available_for_opportunities

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IT Support &
Cybersecurity
Professional

Hi, I'm Christopher — an IT Support specialist and cybersecurity student based in Austin, TX. I keep systems running, networks secure, and businesses connected.

view_my_work → get_in_touch
derekchris473@gmail.com linkedin (669) 214-1008
2+Years Exp.
100+Clients Served
14Projects
1Cert Earned
threat_monitor.sh
$ nmap -sV 192.168.1.0/24
Starting Nmap 7.94...
Discovered open port 22/tcp
Discovered open port 443/tcp
Scan complete: 12 hosts up

$ palo-alto-cli --status
Firewall: ACTIVE
Threats blocked today: 47
Active sessions: 312

$ nessus --scan --report
Running vulnerability assessment...
Critical: 0  High: 2  Med: 8

█ awaiting input_
scroll
01 / about_me

Passionate About Keeping
Systems Secure & Running

IT Support professional bringing hands-on network installation and systems administration experience to maintain uptime and accelerate onboarding. I manage Hyper-V servers, Microsoft 365, and field network deployments while resolving hardware and connectivity issues to reduce downtime.

Currently pursuing a B.S. in Cybersecurity at Western Governors University, I'm aiming to expand my technical leadership and improve service reliability through proactive support — bridging the gap between field-level network work and enterprise security.

I recently completed the Post Graduate Program in Cybersecurity at UT Austin's McCombs School of Business, putting theory into practice through real-world labs in SOC operations, incident response, and vulnerability management.

STATUSAvailable for opportunities
LOCATIONAustin, TX
EDUCATIONB.S. Cybersecurity — WGU
FOCUSIT Support, Network Security, GRC
EXPERIENCE2+ Years Field & Admin
CLEARANCENone (open to pursuit)
Network forensics visualization
AI-GEN · Higgsfield · Network Forensics
02 / skills_expertise

Technical Arsenal

🛡️
Cybersecurity
Threat detection, vulnerability management, firewall administration, and endpoint defense.
Network SecurityPalo Alto NGFWNessusEDRSIEM
⚙️
Systems Administration
Managing virtual environments, Microsoft 365, and enterprise IT infrastructure.
Hyper-VMicrosoft 365Exchange OnlineSharePointAzure AD
🌐
Network Engineering
Structured cabling, fiber optic installs, ONT configuration, and network performance monitoring.
Cat5e/6/7/8Fiber OpticRJ45Patch PanelsONT
💻
IT Support
Hardware diagnostics, remote support, ticket management, and end-user onboarding.
Zoho DeskRemote SupportHardwareOnboarding
🔍
Forensics & Analysis
Event log forensics, incident timelines, malicious process identification, and root cause analysis.
Event ViewerVirusTotalCMDIncident Response
🤝
Soft Skills
Clear communicator, strong documentation habits, and a customer-first mindset in every interaction.
Technical DocsProblem SolvingCollaborationTime Mgmt
03 / credentials

Certifications & Credentials

EARNED
Post Graduate Program in Cybersecurity
UT Austin · McCombs School of Business · Conferred Jan 2026
verify ↗
IN PROGRESS
CompTIA Security+
CompTIA
IN PROGRESS
CompTIA Network+
CompTIA
IN PROGRESS
CompTIA A+
CompTIA
IN PROGRESS
CCNA
Cisco
IN PROGRESS
Azure Certified
Microsoft
IN PROGRESS
AWS Certified
Amazon Web Services
Firewall threat visualization
AI-GEN · Higgsfield · Firewall & Threat Detection
04 / my_work

