Driving Enterprise IT Resilience & Cybersecurity Excellence
Technology leader with 18+ years of UAE-based experience directing cybersecurity governance, enterprise infrastructure, cloud transformation, and business continuity for major multi-site operations.
18+ Years
UAE Experience
350k+ Users
Systems Protected
Executive Value Proposition
Based in Abu Dhabi, I specialize in translating complex technical infrastructures into secure, resilient, and business-enabling enterprise environments. My career spans strategic roles including Senior IT Project Manager, Head of IT, and CISO.
Throughout my tenure across the Middle East and India, I have designed and executed high-availability architectures, disaster recovery plans, and comprehensive security policies. I am dedicated to eliminating operational downtime, optimizing tech investments (such as saving AED 1.9M on a single procurement estimation), and ensuring alignment with rigorous compliance standards like ISO 27001, COBIT, and NIST.
"A secure enterprise is not built by avoiding risk, but by engineering resilient systems that anticipate it."
Strategic Skills & Pillars
Bridging senior executive leadership with deep technical domain expertise
IT Governance & Strategy
Cybersecurity & Risk Management
Enterprise Infrastructure & Operations
Cloud, Data Center & Digital Transformation
ITSM, Service Delivery & SLA Governance
Vendor, Procurement & Budget Management
Business Continuity, Backup & DR
Operational Safety / HSE Interface
Professional Skillset
A balanced matrix of core technical capabilities and executive leadership traits
Hard Skills
Technical domain expertise kept up-to-date with emerging technologies
Soft Skills
Interpersonal, leadership, and strategic competencies essential for management
Key Projects & Initiatives
A showcase of high-stakes enterprise projects and successful executions
ERTH Veeam DR & Cloud Backup
Directed replication readiness, restore documentation, and risk tracking for enterprise business-continuity assurance, ensuring seamless transition in emergency scenarios.
Aldar Charter School Security
Served as Project Manager for an end-to-end firewall migration. Managed scope validation, implementation planning, vendor alignment, and change control to fortify school operations.
IT Modernization & BOQ Rationalization
Negotiated vendor proposals and rationalized solution architectures to deliver crucial infrastructure upgrades at AED 600K against initial external estimates of AED 2.5M.
DreamSouq Platform Management
Managed Azure cloud infrastructure and threat mitigation for a major e-commerce platform supporting over 350,000 concurrent users with high availability and resilience.
Long Service Award - WORKZ
Received prestigious Long Service Award from Brad Taylor at WORKZ, acknowledging outstanding contributions, technical resilience, and dedication to global operations.
Professional Timeline
Over two decades of progressive leadership in IT and Cybersecurity
Project Manager - ICT, Cloud, Infrastructure & Cybersecurity
SPADILE Technologies | Abu Dhabi, UAE
- Spearhead 5+ enterprise ICT, cloud, infrastructure, backup, and cybersecurity projects by managing scope, BOQ validation, schedules, risks, vendors, documentation, testing, acceptance, and handover to improve delivery control and operational readiness.
- Orchestrate firewall migration, backup/DR, cloud, endpoint-security, and infrastructure modernization workstreams by aligning clients, vendors, engineers, and stakeholders around delivery milestones, service continuity, and security outcomes.
- Standardize project governance across RAID logs, schedules, acceptance criteria, technical documentation, procurement inputs, executive reporting, and operational handover to increase transparency and reduce execution risk.
- Coordinate secure Microsoft Azure, Microsoft 365, Entra ID, Intune, DLP, endpoint-security, and systems-integration workstreams by managing implementation follow-up, access governance, documentation, and service transition.
- Develop client-facing technology proposals, implementation plans, technical summaries, SOP inputs, risk registers, and handover documentation by combining infrastructure, cybersecurity, cloud, and AI-assisted documentation practices.
Head of IT - Cybersecurity & VAPT
SINNONTEQ IT Consulting | Middle East / India
- Led cybersecurity and VAPT governance across 10 Naseem Healthcare locations by coordinating vulnerability assessments, remediation tracking, stakeholder reporting, and control validation to strengthen healthcare data protection.
