SHAIRAZ KHAN
Abu Dhabi
Summary
Vendor-focused Cybersecurity Expert with over 14 years of experience in solutions engineering, cybersecurity consulting, and cyber range delivery. Proven track record of supporting global cybersecurity vendors in designing and positioning advanced security solutions tailored to enterprise and government sectors. Specializes in leading technical pre-sales engagements, building cyber range exercises, and delivering impactful workshops and demonstrations that accelerate client decision-making. Adept at translating customer challenges into scalable solutions, supporting RFP/RFQ cycles, and driving product adoption through deep technical insight and business alignment. Trusted advisor to sales teams, CISOs, and security stakeholders across complex, multi-vendor environments.
Overview
15
15
years of professional experience
3
3
years of post-secondary education
1
1
Certification
Work History
Cybersecurity Consultant (Middle East & Turkey)
Cyberbit
UAE, Abu Dhabi
02.2022 - 04.2025
- Delivered tailored cyber range simulations to 50+ organizations, improving incident response times by 30%
- Led technical pre-sales, workshops, and customer enablement for cybersecurity solutions across 20+ enterprise and government entities
- Executed RFPs and RFIs, securing multi-million dollar contracts through strategic alignment with client objectives
- Supported business development teams, contributing to 40% YoY revenue growth
- Presented at regional and global conferences, recognized as a thought leader in cyber defense and simulation
- Collaborated closely with customer CISOs and security teams to design and execute cyber range training programs aligned with specific organizational threat models and regulatory frameworks
- Designed complex simulation environments, integrating attack scenarios such as ransomware, insider threats, and APTs to enhance incident response readiness
- Provided strategic consulting on cyber crisis management and tabletop exercises for executive leadership teams, improving decision-making capabilities under stress
- Acted as a technical advisor during key POCs and demonstrations, helping close strategic deals by showcasing hands-on platform capabilities and use-case relevance
- Contributed to internal product feedback loops by capturing customer requirements and influencing the Cyberbit roadmap for enhanced regional relevance
Cybersecurity Consultant
CPX (formerly DarkMatter)
06.2017 - 02.2022
- Spearheaded critical cybersecurity projects across managed security services (MSS), vulnerability assessments, penetration testing (VAPT), and GRC consulting for high-profile clients in government, healthcare, and enterprise sectors
- Directed the end-to-end design, deployment, and operationalization of Security Operations Centers (SOCs), ensuring resilience and 24/7 threat monitoring capability
- Led complex security architecture assessments, aligning client environments with best-practice standards such as NIST CSF and ISO 27001
- Partnered with key government and national security agencies to develop customized cyber risk management frameworks and strategic defense initiatives
- Played a pivotal role in red, blue, and purple teaming exercises, significantly enhancing clients incident detection, containment, and response readiness
- Conducted cyber maturity assessments and developed multi-year cybersecurity roadmaps in alignment with regulatory, operational, and business objectives
- Facilitated high-impact security workshops and executive briefings, driving strategic alignment between IT security and organizational leadership
- Supported the technical proposal and bid response process, securing contracts by delivering compelling value propositions and architecture solutions
Pre-Sales Consultant
Emitac Enterprise Solutions
07.2015 - 06.2017
- Partnered closely with account managers to support the entire sales lifecycle, from initial client engagement to technical closure
- Designed and delivered complex enterprise networking and cybersecurity solutions for government and large enterprise clients using multi-vendor technologies including Cisco, IBM, Fortinet, Palo Alto, FireEye, HP, Trend Micro, and Brocade
- Conducted wireless infrastructure site surveys to inform design and deployment strategies
- Developed detailed bills of materials (BoMs) and technical responses for RFPs and RFQs, ensuring alignment with both technical and commercial requirements
- Maintained strong vendor relationships to secure competitive pricing and discounts in support of strategic bids
- Acted as a key liaison between internal sales teams, technical architects, and vendor partners to ensure solution viability and customer satisfaction
Pre-Sales Consultant
ITQAN
11.2014 - 06.2015
- Worked with government and defense clients to design and position Fortinet and Cisco-based security solutions tailored to specific operational environments
- Collaborated with sales and technical teams to develop competitive proposals in response to large-scale tenders and RFPs
- Engaged with technology partners to ensure solutions met client compliance and performance requirements
- Assisted in the planning and delivery of end-to-end infrastructure and security solutions, supporting long-term digital transformation goals
- Strengthened client confidence by providing technical clarifications, solution walkthroughs, and documentation during the pre-sales phase
Solution Architect
Bharti Airtel Ltd
10.2012 - 10.2014
- Designed complex network and security solutions for national infrastructure projects
- Developed multi-million-dollar RFP responses and conducted in-house cyber sales training
Pre-Sales Engineer
Velocis Systems Pvt Ltd
05.2010 - 09.2012
- Led enterprise-level cybersecurity projects, including SSL VPNs and BGP implementations
Education
Master of Computer Applications - Bachelor in Computer Applications
Sikkim Manipal University
India 03.2007 - 04.2010
Skills
- Cyber Range Delivery & Simulation
- Solutions Engineering & Architecture
- Pre-Sales & Technical Consulting
- Security Advisory & GRC
- SOC Strategy & Design
- Cloud & Infrastructure Security
- Client Enablement & Thought Leadership
- Threat intelligence
Certification
- CISSP
- CCIE Security & R&S
- AWS Certified Solutions Architect
- IBM Cloud Pak for Security
- Forcepoint DLP & CASB
- Dell EMC Datacenter Networking
- MCSE
Languages
English
Hindi
Limited Arabic
Custom
Available upon request
Personal Information
- License: Valid UAE Driving License
- Nationality: Indian
- Visa status: UAE Golden Visa Holder
Timeline
Cybersecurity Consultant (Middle East & Turkey)
Cyberbit
02.2022 - 04.2025
Cybersecurity Consultant
CPX (formerly DarkMatter)
06.2017 - 02.2022
Pre-Sales Consultant
Emitac Enterprise Solutions
07.2015 - 06.2017
Pre-Sales Consultant
ITQAN
11.2014 - 06.2015
Solution Architect
Bharti Airtel Ltd
10.2012 - 10.2014
Pre-Sales Engineer
Velocis Systems Pvt Ltd
05.2010 - 09.2012
Master of Computer Applications - Bachelor in Computer Applications
Sikkim Manipal University
03.2007 - 04.2010
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