastructure oversight by meticulously reviewing system logs to identify trends, investigate abnormalities, and report exceptions, leading to improved system reliability and proactive risk management for the bank.
- Leading risk remediation efforts by providing functional and technical expertise, tracking progress with detailed project status reports, resulting in improved stakeholder satisfaction.
- Standardizing the common file share permission structure by leading, managing, planning, organizing, and controlling the activities, resulting in improved data security, streamlined access, and enhanced operational efficiency across departments for the bank.
- Engaging appropriate stakeholders and incorporating their feedback and requirements, leading to improvement in project efficiency and ensuring alignment with bank objectives.
- Providing expertise in complex security-related problem solving and risk mitigation by implementing strategic security protocols, resulting in a 40% decrease of security risks and enhancing overall bank data confidentiality and integrity.
Senior Cybersecurity Consultant
Baxter Clewis Cybersecurity Consulting
06.2023 - 01.2024
- Led a team of assessors in conducting assessments and gap analysis. Implemented targeted risk mitigation strategies and recommended corrective actions. The rigorous assessment activities not only identified and addressed vulnerabilities but minimized potential risks ensuring regulatory compliance for the client.
- Enhanced the due diligence review process for third-party vendors by examining documentation to determine compliance status, contractual obligations and responsibilities, in accordance with NIST guidelines. This improvement in the vendor assessment process has led to a more efficient onboarding of new vendors, minimizing potential risks and ensuring regulatory compliance for clients.
- Conducted thorough gap analysis using NIST / PCI-DSS, through meticulous testing and evaluation, identifying and addressing control failures, which enhanced governance and strengthened internal control processes, ultimately ensuring their effective functioning and mitigating risk exposure.
- Proactively assessed systems for potential vulnerabilities against emerging cyber threats, that involved in-depth analysis of network architectures, system configurations, and software applications. This approach enabled the development of a cost-effective cybersecurity strategy by prioritizing vulnerabilities with the greatest potential likelihood and impact on the business, thereby optimizing risk management efforts.
Cybersecurity Analyst
Mohegan Tribe
12.2021 - 08.2023
- Reduced the risk of unauthorized access and potential insider threats by analyzing access controls and limiting privileged user IDs to the minimum permissions required for their tasks, adhering to the principle of least privilege.
- Administered routine vulnerability assessments using Nessus to systematically examine networks, systems, and applications. Identified and categorized security vulnerabilities and collaborated with cross-functional teams to promptly address and mitigate critical to high-risk vulnerabilities, securing the organization's security posture and minimizing potential risks to business operations.
- Conducted in-depth analysis of job roles and functions across the organization to understand specific access requirements. Collaborated with department heads to create a list of job classifications and associated access levels. Ensured compliance with industry regulations and internal policies by aligning access controls with job classifications.
- Developed and integrated organizational security procedures and training measures to ensure comprehensive security protocols. Implemented impactful training programs that enhanced staff knowledge and awareness, resulting in an 80% reduction in clicks on phishing attempts.
- Demonstrated adept leadership skills by spearheading incident response and analysis efforts. Successfully investigated, contained, and mitigated various security incidents, resulting in a significant reduction in business impact. Ensured overall organizational resilience by effectively responding to and managing potential security threats.
Education
Bachelor of Science -
NGT Academy
09.2021
Bachelor of Science - Business Administration
Salem State University
05.2016
Skills
- Exchange/Microsoft 365/Office 365
- Manage Engine/JIRA
- Azure Active Directory
- Multi-factor Authentication
- KnowBe4
- Active Directory
- ServiceNow
- Varonis
- SIEM, IDS, IPS
- Anti-virus
- Egress Defend/Prevent/Protect
- Sentinel One
Certification
- Qualys Guard Certified Specialist | May 2023
- Certified Ethical Hacker Certified | Apr 2022
- CompTIA Security+ Certified | Oct 2021
- NexGenT Cyber Security Associate | Aug 2021
- NexGenT Cyber Security Professional | Aug 2021
AREA OF EXPERTISE
Sales & Business Acumen | Cybersecurity & Compliance Solutions | Technical Platforms | Consultative Selling & Solutioning | Risk Management (RM) & GRC | Account Growth & Retention Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS) | Nessus-Tenable.io & Qualys | New Business Prospecting & Hunting | ISO 27001 & NIST Frameworks | Identity and Access Management (IAM) | Customer Relations & Stakeholder Engagement | Vulnerability Assessment & Mitigation | IT Controls & Data Governance | Multi-Product Solution Presentation | Security Controls & Gap Analysis | Integrated Software Solution
Timeline
Infrastructure Security Operations Analyst
The Computer Merchant
04.2024 - 12.2024
Senior Cybersecurity Consultant
Baxter Clewis Cybersecurity Consulting
06.2023 - 01.2024
Cybersecurity Analyst
Mohegan Tribe
12.2021 - 08.2023
Security Analyst
CyberBridge
08.2021
Security Specialist
Randstad
05.2019
Senior Customer Representative
Enterprise Rent – A – Car
12.2018
Bachelor of Science - Business Administration
Salem State University
Bachelor of Science -
NGT Academy
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