Complete Network Overhaul
When I stepped into the role of Director of IT in 2017 at a leading university in Eastern Europe, I inherited a network that was severely lacking in nearly every respect. Spread across four floors of a historic building, the institution faced critical infrastructure challenges—from outdated cabling and the absence of a proper server room to a wireless network that required a complete overhaul.
KEY HARDWARE & TECHNOLOGIES USED
“Knowing” isn’t enough: You have to be willing to get in the trenches.
It’s one thing to read about it in a CS textbook or check it off on a certification exam—but can you actually do it? From performing WiFi mapping to crimping and punching down cables. From 3D-printing custom brackets to mount a key switch to physically assembling the server racks yourself.
This is where theory meets practice. Where the rubber meets the road. It’s in these moments that you test your mettle — and build real solutions for real people.
From initial planning to implementation:
Conceptualization
Figuring out how to technically achieve the task.
Cabling
Planning exactly where cabling will go and how much is needed.
Budgeting
Sourcing vendors and getting quotes for all aspects of the work.
Summary Overview
Sharing the entire gameplan with stakeholders.
Its not just about “getting the job done”
Getting the job done is only half the battle. Equally important is thinking ahead: How will things be maintained? If a piece of equipment needs servicing, how will someone trace the power source? What phone number is tied to that telecom device? And perhaps most importantly—what happens if I’m not here tomorrow?
Real professionals plan for contingencies. They don’t just build systems — they build continuity.