VANESH COOSHNA
Dagotiere,MO
Summary
Results-driven IT professional with over nine years of progressive experience in infrastructure management, systems administration, and IT leadership. Expertise in designing and managing enterprise-grade IT environments, including virtualization, multi-site network connectivity, firewall configuration, and cloud migrations. Proficient in aligning technology strategies with business objectives while enforcing cybersecurity best practices and leading cross-functional teams across international offices. Holds MBCS membership with the Chartered Institute for IT and a CISCO CCNA certification, demonstrating a commitment to ongoing professional development and industry standards.
Overview
11
11
years of professional experience
Work History
Head of Information Technology
Mantaray Management Limited & Abacus Seychelles Limited
10.2024 - Current
- Lead the end-to-end IT operations across multiple international locations, including Mauritius, India, Dubai, and Seychelles, ensuring consistent and secure connectivity.
- Architect and maintain virtualised server environments, including Active Directory replication and Group Policy Object (GPO) configuration across the company domain.
- Design and enforce network security policies through Sophos and FortiGate firewall configuration, covering rules, policies, and website management.
- Manage Office 365 tenant administration, including migration from third-party hosting providers, policy creation, and email archiving.
- Oversee Site-to-Site VPN verification across all regional offices, synchronising Active Directory with FortiGate for secure domain-based VPN access.
- Monitor daily network traffic and bandwidth utilisation via FortiGate dashboards; liaise with local ISPs in Mauritius and Seychelles to maintain stable connectivity.
- Draft and implement cybersecurity procedures in alignment with Financial Services Commission (FSC) guidelines.
- Prepare and manage the annual IT budget; present policy updates and strategic technology recommendations to the company's Senior Management Committee.
IT Manager
Krypton Fund Services (KFS Mauritius)
11.2021 - 10.2024
- Managed the full IT infrastructure lifecycle, including virtualised server creation, Active Directory replication, and domain administration.
- Configured and maintained Sophos firewall to uphold network security standards and enforce access controls.
- Administered Office 365 environments, overseeing migrations, policy governance, and email archiving solutions.
- Deployed and managed Site-to-Site VPN connectivity, integrating Active Directory with firewall authentication for secure user access.
- Conducted quality assurance testing to identify vulnerabilities, optimise system performance, and ensure operational continuity.
Senior Systems Administrator
Sphere Management (Mauritius) Limited
07.2019 - 11.2021
- Designed and deployed backup and disaster recovery procedures using Veeam Server, executing daily and weekly backup schedules.
- Planned and implemented new IT infrastructure projects, including physical server setup, rack installation, and network patching.
- Configured and managed Sophos firewall rules, policies, and web filtering to maintain a secure and compliant network environment.
- Administered Active Directory, managing company and user domain creation and synchronising accounts with firewall policies for secure logon.
- Migrated email services to Office 365, establishing archiving policies and governance frameworks.
- Set up and maintained Group Policy Objects (GPO) across the company domain to enforce security and configuration standards.
- Managed physical access control systems and oversaw the installation and configuration of indoor CCTV cameras.
- Coordinated with third-party vendors, including Microsoft, Veeam, and local IT service providers, to ensure seamless operational support.
- Maintained a comprehensive hardware asset inventory and managed annual IT budget preparation.
Senior Systems Administrator
Abacus (Seychelles) Offshore Limited
07.2019 - 11.2021
- Delivered end-user support for staff across Mauritius and Seychelles offices, resolving hardware and software incidents efficiently.
- Managed NAS-to-USB backup procedures for Mauritius and administered daily backup verifications.
- Configured and maintained FortiGate 50E and 80E firewalls in collaboration with network engineers, developing and optimising security rule sets.
- Synchronised Active Directory with FortiGate to enable domain-based VPN access and manage user folder permissions.
- Monitored daily network traffic and bandwidth via FortiGate and engaged ISPs in Mauritius and Seychelles to ensure reliable site connectivity.
- Collaborated with third-party vendors, including Microsoft and Viewpoint Support, to resolve complex technical issues.
Senior Systems Administrator
CIM Finance Ltd
10.2018 - 07.2019
- Led a nationwide computer deployment programme, configuring OS images for replication across branch counters throughout Mauritius.
- Administered Active Directory organisational units for new device and user account provisioning.
- Managed Symantec Antivirus administration panel, ensuring systems remained current with the latest security definitions.
