IT Specialist, Infrastructure & Cloud Systems Engineer

Hello I'm Nicholas Nicolaou

IT Specialist, Infrastructure & Cloud Systems Engineer | Pragmatic, delivery-oriented professional!

25
Age
4+
Years of experience
100+
Clients supported
1000+
Users managed

Education

Secondary Education

Sep 2011 - Jun 2018
Ashmole Academy
BTEC Business Level 3 Extended Diploma (DDM, 3 A-Levels equivalent)
12 GCSEs including English, Mathematics and Science (Grade A-C)

University - BSc (Hons) Information Technology - First Class

Sep 2018 - Jun 2021
1st Class Honours
University of Hertfordshire

Short Profile

Hi,

I'm an awarded First Class Honours IT graduate with a passion for technology, problem-solving, and security. I work across cloud, on-prem, and hybrid environments, with hands-on experience in Citrix DaaS, Azure Virtual Desktop, storage management, and containerization with Docker.

I always build and maintain with a focus on building systems that are secure, resilient, and perform well. But, you can hear more about my skills in-depth on my CV :)

More recently, I've developed a growing passion for security. It's an area where my problem-solving mindset and technical background come together naturally, and I'm excited to continue pivoting into more security-focused roles.

When I'm not tinkering with tech, I enjoy experimenting in my home lab with Proxmox, Docker, and CI/CD pipelines. Outside of tech, I love learning new languages and keeping active through fitness, growth and learning doesn't just stop at the keyboard!

Languages

English (Native), Japanese (Intermediate), Greek (Beginner)

IT Qualifications

AZ-900
Azure Fundamentals
Microsoft Certified

Technologies

Azure AWS Microsoft 365 Citrix DaaS Docker SIEM APIs CI/CD GitHub Hypervisors DaaS (Veeam) Azure Security Threat Hunting SOC Analysis ProofPoint Mimecast Microsoft Defender ISO 27001/27002 RBAC Conditional Access MFA Enforcement Azure Policy Intune Active Directory Exchange On-prem/Online PowerShell Python pfSense Meraki

A small selection of recent projects

NihongoNeko Practice Page Demo

Japanese Learning App - NihongoNeko

As part of my language learning journey, I decided to build my own flashcard system to help cement vocabulary into long-term memory. The idea was to use a Spaced Repetition System (SRS) algorithm, which figures out the best time for a user to review a card so the word really sticks. With enough practice, this approach can make someone genuinely proficient in a language. The concept is inspired by the popular app Anki (https://apps.ankiweb.net/), but I wanted to create my own take on it.

This app includes:
Japanese learning app with SRS algorithm, Jisho API integration, and OAuth authentication

To get started, please follow the link below and sign in with Google. This website authenticates with OAuth and uses your Google ID to track progress, so no sensitive information like passwords will be stored in the database :)

Please check out the live site here:
https://nihongoneko.nn-dev.co.uk/

And the public README here:
https://github.com/NNDev00/Japanese-Learning-App---Public-README.

The GitHub icon will take you to the public README for more information on how to use and tech stack.

Check Live

Wazuh SIEM + XDR Solution

SIEM
XDR

Wazuh SIEM + XDR Solution/Demo

Comprehensive security platform combining SIEM and Extended Detection and Response capabilities

In Development

Vulnerability Scanner

Vuln Scan
Port Scan

Vulnerability & Port Scanner

Automated security scanning tool for vulnerability assessment and port enumeration

In Development

Password Manager

Security
Addin

Secure Password Manager Addin

Secure password management solution with browser addin integration for enhanced security

In Development

My Experience

Infrastructure & Cloud Systems Engineer

I design and deliver secure, scalable infrastructure and cloud solutions, often stepping in as the final escalation point when issues get complex. My work bridges on-prem and cloud, from managing Active Directory, Exchange, File Servers, DNS, and DHCP to deploying hybrid Azure environments with strong network security practices. I’ve rolled out Azure Virtual Desktop for 100+ users with Entra ID, FsLogix, and Azure Files, while also managing Blob storage, VNets, and VMs in Azure. A big part of my role is strengthening security, I implement RBAC, Conditional Access, MFA, Intune, and Azure Policy to keep environments resilient and compliant.

Security Analyst & Threat Hunter

I acted as the internal SOC function, analyzing security logs from ProofPoint, Mimecast, Exchange, and Intune while keeping a close eye on devices across the environment. Day to day, I responded to threats with Microsoft Defender, quarantined malware, and dug into suspicious activity. I also spent time triaging potential threats, escalating true positives, and doing threat hunting across multiple platforms. On top of that, I implemented security policies like RBAC, Conditional Access, MFA, and Azure Policy to strengthen hybrid environments. This side of IT is something I’ve really come to enjoy, and it’s the reason I want to move further into security-focused roles.

Citrix DaaS & Virtualization Specialist

I worked on building and supporting Citrix DaaS and virtualization platforms for enterprise customers, mainly in the banking space. My day-to-day involved creating master images, machine catalogs, and delivery groups to give users a reliable and secure experience. I also put a big focus on stability, cutting Citrix downtime by 70% through proactive maintenance and cleanup that kept the environment running smoothly.

Service Desk Analyst

At the start of my career, I provided first and second line support for a mix of SME and enterprise clients, which gave me hands-on experience with hybrid environments, Microsoft 365 administration, and security monitoring. I also worked with Azure, applying basic security controls, and kept Meraki networks running smoothly. Since this was a client-facing role, I learned how to communicate clearly, relate to people, and put them at ease while troubleshooting and resolving their issues in real time.