My name is Kyle Harris and I've been working in IT infrastructure design, implementation, and maintenance for about the last 25 years.  I live in Franklin, TN and am available for contract work or freelance work on an as-needed basis.  I consider myself to be equally proficient with Windows and Linux.  The main reason I geared this site for Linux is because I have found that many small companies attempt to use Linux due to it's cost (free) but they often struggle due to it's many differences from Windows.

I have a BS in Information Technology from Kaplan University and an AS in Computer Science from Paducah Community College.  I have a Certificate of Information Systems Security (INFOSEC) Professionals NSTISSI-4011 and a Certificate of Senior Systems Managers CNSSJ-4012.  I have been in charge of IT infrastructures consisting of almost 100 servers.  I have actively worked in the IT industry hands-on with technology since I started my career.

I have the proven ability to utilize information technology to solve business issues while managing costs and risks in a secure manner.  I am adept at crisis management, trouble-shooting, problem-solving, and negotiating.  I poses strong leadership, planning, team building and project management skills to deliver results and savings while maintaining the highest level of security.

Other project areas I have worked on and skills I have include but are not limited to:

• SDLC (System Development Life Cycle)
• Thorough working knowledge of standard TCP/IP protocols (including but not limited to SNMP, SMTP, POP3, IMAP, DNS, HTTP, etc.)
• Vendor management
• Project management including budgeting and cost control
• Infrastructure mapping and upgrades including capacity and asset identification, consolidation,  streamlining and maintenance
• Maintaining strong change management and documentation procedures
• PCI compliance responsibilities including assessing existing system by utilizing security scanning tools such as Tcpdump, Nmap, Cain & Abel, OpenVAS, Wireshark, Snort, and Tripwire as well as managing external firms as required for PCI compliance
• Led and implemented project to encrypt sensitive data on file system servers
• Led PCI security standards implementation and maintenance
• Other security program management and maintenance
• Disaster planning & recovery
• Implementing automated security patches/upgrades
• Implementing and maintained corporate Symantec Endpoint Protection
• Budgeting and cost control
• Coordination of enterprise penetration test exercises and remediation
• Implementing Microsoft Baseline Security Scanner (MBSA) to help identify security vulnerabilities
• Implementing and maintaining Windows Server Update Service (WSUS) to maintain corporate workstations and servers with the latest security patches to reduce security vulnerability levels
• Responsible for writing and managing many IT security policies and procedures for several companies
• Contributing to firm wide cost cutting initiatives
• Evaluating and starting implementation of thin client technology for call center workstations saving the PC hardware and IT support costs

From a personal perspective, I guess my hobbies have changed over the years.  In the high-stressed life that many of us endure every day (and often that is the case in the I.T. field), I think it is really good to get away whenever possible.  Perhaps that comes with age and/or wisdom.  I try and focus on enjoying life and the beauty of nature all around us.  I love taking a long, brisk walk each morning for cardio.  I enjoy going to the beach or even a day hanging out at the pool.  I love walking through the woods or taking a motorcycle/convertible ride through the beautiful Tennessee countryside.  I enjoy going to flea markets, art shops, dining out, and browsing around many of the quaint little places around Nashville.  I enjoy being around my kids (and at their age, that is hard to come by) and sometimes just hanging out watching some old movie or TV show.  And yes, I do still sometimes find myself on my tablet reading about some new technology so I can keep up with the latest trends in the I.T. world.