- Oversaw daily backup operations using Veritas (three cycles per day on a rostered basis), covering critical applications including MasterCard and Elan.
- Administered Windows patching and WSUS group management to maintain server and endpoint security compliance.
- Managed Office 365 and Zimbra email platforms, administering accounts, policies, and service continuity.
- Provided weekly vulnerability reports and led Disaster Recovery Drills, coordinating seating arrangements, application access, and file server availability.
- Liaised with local ISPs (MT, Emtel, Kaldera, Rogers Technology) to ensure stable and resilient network connectivity.
- Assisted in the setup and commissioning of FortiGate firewall infrastructure.
Systems Administrator / Desktop Support
Deutsche Bank Mauritius Ltd
10.2017 - 10.2018
- Managed a comprehensive hardware inventory across Port Louis and Ebene offices, tracking assets and ensuring accountability.
- Provided Level 2 technical and software support to end users, resolving complex hardware and application issues.
- Maintained daily server backup routines and performed regular health checks across all server environments.
- Administered tape library storage and monitored daily admin password transactions to enforce access security.
- Supported Lotus Notes email environment, including backup, restoration, and migration to Microsoft Exchange.
- Contributed to cross-branch reporting, presenting status updates to offices in Cayman, Jersey, and Guernsey.
IT Support Analyst
BDO Solutions Ltd
02.2017 - 11.2017
- Delivered remote desktop support to end users, resolving software and hardware issues via ticketing system (ServiceNow).
- Installed and configured Microsoft products and third-party accounting applications, including QuickBooks.
- Managed user access rights within Active Directory and provided verification support for affiliated overseas companies.
IT Technician
Kubera Technology Ltd
01.2015 - 02.2017
- Performed hardware repairs, upgrades, and software installations on client computers and laptops.
- Installed and commissioned CCTV systems on client premises.
- Provided daily operational reports as part of an HRDC-sponsored placement programme.
- Diagnosed and resolved hardware and software issues to ensure optimal system performance.
Education
MSc – Master of science - Cybersecurity
Amity Institute of Higher Education (AIHE)
MBCS – Member of the Chartered Institute for IT - undefined
British Computer Society (BCS)
Cisco CCNA - undefined
Mauritius Institute of Training and Development (MITD)
Higher School Certificate - undefined
Curepipe College
School Certificate - undefined
Shrimati Indira Gandhi SSS
Mini-MBA - Information Technology
European Institute of Leadership & Management, Dublin, Ireland
01-2023
Skills
- IT Infrastructure & Virtualisation
- Firewall Management (Sophos, FortiGate)
- Microsoft Office 365 Administration
- Active Directory & GPO Management
- Site-to-Site VPN Configuration
- Backup & Disaster Recovery (Veeam, Veritas, Nakivo)
- Cybersecurity Policy & FSC Compliance
- Multi-Site Network Connectivity
- IT Budgeting & Strategic Planning
- IT infrastructure management
- IT compliance
- IT budgeting
- IT governance
- Network architecture
LANGUAGES
English
French
Creole
Timeline
Head of Information Technology
Mantaray Management Limited & Abacus Seychelles Limited
10.2024 - Current
IT Manager
Krypton Fund Services (KFS Mauritius)
11.2021 - 10.2024
Senior Systems Administrator
Sphere Management (Mauritius) Limited
07.2019 - 11.2021
Senior Systems Administrator
Abacus (Seychelles) Offshore Limited
07.2019 - 11.2021
Senior Systems Administrator
CIM Finance Ltd
10.2018 - 07.2019
Systems Administrator / Desktop Support
Deutsche Bank Mauritius Ltd
10.2017 - 10.2018
IT Support Analyst
BDO Solutions Ltd
02.2017 - 11.2017
IT Technician
Kubera Technology Ltd
01.2015 - 02.2017
MBCS – Member of the Chartered Institute for IT - undefined
British Computer Society (BCS)
Cisco CCNA - undefined
Mauritius Institute of Training and Development (MITD)
Higher School Certificate - undefined
Curepipe College
School Certificate - undefined
Shrimati Indira Gandhi SSS
Mini-MBA - Information Technology
European Institute of Leadership & Management, Dublin, Ireland
MSc – Master of science - Cybersecurity
Amity Institute of Higher Education (AIHE)