Available — Chicago & Remote

Enterprise Networking
for Growing Businesses

13+ years building and managing mission-critical infrastructure for Fortune 500 companies. Now bringing that same expertise to small and mid-sized businesses — at a price that makes sense.

Request a Consultation → View Services
// By the Numbers
13+
Years of Enterprise Experience
1K+
Network Devices Deployed
20+
Industries Served
5
Active Certifications
Cisco Palo Alto Fortinet VMware Azure VPN Zero Trust Bilingual EN/PL
Environments Served
Financial & Banking
Pharmaceutical
Manufacturing
ISP & MSP
Energy Delivery
Data Centers
Services

What I Can Do For Your Business

Comprehensive network and systems engineering — from firewall to cloud — delivered with enterprise-grade precision.

🛡️
Firewall & Network Security
Harden your perimeter and protect your data with properly configured enterprise-class security.
  • Palo Alto PAN-OS policy configuration
  • Fortinet FortiGate deployment & management
  • Cisco ASA 5500-X firewall administration
  • ThreatLocker Zero Trust deployment
  • SentinelOne endpoint security rollout
🔗
VPN & WAN Connectivity
Reliable, encrypted connectivity between offices, remote workers, and cloud systems.
  • Site-to-Site IKEv1 / IKEv2 IPsec VPN
  • GlobalProtect & SSL VPN (Palo Alto)
  • Fortinet BOVPN setup & troubleshooting
  • Dual-ISP failover configuration
  • ISP cutovers with zero downtime
📡
Routing, Switching & Wi-Fi
Build or fix the switching infrastructure your daily operations depend on.
  • Cisco Catalyst 9000 / 3850 deploy & upgrade
  • VLAN, EtherChannel, OSPF, EIGRP config
  • Meraki wireless deployment & management
  • Port security & sticky MAC addresses
  • Root-cause connectivity troubleshooting
☁️
Cloud & Endpoint Management
Move confidently to the cloud with Microsoft 365 and device management expertise.
  • Microsoft Azure & Intune configuration
  • Windows Autopilot deployment
  • iOS / Android / Windows 11 MDM
  • Jamf Pro for Apple device management
  • Office 365 administration
🖥️
Virtualization & Servers
VMware and server infrastructure built, migrated, and optimized for maximum uptime.
  • VMware vSphere / vCenter / ESXi 6.5+
  • VM migrations & P2V conversions
  • Windows Server & Active Directory
  • Cisco UCS blade chassis deployment
  • SAN configuration (EMC VNX)
📋
Documentation & Automation
Every engagement includes complete, professional documentation — no tribal knowledge left behind.
  • As-built diagrams & rack elevations
  • Nautobot & ServiceNow device inventory
  • ITGlue & ConnectWise documentation
  • Method of Procedure (MOP) guides
  • PowerShell scripting & task automation
Technology

Tools & Platforms I Work With

Deep hands-on experience across every layer of the stack — from silicon to cloud.

Networking
Cisco IOS/NX-OS is my home base — from access layer Catalyst switches to data center Nexus fabric and enterprise routing protocols.
Cisco IOS / NX-OSCisco Catalyst 9000Nexus 2k / 5k / 7kCisco MerakiASR 1001-HXOSPFEIGRPVLANs / STPEtherChannel / LACPvPCBIG-IP F5Cisco UCMSM/MM FiberCat6 Cabling
Security
Multi-vendor firewall expertise combined with modern endpoint and Zero Trust security platforms.
Palo Alto PAN-OSFortinet FortiGateCisco ASA 5500-XThreatLocker Zero TrustSentinelOneAlienVault OSSIMGlobalProtect VPNIKEv2 IPsec VPNSSL VPNWiresharkACLs / NAT
Cloud & Endpoints
Microsoft-centric cloud and endpoint experience covering the full modern device management lifecycle.
Microsoft AzureMicrosoft IntuneWindows AutopilotOffice 365Active DirectoryWindows ServerJamf ProiOS / Android MDMWindows 11
Virtualization & Data Center
End-to-end data center experience from blade chassis cabling to VM migration and SAN storage zoning.
VMware vSphere / vCenterESXi 6.5Cisco UCS ManagerVCE Vblock 540 / 700EMC VNX StorageMDS 9k SANVM MigrationStorage Zoning
Tools & Automation
I use modern management platforms to automate repetitive tasks and keep documentation tight.
NautobotPowerShellSolarWinds OrionServiceNowITGlueConnectWise AutomateConnectWise ManageWiresharkRobocopy
Experience

13 Years Across Enterprise Environments

From data center deployments to MSP field work, I've handled the full network stack in demanding industries.

