Alex Butcher BSc. (Hons)

alex.butcher.jobs@assursys.co.uk


OBJECTIVE

I am seeking a position in which I can demonstrate my aptitude for technical- and personnel management as well as making good use of my technical skills. I am particularly experienced in TCP/IP networking; network and host security; most popular flavours of UNIX and commodity (Intel PC) hardware. I am also a capable administrator of Microsoft systems. I have been using elements of the GNU toolchain under SunOS since 1992 and GNU/Linux since mid-1995. I have had my patches accepted by a number of Free Software projects (timetravel, nessus, modutils, gimp-print) and I have contributed patches to others, including pup, Hugo, Mozilla and The Linux Wacom Project . I've also been quoted in the computing press on security issues.


KEY SKILLS

  • Able to communicate technical concepts clearly to both technical and non-technical colleagues and clients.

  • Able to adapt rapidly to new technologies.

  • Capable of working both as an individual and as part of a team.

  • Experience of a wide variety of computing environments and hardware.

  • Conscientious and highly committed.


PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Analyst/Founder

Assursys Computing Ltd. Bristol 2002-date

  • Delivered host and network security services to customers, including the introduction of a managed IDS service using Cisco SecureIDS by a major US/UK MSP.

  • Documented technical details of implementation projects, and findings of investigative projects.

  • Evaluated technical details of new security products.

  • Created Assursys brand, corporate identity, costings and service offerings.

  • Represented Assursys at business networking events and in online fora.

  • Discussed business requirements and prepared proposals for clients.

  • Responsible for most administrative functions including HMC&E, IR and credit control.



Consultant, S3 Team

Articon Integralis Ltd. Theale, Berkshire 2000-2002

  • Monitored a wide variety of security information resources to support client services.

  • Provided intrusion response services for clients, including forensic investigation and anomaly interpretation.

  • Planned, executed and documented remote and on-site penetration tests of client networks.

  • Wrote and modified UNIX programs written in C and shell script to support penetration tests.

  • Moderated client-facing security announcement mailing lists.

  • Mentored new colleagues in TCP/IP, UNIX and approaches to penetration testing.

  • Co-administered FireWall-1, Solaris and Linux hosts.

  • Performed technical evaluation of new products for Product Marketing Committee.

  • Guided colleagues in other departments regarding intrusion response and more complex TCP/IP troubleshooting as well as implementation of Linux-based services.



Senior Engineer, Post-Sales Support

Articon Integralis Ltd. Theale, Berkshire 1998-2000

  • Supported flagship products including FireWall-1, TCPware and MIMEsweeper.

  • Supported platforms included Solaris 2.5-2.7, NT 4, AIX 4, SCO OpenServer 5, HP UX, OpenVMS (various).

  • Built machines using commodity and Sun hardware.

  • Installed, configured and supported in-house Linux systems.

  • Collated and suggested user requirements for implementation of Royal Blue HelpDesk.

  • Trained to CheckPoint Certified System Engineer (CCSE/2000), MetaIP Instructor, MIMEsweeper Accredited Engineer and ISS Certified Engineer levels.



Technical Support Specialist

Annex Technology Europe Ltd. Pangbourne, Berkshire 1997-1998




Microcomputer Support Technician

University of Bristol Computing Service Bristol 1995-1997



EDUCATION

Computer Science (Systems Architecture)

University of Essex Colchester, Essex 1992-1995

  • Graduated with second class honours degree.

  • Software development: compiler for virtual machine, demonstrations of OS concepts, control software for autonomous robots, demonstrations of abstract data typing, Inter-Process Communication, leader of team project to design and implement mail-order database system using Ingres/Windows4GL.

  • Hardware development: Algorithmic description of DRAM refresh circuitry using VHDL, VLSI design theory, IC design theory

  • Final year project: design and construction of a prototype fibre-optic network card for a M680x0 VMEbus computer.

  • Languages: ANSI C, Ingres Windows4GL, M680x0 assembly, HTML, Miranda, VHDL.

  • Development tools/libraries: PHIGS, GNU development utilities, X11 Window System.

  • Operating Systems/GUIs: Implementations of UNIX by Sun, DEC and Solbourne; NeXTStep; Wind River VxWorks; MS-DOS/Windows.

  • Networking/Protocols Theory: IEEE 802.x LAN/MAN standards; ISO OSI Reference Model; Internet protocols.

  • Operating Systems Theory: Structure (Monolithic vs. Micro-kernel, Layering, Client-Server) and Concepts (IPC, scheduling, resource management, filesystems, deadlocks).

  • Advanced/novel architectures: Case studies of Cray YMP, CS6400 and T3D; WhiteCross 9010; Teradata DBC 10/12, Connection Machine and Intelligent File Store.

  • Mathematics: Logic, Computer Graphics Imaging.




St. Brendan's VI Form Bristol 1990-1992

  • A Levels: Computing (A), Physics (A), Mathematics (D).




St. Thomas More School Bristol 1985-1990

  • Early GCSE passes in Mathematics (A) and Chemistry (A).

  • GCSE passes in Art & Design (F), Religious Studies (C), Statistics (C), English (B1), Computer Studies (B), Physics (A) and English Literature (A).

  • Also followed BTEC foundation course in Business Accounting, the RSA CLAIT course and AS Level Mathematics.