- Engineered cybersecurity improvement plans across firewall/VPN posture, endpoint protection, IAM, DLP, log monitoring, and access controls by reviewing risk exposure and coordinating corrective actions to improve security maturity.
- Standardized vulnerability remediation governance by maintaining risk registers, technical evidence, remediation owners, follow-up cycles, and executive summaries to reduce unmanaged security exposure.
- Orchestrated cybersecurity service delivery for healthcare and enterprise clients by aligning technical teams, business stakeholders, remediation priorities, and compliance-readiness activities to improve incident-prevention capability.
Consultant - System Integration & DLP
Confidential UAE Law Firm | Dubai, UAE
- Led Microsoft Azure and Microsoft 365 integration across Entra ID, Intune, Exchange Online, SharePoint, OneDrive, endpoint security, and application controls by centralizing secure collaboration and IT governance.
- Implemented DLP, IAM, endpoint control, cloud access, and monitoring controls by standardizing security policies, access governance, documentation, and handover to reduce data-leakage and compliance risk.
- Engineered Kubernetes clusters within Docker containers by modernizing deployment workflows to improve application deployment efficiency by 30%.
- Coordinated secure technology change across user migration, policy configuration, application deployment, monitoring, and stakeholder reporting to improve service adoption and delivery predictability.
Senior IT Manager & AGM - IT
DREAMSOUQ eCommerce Platform | UAE / India
- Directed IT operations for an e-commerce platform supporting 350,000+ concurrent users by managing Azure infrastructure, WAN/LAN/VPN, IP telephony, monitoring, backup, recovery, DR, and threat-management controls.
- Engineered high-availability infrastructure for business-critical retail operations by optimizing network/security architecture, backup readiness, incident response, capacity planning, and operational visibility.
- Led cloud, infrastructure, and cybersecurity modernization across multiple technology domains by managing vendor delivery, enterprise backup, monitoring, access controls, and security operations to reduce operational risk.
- Governed ERP, CRM, reporting, and customer-platform infrastructure readiness by aligning application, cloud, security, access, and performance controls to support digital commerce growth.
Senior IT Manager & CISO
Universal Hospital Group | Abu Dhabi, UAE
- Led IT security, infrastructure governance, and service operations across 7 UAE healthcare locations by managing policies, monitoring, asset management, backups, vendor governance, endpoint security, and access controls.
- Designed and implemented a disaster recovery site covering 7+ critical healthcare systems by enabling EMR, LIS, RIS, ERP, PIS, CRM, HRMS, and Oracle database live backup/replication to improve recovery readiness.
- Standardized healthcare cybersecurity and IT operations by implementing incident response, compliance readiness, user-access governance, backup validation, and operational risk controls to reduce service disruption.
- Orchestrated vendor, infrastructure, and security operations across hospital platforms by aligning service providers, internal teams, and executive stakeholders to improve uptime, accountability, and resilience.
IT Manager
CREATIVE Group | Dubai, UAE
- Planned and delivered group-wide IT infrastructure, network, security, procurement, and licensing operations by managing systems, vendors, budgets, and service support to improve operational efficiency.
- Completed server/storage migration and Active Directory upgrades with zero business downtime by engineering migration plans, validating dependencies, coordinating users, and managing cutover controls.
- Implemented network infrastructure for a new SIM-card manufacturing company by coordinating design, procurement, vendor contracts, service support, backup, monitoring, and lifecycle management for secure production operations.
- Reduced projected infrastructure cost from AED 2.5M to AED 600K by rationalizing solution design, validating BOQ requirements, negotiating vendors, and controlling procurement scope.
Senior IT Administrator - Network & Security
WORKZ Group / Trasna | Dubai, UAE
- Managed enterprise network, server, firewall, wireless, VPN, monitoring, and virtualization operations across infrastructure domains by administering routers, switches, firewalls, Microsoft/Linux servers, VMware, and business-critical systems.
- Designed and implemented secure infrastructure relocation for a scratch-card production factory with only 30 minutes of downtime by managing migration planning, network validation, security controls, vendor coordination, and cutover execution.