Projects & Labs

securitySep 2025
Windows Investigations
SOC team simulation using Windows Event Viewer and CMD to identify a chain of events on a compromised system. Ascertained incident timeline, compromised user account, and documented malicious activity.
Event ViewerCMDVirusTotalProcess ID
securitySep 2025
Endpoint Detection & Response (EDR)
Evaluated three EDR products against business requirements. Mapped capabilities to security needs using risk control mapping and recommended best-fit solution based on detection accuracy.
EDR SolutionsRisk AnalysisRisk Control Mapping
securitySep 2025
Social Engineering Attack Analysis
Analyzed 5 suspicious emails to classify phishing attempts. Examined embedded links using VirusTotal and documented indicators of compromise in each email.
PhishingVirusTotalEmail Forensics
securitySep 2025
Vulnerability Management Program Analysis
Examined vulnerability scan results across an organization's assets — identifying highest-risk systems, most critical issues, and oldest unpatched vulnerabilities.
Vuln ScanningRisk Prioritization
securityOct 2025
Vulnerability Management with Nessus
Performed vulnerability scans using Nessus. Categorized findings by severity (Critical/High/Medium/Low) and produced a remediation report with actionable recommendations.
NessusCVSS ScoringRemediation
securityOct 2025
Incident Reporting — NotPetya Attack
Researched the NotPetya ransomware attack on Maersk. Established sequence of events, identified total assets infected, and composed a full Incident Report covering scope and recovery.
Incident ResponseExecutive Summary
securityJul 2025
Cryptography with CyberChef
Used CyberChef to perform hashing, encryption, decryption, and cryptanalysis. Solved cryptographic puzzles using MD5, encoding/decoding techniques, and various cipher operations.
CyberChefMD5Encryption
securityJul 2025
AI & Cybersecurity
Tested ChatGPT, Gemini, and Copilot for offensive and defensive cybersecurity tasks. Explored AI around phishing simulation, keylogger awareness, and defensive security guidance.
ChatGPTGeminiAI Security
networkAug 2025
Network Protocol Analysis — Attack Traffic
Analyzed network packet captures containing HTTP and DNS traffic using Wireshark. Identified 3-way TCP handshake, applied filters, and extracted credentials within attack traffic.
WiresharkTCP/IPPacket Analysis
networkAug 2025
Windows Firewall Log Analysis
Examined Windows Firewall log files to detect malicious activity including port scanning and suspicious single-port connections. Analyzed TCP flags to identify and document threat patterns.
Firewall LogsLog AnalysisTCP Flags
networkAug 2025
Firewall Administration — Palo Alto NGFW
Configured security policies, NAT rules, and custom URL filtering objects on a Palo Alto VM-Series NGFW. Applied zone-based architecture for improved network segmentation.
Palo AltoNATURL FilteringZone Architecture
networkJul 2025
Secure Web Infrastructure — SSL Analysis
Analyzed an SSL certificate to identify fingerprints, the certificate hierarchy, and CRL. Examined certificate chaining and the role of Certificate Authorities in securing web infrastructure.
SSL/TLSDigital CertsCRL
complianceOct 2025
GDPR Compliance Audit — WhatsApp
Analyzed WhatsApp's privacy policy against GDPR requirements across data security, retention, international transfers, cookie policy, and data subject rights.
GDPRPrivacy AuditData Subject Rights
complianceOct 2025
ISO 27001 Audit Checklist
Created an ISO 27001:2022 audit checklist covering Data Security, Asset Management, and Risk Assessment. Developed five control questions per domain to evaluate compliance.
ISO 27001:2022Risk AssessmentAsset Mgmt
field_work2024–2025
Structured Cabling Installations
Pulled, dressed, and terminated Cat5e/6/6a/7/8 copper cabling in residential and commercial environments. Tested and certified cable runs — reducing downtime by 15%.
Cat5e/6/7/8Patch PanelsCable Certification
homelabongoing
Zyxel USG FLEX 50H — Firewall & Network Setup
Deployed and configured a Zyxel USG FLEX 50H NGFW from scratch. Set up VLANs, site-to-site and remote-access VPN, NAT rules, and ongoing network monitoring.
Zyxel NGFWVLANsVPNNAT
homelabongoing
Cisco CBS350-16T-2G Managed Switch
Configured a Cisco CBS350 managed switch as the backbone of a personal homelab. Set up VLANs, port settings, and integrated with the USG FLEX 50H for a fully segmented network.
Cisco CBS350Managed SwitchVLANs
05 / career

Work Experience

IT / Administrator Specialist
Exacta Bookkeeping & Tax Services · Round Rock, TX
Dec 2025 – Apr 2026
  • Administered Hyper-V virtual servers to maintain system availability and stability.
  • Managed Microsoft 365 including user accounts, Exchange Online, SharePoint, Teams, and compliance settings.
  • Managed support tickets in Zoho Desk to prioritize IT requests and ensure timely resolution.
  • Installed and configured desktops, laptops, printers, and phones to reduce setup time and downtime.
  • Performed system updates, patches, and routine maintenance to maintain stable IT performance.
  • Supported new-employee onboarding and technical setup to accelerate productivity.
Installation Specialist
ITC Service Group
Jul 2024 – Dec 2025
  • Executed fiber optic and Ethernet installations for residential and business clients, reducing downtime by 15%.
  • Pulled, dressed, and terminated Cat5e/6/6a/7/8 copper cabling including keystone jacks, patch panels, and RJ45.
  • Installed and configured ONTs, routers, and networking equipment for 100+ customers.
  • Tested and certified cable runs using certification tools to verify performance and compliance.
  • Monitored network performance metrics and implemented corrective actions to boost efficiency.
  • Completed 5+ service visits per week while maintaining detailed documentation and work orders.
B.S. Cybersecurity and Information Assurance
Western Governors University · Austin, TX
Mar 2026 – Present
  • Pursuing B.S. in Cybersecurity and Information Assurance with focus on network security and GRC.
06 / contact

Let's Work Together

Looking for a reliable IT professional? I'm open to full-time roles, freelance work, and consulting opportunities.

EMAILderekchris473@gmail.com PHONE(669) 214-1008 INlinkedin.com/in/christopher-suarez-030087295
// whois christopher_suarez
name:
Christopher Suarez
role:
IT Support & Cybersecurity Professional
location:
Austin, TX
email:
derekchris473@gmail.com
status:
available_for_opportunities