Mason Harris

About Mason Harris

25+ years as a network practitioner with a focus on cloud security technologies and security in the data center. One of the few individuals in the world that has attained 5 CCIEs. 20+ year CCIE veteran.Co-Author of CCNA Security Video series: https://bit.ly/2tFyWuKCo-Author of CCIE Security Professional Development Volume 1: https://amzn.to/2KofVnTExpertise in routing and switching and large-scale enterprise networking design. Author of several deployment guides and best practice papers on security services insertion in the data center. Technology blogger on security stuff and contributor to the Cloud Security Alliance.Currently a Principal Solutions Architect for Equinix, the world\'s leader in digital infrastructure, working on the Network Edge platform. Network Edge allows rapid instantiation of virtualized network services (VNFs) from a vendor service catalog that includes Cisco, Palo Alto, Fortinet, Versa and many others. These services use the Equinix Fabric to connect with other physical or virtual services at any other Equinix location around the world. Previously this was a process that could take weeks or even months but is now possible through software-defined networking (SDN) elements that build virtual connections in minutes.Previously I worked in the Office of the CTO at Cisco building the Secure Agile Exchange (SAE) and Cloud On Ramp architectures that use NFV for rapid deployment of virtualized network services. Prior to Cisco Mason was the Chief Solutions Architect at cloud security company vArmour His role was to help set the vArmour product direction with both private public cloud offerings while designing a consistent reference architecture. He created technical awareness through white papers and knowledge-sharing for both public cloud (AWS, Azure) and virtualization platforms (VMware and Hyper-V).Before vArmour he was a Solutions Architect at Cisco working with Cisco\'s 28 largest global accounts with responsibility to build, test and document advanced security architectures. He was a 11 year speaker at Cisco Live (formerly Networkers) conference and was inducted into Cisco\'s Distinguished Speaker Hall of Fame in 2015. He created sessions BRKSEC-2021 Firewall Architectures in the Data Center and BRKSEC-2020 ASA Design and Deployment as well as an eight hour techtorial on Data Center Security. Noted guest speaker at conferences such as SANS and ISSA. Dedicated husband and father who loves to do anything outside especially if it involves hiking or cycling. Lifelong Tarheels fan.

Experience

1. Principal Global Solutions Architect

   Equinix

   Jul 2024 — Present · NC, US

   Providing technical design guidance to our largest Partners on the Equinix portfolio including Digital Services.

Education

• The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

  BA, Political Science History

  1987 — 1991

• North Carolina State University

  MA, Political Science Arabic

  1991 — 1993

Skills

• Networking
• Mpls
• Cisco Systems Products
• Switches
• Managed Services
• Vpn
• Security
• Cisco Ios
• Ipsec
• Network Security
• Ips
• Saas
• Disaster Recovery
• Cissp
• Voip
• Data Center
• Ip
• Unified Communications
• Tcp/Ip
• Firewalls
• Cloud Computing
• Cisco Technologies
• Wan
• Routing
• Trustsec
• Virtualization
• Routers
• Computer Security
• Network Architecture
• Network Design
• Internet Protocol Suite (Tcp/Ip)
• Lan-Wan
• Ccie
• Unix