25+ years of experience in IT encompassing architecture, operations, and automation across on-premises, datacenter and cloud environments. Currently focused on cloud architecture and migrations, DevOps, automation, and AI integrations.
Founder; Independent Cloud Consultant; Architect, Exocloud Ventures
Apr, 2023 - Present
I help clients of all sizes with their cloud journey, from the first steps of setting up AWS accounts all the way to complex app migrations and native deployments.
Please see my website for descriptions of some of the many cloud-specific projects I've worked on, and how I can help you: https://www.khalidjhosein.net/hire-me/
Senior Cloud Consultant & Architect, 2nd Watch
Dec, 2016 - Mar, 20236 years 3 months
Member of the consulting staff. Worked primarily in AWS, as well as with GCP & Azure, migrating clients to the cloud. Clients included multiple Fortune 500 enterprises.
Architected and built solutions using modern toolsets (e.g., Git, Terraform IaC, cloud-native tools).
Built DevOps pipelines, assorted automation with Python, Bash, etc., migrated clients to new deployment processes.
Trained both clients and internal users on tools and processes.
Cloud Architect, DevOps & Operations Engineer, Platform28
Jun, 2013 - Dec, 20152 years 6 months
Involved in all aspects of IT and hosting operations, DevOps, automation, security and process improvement. Hosting ops were hybridized across AWS and a traditional data center.
Architected and deployed new production environment in AWS from the ground up, with scalability, availability and security in mind.
Architected and deployed configuration management infrastructure using Puppet for the new production environment as well as legacy systems.
Architected and built a Logstash-Elasticsearch logging infrastructure in the AWS environment that handled >100M logs/day for under $1000/month.
Introduced productivity improvements to the company including: a shift from email to group messaging; 'quiet time' periods for more focused thinking-oriented work; refocusing on documentation.
Security Consultant, Symantec
Dec, 2011 - Sep, 20129 months
Member of Symantec's core security consulting organization. Was resident onsite at one of the world's most recognized brands overseeing incident response, general security guidance, and managing the onsite Symantec team.
Founder & Consultant, Web Nuts & Bolts, Inc.
Dec, 2001 - Dec, 201110 years
Independent IT consultant. Performed research, design, implementation, and maintenance in a variety of areas including systems and network administration, security audits, and web development.
IT Director, Zindagi Games, Inc.
Dec, 2007 - Dec, 20092 years
Designed and built the network for this start-up from the ground up. This included all servers and services, networking, and security framework. The user population ran Windows XP mainly, while the servers consisted of a mixture of Windows 2003 and Debian Linux servers. Main services included source control (Perforce), file sharing, wikis, and VPN access.
Senior Systems Administrator, ISX Corporation/Lockheed Martin
Dec, 2000 - Dec, 20088 years
Lead IT staff member responsible for systems and network administration of a mixed environment containing Solaris, Linux, Windows NT/2000/XP, Netware, Cisco and Raptor Firewall platforms. Duties included maintaining, troubleshooting, securing and improving systems, and assisting end-users.
Architected and implemented solutions to migrate all ISX services, with minimum disruption to users, over to Lockheed Martin ATL (when LM ATL acquired ISX Corp).
Initiated, researched, recommended, planned and installed Axent (now Symantec) Raptor firewalls at all 3 primary office sites. Configuration included site to site VPN Tunnels as well as remote VPN access for users.
Senior Systems and Network Administrator, Worldsite Networks
Dec, 1999 - Dec, 20001 year
● Senior systems administrator: installed, maintained and troubleshot various OSes including Linux, IRIX, Solaris and NT; built and maintained hardware.
● Project Manger for various projects including:
● Designed (and implemented) a general firewall solution, offered as a new service to our dedicated server and co-location customers.
● Architected and implemented a new hosting solution for a client that wanted to migrate their hosted web sites over to our facility. Analyzed and selected hardware and software products, and acted as main PoC for our client.
● Initiated and led other efforts including: a new corporate Intranet, reviewing and updating the company's service/product price list, redefining our service definitions, and updating our Tier I customer support response guidelines.
Senior Systems Engineer, SRA Corporation
Dec, 1995 - Dec, 19983 years
During my tenure, I was deeply involved in SRA's entrance into Internet and Web-based projects and consulting services.
