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CHINYELUGO UMENWALIRI

@chinyelugoumenwaliri

Senior Network Security Engineer at Cognizant, modernizing firewall security and automating policy deployment across global sites.

United States

Message

At Cognizant, I lead network security transformation across global sites, including migrations from Cisco Firepower to Palo Alto Networks NGFW and firewall rulebase modernization that removed more than 3,000 obsolete and overly permissive rules.

I developed Python, Ansible, and REST API automation for firewall policy provisioning and compliance checks, reducing deployment effort by approximately 40%. I also integrated hybrid-cloud connectivity across AWS and Azure with Palo Alto VM-Series firewalls.

At TCS (Client: NextEra), I led migrations to Zscaler ZIA and ZPA for more than 10,000 users and helped move 40 sites from legacy DMVPN/MPLS to Cisco Meraki SD-WAN. Across my roles, I’ve worked on enterprise firewall, VPN, segmentation, and security operations, and supported audit requirements including PCI DSS, ISO 27001, and NIST CSF.

Experience

Work history, roles, and key accomplishments

Current

Senior Network Security Engineer

Current

Cognizant

Jun 2025 - Present (1 year 4 months)

Led enterprise network security transformation across 80+ global sites, including firewall modernization, SASE/Zero Trust adoption, and automation. Directed migration to Palo Alto NGFW, reduced policy complexity by 30%, and mentored offshore engineers.

Senior Network Security Engineer

TCS

Mar 2021 - May 2025 (4 years 2 months)

Architected enterprise network security across 50+ Palo Alto NGFWs, led Zscaler migration for 10,000+ users, and implemented SD-WAN across 40 sites. Automated security operations and supported compliance frameworks.

Palo Alto NGFW Panorama Zscaler ZIA ZPA Prisma Access SASE Global Protect VPN Microsoft Entra ID Cisco Meraki SD WAN BGP OSPF VRF Lite AWS Transit Gateway VWAN Python Ansible ProofPoint Splunk PCI DSS ISO 27001 NIST CSF

Senior Network Security Engineer

Wipro

Jun 2020 - Mar 2021 (9 months)

Managed global network security operations across 40+ firewalls, scaled remote access to 20,000+ endpoints, and automated policy changes. Supported compliance and served as Tier-3 escalation engineer.

Palo Alto NGFW Panorama Cisco FTD FMC Global Protect VPN Prisma Access SASE Amazon VPC VNet Python Ansible Splunk IBM QRadar Palo Alto Cortex Data Lake Forward Proxy Wildfire VSYS ISO 27001 PCI DSS NIST CSF

Senior Network Security Engineer

Infosys

Aug 2018 - Jun 2019 (10 months)

Architected centralized firewall management, automated rulebase administration, and executed firewall migrations. Supported compliance and engineered F5 BIG-IP and Cisco ISE integrations.

Palo Alto NGFW Panorama Cisco FMC Python Ansible F5 BIG IP IRules Cisco ISE Port Security (802.1X)RADIUS TACACS+Cisco WLC IBM QRadar Splunk PCI DSS SOC ISO 27001

Network Engineer

Siemens

Jan 2012 - Dec 2018 (6 years 11 months)

Led modernization of enterprise perimeter security, transitioning to Palo Alto and Cisco Firepower. Implemented SSL decryption, automation, and hybrid cloud connectivity.

Palo Alto NGFW Cisco Firepower App ID User ID URL Filtering Forward Proxy Amazon VPC VNet IPsec VPN Python REST APIs SIEM Security Assessments

Network Security Engineer

Siemens

Jan 2000 - Dec 2011 (11 years 11 months)

Designed and supported enterprise network security infrastructure using Check Point and Cisco platforms. Managed DMZs, VPNs, and firewall rulebase reviews.