Othman Balache, Developer in Dubai, United Arab Emirates
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Othman Balache

Verified Expert  in Engineering

Cloud Architect and Developer

Location
Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Toptal Member Since
July 11, 2022

Othman is a cloud architect and consultant experienced in leading strategic public cloud and security transformation initiatives. He delivers end-to-end hybrid and multi-cloud enterprise solutions within controlled and regulated environments. Othman focuses on IT architecture, cloud adoption, CloudOps, secure-by-design, governance, and DevSecOps.

Portfolio

Commercial Bank of Dubai
Azure, Architecture, Hybrid Apps, Modernization, Blockchain, Governance...
Emirates Airlines
Amazon Web Services (AWS), Azure, Microsoft Azure, Cloud, Terraform...
Anglo American
Azure, Microsoft Azure, Terraform, Big Data Architecture, Machine Learning...

Experience

Availability

Part-time

Preferred Environment

Microsoft Azure, Amazon Web Services (AWS), Azure DevOps, Solution Design, Automation, Azure Landing Zones, Linux, Cloud Computing, Azure

The most amazing...

...thing I've delivered is the first Azure cloud-native KYC blockchain platform in the region for sharing regulated data between CBD and the Dubai Economy.

Work Experience

Principal Architect and Advisor to the CTO

2020 - PRESENT
Commercial Bank of Dubai
  • Resumed a stalled vendor-led cloud transformation program with internal resources. Delivered the Azure cloud landing zones and Well-Architected Framework for cloud adoption and governance. Created an in-house cloud center of excellence capability.
  • Spearheaded an MVP to address challenges faced by business and IT on day-to-day reporting tasks. Presented and delivered a strategy to re-platform the legacy data lake onto a cloud-native modern data warehouse with streaming and AI capabilities.
  • Took ownership of removing roadblocks and delivering the Norbloc KYC blockchain platform to facilitate secure digital customer onboarding, automated data updates, and sharing of verified KYC data. The solution was based on Azure Kubernetes Service.
  • Planned, designed, and delivered real-time, API-native payment processing and orchestration system from Volante Systems. The first bank in the MENA region to deploy this solution on Azure in active-active across two regions.
Technologies: Azure, Architecture, Hybrid Apps, Modernization, Blockchain, Governance, Cloud Security, Cloud, Solution Design, Enterprise Architecture, Azure Active Directory, SharePoint, Linux, Cloud Computing, VMware, Disaster Recovery Plans (DRP)

Principal Architect | Hybrid Cloud Management

2019 - 2020
Emirates Airlines
  • Led the development of the Azure and AWS public cloud landing zones for the enterprise-scale landing zone. Delivered the Well-Architected Framework pertaining to cost optimization, reliability, security, performance, and cloud operation.
  • Transformed the working culture and mindset by incorporating DevOps and agile practices and tools through conducting brown bag sessions and automation workshops for repeat activities and creating cloud advocates within the delivery teams.
  • Delivered a $400,000 monthly cost-saving on cloud running costs through an optimization initiative during the pandemic. Implemented cloud tagging policies, non-production out-of-hours service suspension, department show-back, and charge-back.
  • Chaired the enterprise architecture design sessions to review proposed solution designs in integration and security areas and to present cloud-related solution design artifacts.
Technologies: Amazon Web Services (AWS), Azure, Microsoft Azure, Cloud, Terraform, Azure DevOps, Enterprise Architecture, Solution Architecture, Cybersecurity, Automation, IT Governance, Cloud Security, Azure Active Directory, Linux, Cloud Computing, Disaster Recovery Plans (DRP)

Senior Cloud Consultant | Enterprise Architecture

2018 - 2019
Anglo American
  • Developed multi-cloud strategy for AWS and Azure at a global scale and delivered enterprise landing zones in the form of Terraform templates. Set cloud architecture standards and principles, including operating procedures and solution design.
  • Delivered a cloud security blueprint to assist the CISO in developing the security framework.
  • Defined security policies and best practices relating to the public cloud and SecOps tooling and usage patterns.
  • Delivered solution design components relating to cloud deployment architecture for big data-focused initiatives involving third-party technology vendors. The solution optimized the diamond mining process by leveraging machine learning and big data.
Technologies: Azure, Microsoft Azure, Terraform, Big Data Architecture, Machine Learning, Azure Active Directory, Cloud Computing, Disaster Recovery Plans (DRP)

