Upgrading VMware hosts is no small feat, especially when zero downtime is the goal. Over a five-year cycle, I led multiple VMware host replacements and upgrades, ensuring seamless transitions without disrupting guest machines. This initiative was about more than just hardware—it was about future-proofing our infrastructure and maintaining business continuity.

When I stepped into the role, I inherited a firewall infrastructure that had served the organization well for many years. However, as technology evolved, the hardware had reached the end of its lifecycle, and it was time to modernize. By implementing Palo Alto firewalls, we introduced advanced features like application-aware traffic rules, user ID-based policies, and centralized logging. Additionally, we integrated the firewalls with CrowdStrike SIEM to enhance threat detection and response.