Technical Director, Internet Services Center:
● Responsible for ongoing administration (technical and otherwise) of the data center of UNIX and Windows NT platforms.
● Supervised
a team of Internet developers.
● SRA's Internet Services Center served in excess of 20 large government and commercial contracts.
<b>Line Manager:</b>
● Manager of a group of about 10 employees.
● Responsible for their placement
onto projects, career growth, and salary reviews.
Member, Professional Staff:
● Engineering consultant that worked on a multitude of technical
projects in various roles including programming, systems and security administration, networking and systems integration.
Electrical Engineering, MS, University of Pennsylvania
Jun, 1994 - May, 1995
Electrical Engineering, B.S., University of Pennsylvania
Sep, 1990 - May, 1994
AWS Certified AI Practitioner Early Adopter, Amazon Web Services
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Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP), (ISC)²
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Certificate of Cloud Security Knowledge (CCSK), Cloud Security Alliance
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Red Hat Certified System Administrator (RHCSA), Red Hat
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AWS Certified Solutions Architect - Associate, Amazon Web Services
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AWS Certified SysOps Administrator - Associate, Amazon Web Services
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AWS Certified Developer - Associate, Amazon Web Services
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AWS Certified Solutions Architect - Professional, Amazon Web Services
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Puppet Certified Professional 2017, Puppet
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AWS Certified Security - Specialty, Amazon Web Services
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AWS Certified DevOps Engineer - Professional (DOP), Amazon Web Services (AWS)
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The Complete Guide to Personal Computer Password Security ,
Published on: Dec 13, 2014
This book gives you actionable information that can be easily started in minutes. This is not a collection of highly technical explanations, but straight-forward recommendations and how-tos provided in easy-to-understand bite-sized pieces. The action items come first.
Even following the advice from a single chapter from this book will improve your security posture and reduce your exposure to having your password guessed or hacked.
I had the pleasure to work with Khalid at Platform28. Khalid is an exceptional problem solver and innovator. He was able to streamline our operations with automation resulting in improved uptime. He can work in high stress situations and remains level-headed. I enjoyed working with him so much we were able to do it more than once. I could always count on Khalid to get the job done.
We hired Khalid to help us to bring some sanity to our software development process and AWS infrastructure. He has helped to get organized and vastly more secure both in terms of our cybersecurity stance and the reliability and scalability of our process. He is extremely technically competent but very easy-going at the same time which allows him to meet us where we are and scaffold us to where we need to be. He has that unique ability to know when to compromise and when to push. I would highly recommend him to any future client and would definitely hire him again in the future.
Khalid is an outstanding systems administrator. He cuts through the chase in giving you unbiased, expert advice and executes all tasks in systems administration with high efficiency. I was very happy to count on him and would hire him again without hesitation.
Khalid is an experienced, detail-oriented professional. He works hard to solve problems, create better processes, implement new technologies, and train users. He stays updated with innovation to make sure the solutions he recommends are the best for the client and the circumstances. I would recommend Khalid to anyone and have.
Khalid is a problem solver and a teacher, with a keen sense of humor, in other words he helps you to understand the problem you are faced with while finding a solution. He is diligent and thorough with great follow through and wants the job done right the first time. Khalid is my "go to" guy when it comes to computer systems. I would not hesitate to recommend him to others and I have.
While Khalid worked as a contractor for ISX, and later Lockheed Martin, he consistently provided the highest quality of support in both quality assurance and information technology. His attitude and deep contextual understanding of problems made him a valuable resource and an excellent coworker.
Khalid and I worked together as systems administrators and developers at Worldsite - his work was always top-notch, and his knowledge was very broad; he often had excellent suggestions to make, even about projects that were not in his ostensible field of expertise. I'd work with him again in a second, and I would recommend him without reservation to anyone looking to hire someone with strong technical skills and the ability to think outside the box.
Perhaps the best decision I ever made was starting a partnership with Khalid Hosein. Khalid has large entreprenuerial visions and the technical ability to execute these ideas. Having worked with Khalid at a company before our partnership for almost six years now and having been a partner for over two and a half years, Khalid has earned my complete trust and respect.
Khalid worked with me for several years, and he consistently exceeded my expectations. He's a world class engineer, and makes everyone around him a better performer. Khalid wrote the book on underpromise and overdeliver. He's the kind of guy you give a challenging project to that he's never done before, and next thing you know it's done. He's amazing!