IT Profile: Elvis Seth & Ozzie Sewell, Network Technology Group
The Information Security Group is supported in its work, either directly or indirectly, by many, many people at Brown. In this issue, we spotlight two members of CIS's Network Technology Group (NTG) who help keep the network secure.
Elvis Seth (left) has been part of NTG since November, 2006, working as a Network / Security Specialist, coming to the position via Brown's Data Center Operations team.
Ozzie Sewell (right) joined NTG in June, 2008 as a Senior Network / Security Specialist, previously at CompuCom/Vanguard in Foxboro.
Q: Briefly describe your responsibilities.
Elvis: My responsibilities include responding to network events/problems, monitoring and maintaining the devices that support the network, assisting in network projects and assisting wherever possible.
Ozzie: The overall responsibility of my position is to help maintain and secure the campus network. I provide support for a number of services including data , wireless , IPTV and VoIP across the campus.
Q: What do you enjoy best about your job? Least?
Ozzie: I enjoy working with new technologies that emerge in the IT field.
Elvis: The aspect of my job that I enjoy the most is the opportunity to work with network and related technology on a daily basis. I have been fascinated with networking since my first exposure to networking technology. I can't think of anything that I don't like about my job.
Q. What projects are you currently involved in?
Elvis: Currently I am working on a project to reconfigure one of our management networks that allows us to manage our network devices. In addition there are always projects to relocate, add and remove networks from service. I support the related tasks as necessary.
Ozzie: We are involved in a number of projects. From departments relocating, to wireless expansion, to Disaster Recover testing, our department is engaged in a variety of projects.
Q: What are some of the tools of the trade that you use?
Ozzie: Some of the tools we use to monitor and maintain the network are Intermapper, Orion, Ciscoworks and Airwave management.
Elvis: Tools that I use on a daily basis are network monitoring and management applications. These tools give us insight into what is going on with the network and associated devices. In addition to vendor-supported network management applications I will tend to use scripts when necessary. I find scripting to be a rewarding activity.
Q: Describe a typical day.
Elvis: A typical day consists of performing checks of the health of the network and for problems. I look into any tasks that need to be completed for any network-related projects. Ticket processing is another part of a typical day. Handling Help Desk tickets that have been escalated and CIRT tickets is another part of a typical day.
Ozzie: One of the benefits of my position is each day is unique. My day could vary from working on one of our current projects, troubleshooting an issue, or completing any requests submitted to the Network group.
Q: What drew you to the job? is this something you always wanted to do?
Ozzie: I've been working in the IT field for 10 years and have always been interested in new technology.
Elvis: I was drawn to this position by my fascination with networking technology. I had always wanted to work with networking equipment and technologies.
Q: What would be the best way for someone to prepare for a job such as yours?
Elvis: I think networking-related classes offered by local community colleges offer a great "low cost" avenue to exposure to networking technology.
Ozzie: I feel what has prepared me the most for my position is having hands on experience.
Q: What do you do to relax?
Ozzie: I enjoy watching sports and going to the beach with my family.
Elvis: I enjoy the outdoors, exercise, music and spending time with family and friends.
Q: What could network users at Brown do to make the computing environment safer, and perhaps your job a little easier?
Elvis: Users should ensure that their machines are updated with the latest patches and use strong cryptic passwords. In addition, features such as bridging and using multiple network connections should be done with great caution.
Ozzie: Users should maintain an updated anti-virus program and be cautious when they receive email attachments from unknown sources.
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