Open to opportunities

Olim Karimov

@olimkarimov

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Head of Information Security | PCI DSS, PCI PIN & 3DS | Visa-Awarded | Built Tajikistan’s First TPP | Remote FinTech

Tajikistan

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What I'm looking for

Seeking a senior Information Security leadership role in FinTech or regulated infrastructure, with hands-on responsibility for secure network, Linux, and infrastructure operations. Open to remote or relocation roles where security and reliability are tightly coupled.

Senior Information Security leader with 10+ years of experience securing payment, FinTech, and regulated environments. Proven track record in PCI DSS, PCI PIN Security, and 3DS compliance, SIEM-driven security operations, and incident response. Combines executive-level ownership of security strategy with hands-on expertise in Linux administration, network security, VPNs, and infrastructure automation. Experienced in designing and operating secure, highly available on-prem and hybrid systems, leading cross-functional teams, and aligning security controls with business growth. Strong in scripting (Bash, Python), monitoring, and operational resilience.

Experience

Work history, roles, and key accomplishments

Current

Head of Information Security Department

Current

CJSC Markazi Tekhnologiyahoi Muosir

Nov 2021 - Present (4 years 3 months)

Led company-wide PCI DSS, PCI PIN Security, and 3DS compliance across payment infrastructure. Deployed SIEM for 24/7 monitoring and incident response, improving security visibility and audit readiness. Coordinated threat intelligence, incident response, and remediation. Visa-awarded for First TPP implementation and leading a fully certified processor.

Network Security Engineer

CJSC Markazi Tekhnologiyahoi Muosir

Dec 2020 - Oct 2021 (10 months)

Designed and operated secure on-prem network infrastructure for PCI environments. Managed enterprise firewalls (Cisco ASA, Zyxel, Watchguard, Huawei), VPNs (AnyConnect, DMVPN), and HA clustering. Supported PCI audits, vulnerability remediation, and continuous compliance.

Network Security Linux System Administration Linux Administration Monitoring Zabbix WatchGuard Product Knowledge WatchGuardOne Network Security Cisco ASA Cisco Firepower VPN Technologies VPN Gateways High Availability PCI Compliance

Head of Information Security Department

CJSC MDO "Humo"

Mar 2020 - Sep 2020 (6 months)

Founded and led a standalone InfoSec department. Implemented security policies, incident response, and enterprise SIEM, reducing incident detection time by ~60%. Delivered security awareness training, improving user compliance by ~50%.

Information Security Policy Development Policy Implementation SIEM Solutions Monitoring Zabbix

Senior Information Technology Specialist

CJSC MDO "Humo"

Dec 2018 - Mar 2020 (1 year 3 months)

Administered on-prem data centers and Linux/Windows servers supporting 24/7 operations. Enhanced firewall and IDS/IPS architecture and introduced Bash automation, reducing manual operational workload by ~30%. Coordinated with cross-functional teams on performance and cost optimization.

Linux System Administration Linux Administration Linux Systems Windows Windows Server Windows OS Windows Server Administrator Network Security Network Engineering Network Architecture Network Administration VPN Technologies VPN Gateways

Technology Solutions Specialist

Coca Cola Icecek

Feb 2013 - Dec 2018 (5 years 10 months)

-Maintained and supported the corporate network infrastructure and key software platforms
-Developed over 100 SQL-based reports for sales and asset tracking, significantly improving analytical capabilities.
-Trained 80+ employees on enterprise software tools, boosting the customer-facing sales team efficiency by 10%.
-Managed master data to ensure accuracy and consistency across all sales systems.

Commercial Software Development Commercial Solutions Commercial Support SQL SQL Queries MDM MDM Solutions MDM Software User Experience Refresher Training

System Administrator

Tacom LLC (Former Beeline Tajikistan)

Oct 2012 - Feb 2013 (4 months)

-Administered Unix servers (Solaris) and Oracle databases, ensuring 99.8% uptime of billing services.
-Managed enterprise data backups using NetBackup.
-Implemented infrastructure monitoring via SNMP, integrated with Netcool/Omnibus systems for proactive alerting.

Linux System Administration Linux Administration Oracle Solaris Oracle PL SQL Oracle DBA IBM NetCool SNMP Server Network Maintenance

Education

Degrees, certifications, and relevant coursework

Russian Tajik Slavonic University

Master's Degree, Applied Informatics in Economics

2007 - 2012

Grade: 4.5

Activities and societies: - Information Technologies Olimpiad - Rock band (lead guitar)

Graduated with a Master’s in Applied Informatics in Economics from Russian-Tajik (Slavonic) University. GPA 4.5/5.0. Focused on IT systems, data analysis, and business informatics. Participated in Informatics Olympiad and engaged in extracurriculars as a guitarist in a university rock band.