2025 – Present
Independent Consultant
Eric's Network Solutions · ericsnetworksolutions.com
  • On-demand network and systems engineering for small organizations using enterprise best practices.
  • Live-streaming production environment design and deployment (OBS / YouTube).
  • Backup strategy, reliability, and performance optimization consulting.
2023 – 2025
Tier II Field Engineer
Outsource Solutions Group (MSP) · 20+ clients daily
  • Fortinet firewall deployment/upgrade, BOVPN and GlobalProtect SSL VPN across client environments.
  • Dual-ISP failover and live ISP cutovers with zero downtime.
  • Led SolidWorks CAD rollout for 40+ users — server replacement, Robocopy migration, admin imaging.
  • ThreatLocker Zero Trust and SentinelOne staged deployment across client fleets.
2016 – 2022
Network Engineer — Contracts
Intelsat · Fresenius-Kabi · VOSS Solutions · ABN AMRO · VCE
  • Intelsat: Rack/stack/configure Nexus 2k, Cisco 3850, ASR 1001-HX. Documented 1,000+ devices in ServiceNow and Nautobot.
  • Fresenius-Kabi: VLAN and vPC on Nexus 5548 for pharmaceutical HMIs and PLCs.
  • ABN AMRO: Migrated 20+ IKEv2 IPsec VPNs from ASA 5545 to ASA 5585 v8.3.
  • VCE: Deployed 10+ Vblock 540 systems — Nexus fabric, MDS 9k zoning, UCS to VNX storage.
2012 – 2018
Network / Data Center Engineer
AHEAD LLC · CEANNATE CORP
  • AHEAD: Migrated 400+ VMs from HP6000 to VNX 5400 and Cisco UCS. Performed 30+ IOS & NX-OS upgrades.
  • Developed 100+ As-Built diagrams, MOPs, and configuration guides with screenshots.
  • CEANNATE: Administered switching for 200+ seat call center; managed 40+ devices via SolarWinds to 99.9% uptime.
Credentials

Education & Certifications

🎓
B.S. Network & Communications Management
DeVry University
🏅
Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA)
Cisco Systems
🏅
VMware Certified Professional (VCP 510)
VMware
🏅
VCE Certified Professional
Vblock Implementation Engineer
🏅
Fortinet Certified Associate in Cybersecurity
Fortinet
🏅
Avamar Implementation Engineer (EMCIE)
EMC / Dell Technologies
Why Work With Me

Enterprise Experience.
SMB Pricing.

You don't need a 10-person IT department. You need one experienced engineer who has seen it all and can hit the ground running.

01
Proven in Demanding Environments
Financial institutions, pharmaceutical manufacturers, MSPs — environments where downtime has real consequences. That discipline comes to every engagement.
02
You Own the Documentation
Every project gets professional as-builts, MOPs, and configuration records. No tribal knowledge disappears when the engagement ends.
03
Full-Stack: Network + Systems
Firewall to VM migration to endpoint MDM — one experienced engineer instead of five contractors trying to coordinate across each other.
04
Automation-First Mindset
Nautobot, PowerShell, RMM tooling — I eliminate repetitive manual work and keep your environment running with less overhead.
// Consulting Rate
$150
per hour · remote or on-site
Initial Consultation Free 30 min
Project Quotes Flat-rate available
Response Time Within 24 hours
Service Area Chicago + Nationwide Remote
Availability Immediate
Contact

Let's Solve Your Network Problem

Whether you're dealing with an outage, planning a new deployment, or want to modernize your infrastructure — describe what's going on and I'll respond within 24 hours with an honest assessment.

I work with small and mid-sized businesses across all industries. No issue is too small, and no project is too complex.

🌐
ericsnetworksolutions.com
📍
Chicago, IL — Remote & On-Site Available
🕐
Response within 24 hours
First call is free. Describe your problem below and I'll respond with an honest assessment — no obligation to hire.

Describe Your Issue