Senior Cloud Architect | Enterprise Architecture

2017 - 2018
British Gas
  • Led the cloud transformation program to reduce infrastructure costs and increase reliability and agility. The landscape consisted of 220 business-critical applications and 9 petabytes of data. The source was HP private cloud and the target was Azure.
  • Removed technical and political roadblocks by conducting technical workshops and proofs of concepts. Ensured the senior IT security and technology risk function buy-in.
  • Took ownership of solution design artifacts, non-functional requirements, and solution sizing and costing and presented to technical design authority for approval.
Technologies: Amazon Web Services (AWS), Azure, SQL, Azure SQL Databases, Cloud Migration, Modernization, Cloud Computing, Disaster Recovery Plans (DRP)

Senior Cloud Architect and Technology Consultant

2015 - 2017
Pygmalion Solutions
  • Delivered a greenfield Azure cloud implementation for a telecoms client, including all core infrastructure services, Active Directory, SharePoint, Microsoft Deployment Toolkit, and Microsoft ExpressRoute with site-to-site IPSEC VPN.
  • Transformed the IT support function and reduced the end user compute support requests by implementing a helpdesk system based on Zendesk. Introduced a device re-imaging process to speed up data recovery and restore operations.
  • Modernized various legacy .NET applications and migrated to cloud-native Azure App Service. Conducted user training sessions and successfully migrated an enterprise client with 3,600 mailboxes from Exchange on-premises to Office 365.
Technologies: Azure, Cloud, Solution Design, IT Support, Cloud Migration, Azure Active Directory, SharePoint, Linux, Cloud Computing

Director

2008 - 2014
NGNETWORX LTD
  • Provided IT consultancy and managed services for clients across real estate, healthcare, education, and oil sectors.
  • Consulted and managed services for: International Oil Services Ltd, Cygnet Properties & Leisure PLC, LondonWide Ltd, Castle Rock Group PLC, Oxford College International, and Travel Genie.
  • Planned and managed technical migrations and provided 24/7 technical support. Managed day-to-day IT operations.
Technologies: Enterprise Architecture, Solution Design, Risk Assessment, Advisory, IT Support, Technical Support, Implementation

UAE-based KYC Blockchain Platform

https://mediaoffice.ae/en/news/2021/Feb/09-02/Commercial-Bank-of-Dubai-goes-live-on-UAE-KYC-Blockchain-Platform
I led the initiative's cloud-native implementation, facilitating secure digital customer onboarding, instant bank account functionality, automated data updates, and sharing verified KYC data between licensing authorities and financial institutions.

The market-leading initiative, championed by the Dubai Economy as part of enhancing business competitiveness and the digital transformation of the economy in the UAE, is powered by Norbloc, a global leader in enterprise blockchain technologies, through its FIDES blockchain platform.

Tools

VMware, Azure Kubernetes Service (AKS), Terraform, Azure IoT Hub

Platforms

Amazon Web Services (AWS), Azure, SharePoint, Linux, Blockchain

Industry Expertise

Cybersecurity, Network Security

Other

Microsoft Azure, Networking, Architecture, Cloud Security, Cloud, Solution Architecture, IT Governance, Cloud Migration, Solution Design, Well-Architected Framework, Cloud Computing, Disaster Recovery Plans (DRP), Office 365, Digital Forensics, Distributed Software, Hybrid Apps, Modernization, Governance, IT Service Management (ITSM), Enterprise Architecture, Cisco, Cryptography, Incident Response, Computer Science, Web Development, Big Data Architecture, Machine Learning, CCNA, Data Warehouse Design, Azure Landing Zones, IT Support, Risk Assessment, Advisory, Technical Support, Implementation

Frameworks

Windows PowerShell

Paradigms

Automation, Penetration Testing, Azure DevOps

Storage

Azure SQL Databases, Azure Active Directory, Databases

Languages

Python, SQL

2019 - 2022

Master's Degree in Advanced Cybersecurity and Digital Forensics

Edinburgh Napier University - Edinburgh, Scotland, United Kingdom

2006 - 2009

Bachelor's Degree in Computer Science

Brunel University - London, England, United Kingdom

JANUARY 2020 - PRESENT

Aviatrix Multi-Cloud Certified Engineer

Aviatrix

APRIL 2019 - PRESENT

Azure Architect Expert

Microsoft

MARCH 2015 - PRESENT

ITIL Foundation v3

Axelos

JULY 2005 - PRESENT

Cisco Certified Network Associate

Cisco

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