- Supported global IP planning, Active Directory, and endpoint security across 2,000+ users and devices by standardizing access, network addressing, security controls, documentation, and support processes.
- Maintained backup, endpoint security, access control, asset management, network hardening, and service-continuity controls by enforcing operational standards, monitoring service health, and improving technical documentation.
Education & Professional Credentials
Education
Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) in Information Technology
Annamalai University, India
Certifications & Training
Project & Security Governance
- CISSP - Certified Information Systems Security Professional (Training Completed)
- PRINCE2 Foundation - Project Management Certification (Training Completed)
- PMP Fundamentals - Project Management Concepts (Training Completed)
- ITIL v3 Foundation - IT Service Management (2009)
- CEH - Certified Ethical Hacker (2008)
- CHFI - Computer Hacking Forensic Investigator (2008)
Cloud Management
- Microsoft Certified: Azure Administrator Associate (2019)
- Microsoft Azure Fundamentals (2019)
- AWS Elastic Load Balancing Essentials (2024)
Infrastructure & Virtualization
- VMware Certified Professional (VCP) - vSphere ICM (2009)
- VMware SRM & Infrastructure 4.1 - Site Recovery (2010)
- Citrix Certified Administrator (CCA) - Citrix XenApp 6V (2013)
Networking & Systems
- Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA) (Renewed 2010)
- MCSE / MCSA Messaging - Systems Engineer & Administrator (2007)
- MCSE / MCSA Systems - Windows Server Track (2007)
- MCP - Microsoft Certified Professional (2003)
AI & Automation
- AI Mastery Program - AI-Driven Operations & Strategy (2023)
- Generative AI Systems - Claude, ChatGPT, Copilot, Gemini & n8n (2023)
Executive Endorsements
What global IT directors, project managers, and consulting partners say about my leadership
"Anand is one of the few technocrats who has both management skills and technical skills. I would recommend Anand to anyone looking for a business partner/ IT manager. Anand is a dedicated and devoted Network Administrator who handles pressure effectively. Working in a domain where newer technologies emerge everyday, he focusses on keeping himself up to date... He has a solid technical background and strong troubleshooting skills, which would make him a stellar asset to any organization."
"Anand possess profound expertise in IT infrastructure, Networking, Security and virtualization concepts. Able to handle high volume of work which is eminent in IT sector. He is well organized and fully equipped with skills that are in demand these days. Over the year that he has worked with me, he demonstrated excellent knowledge and competence in advanced IT practices to ensure smooth working of the facility."
"Anand is a very knowledgeable IT person who is great person to work with, very reliable and never leaves you unsatisfied. Great person to employ if you're after professional outcome and outstanding friendly relationship."
"Few people have the opportunity to report to a leader who is also a coach and mentor—but I did when I worked for Anand. 'Ridiculously efficient' is the phrase that comes to mind when I think about Anand. I had the pleasure of working with Anand at Universal Hospital Abu Dhabi... Anand's ability to juggle multiple projects was unlike any I've seen before and made a dramatic difference in the productivity level of our team."
"Anand has great amount of IT skill and knowledge especially in hardware systems and networking. He keeps himself up-to-date and easily adapts to emerging IT technologies. He is dedicated and always shares knowledge that he possess with colleagues."
"Anand enjoys vast experience in IT systems and networking, he is really simple, hardworking and always willing to take responsibilities."
"Anand is a very service oriented person that showed great deal of expertise in the IT field. He has helped me out several times and with good sense of quality."
"Anand is an exceptional IT leader who excels at managing multi-site cloud and infrastructure migrations. His project governance, vendor alignments, and technical depth are highly impressive."
Professional References
Trusted verification from executive leadership and business owners
Mani E Mani
Director of Engineering (DoE) - IT
Trasna / WORKZ (former name)
United Arab EmiratesDr. Shabeer Nallikode
Founder, Managing Director / CEO
Universal Hospital Group
United Arab EmiratesAbdul Razzaq Al Abdullah
Chairman of the Advisory Board
Global Business Services Groups
United Arab EmiratesConnect with an Executive Partner
Interested in robust project governance, cybersecurity alignment, or enterprise cloud transformation? Let's discuss how we can drive business resilience together.