MICHAEL BALCOS

RESUME

Last update: August 12, 2025 (Manila time)

Professional Summary

• Dynamic GNU/Linux Systems Administrator with 15 years of experience.
• Meets SLAs, and drives uptime and performance optimization in diverse production environments.
• Delivers robust Tier 1 and Tier 2 support.
• Implements innovative solutions that enhance operational efficiency.
• Succeeds in using scripting languages such as Perl, Python, and BASH, alongside cloud and virtualization technologies.
• Committed to continuous improvement and adept at tackling complex technical challenges with a strategic approach.

Skills

• ★★★★☆ GNU/Linux and Open Source Software
• ★★★★☆ LAMP and LEMP administration
• ★★☆☆☆ Scripting(Perl, Python, BASH)
• ★★★☆☆ Ansible
• ★★★☆☆ Virtualization (KVM)
• ★★★★☆ Regular Expressions
• ★★★★☆ Nagios and Zabbix
• ★★★☆☆ Split and Full OpenVPN server and client setup
• ★★☆☆☆ Cloud Management(AWS, Digital Ocean)
• ★★★★☆ Meeting SLAs
• ★★☆☆☆ Git
• ★★★★☆ Documentation tools such as Confluence and MediaWiki
• ★★☆☆☆ CMS such as Wordpress, Joomla, etc.
• ★★★☆☆ SMB Firewalls(eg: Fortinet, Cisco RV325, PfSense)

Experience

• Westcon-Comstor Philippines(July 2024-Present)
  Linux System Administrator
  - As an initiative, I documented GNU/Linux Systems Administration processes practiced by the company.
  - Provide Tier 1 to Tier 2 GNU/Linux Systems Administration support for the RHEL servers of the company.
  - Use Ansible.
  - Do Perl or BASH scripts when needed, and make extensive use of CLI.
  - Install patches and perform routine maintenance of RHEL servers.
  - Resize filesystems, and LVM Volume Groups and Logical Volumes.
  - Follow processes in creating a virtual RHEL server in VMWARE.
  - Follow processes in resizing storage in VMWARE.
  - Use firewall-cmd as an OS level firewall solution.
  - Perform root cause analysis when needed, review logs, and monitor RHEL servers.
  - Perform System Changes in accordance to Change Control.
  - Did basic analysis of SELINUX logs.
  
  
• CoreProc, Inc. (August 2020-June 2024)
  System Administrator
  - Implemented Jenkins as an initiative to enhance developer processes, saving time and boosting performance.
  - Delivered Tier 1 and Tier 2 support for Ubuntu Server installations.
  - Managed environments on Digital Ocean, AWS, CloudFlare, and GitHub.
  - Executed database backups and restores efficiently.
  - Did Perl and BASH scripting, especially for file and database backups.
  - Setup OpenVPN and Pritunl for the full and split VPN needs of the company.
  
  
• CenturyLink Technology Singapore PTE LTD (June 2019-February 2020)
  Senior IT Engineer
  - Performed support and administration of GNU/Linux Application (Tomcat, Apache, PHP, etc.) activities. This includes performance and tuning analysis, capacity planning, systems support and planning, application support, and software upgrades.
  
  
• Key Discovery Consulting, Inc. (July 2017-March 2019)
  IT/System Administrator
  - Select, procure, and setup suitable computer hardware such as routers, switches, and rack mounted NAS.
  - Provide technical advice.
  - Provide systems such as tools for monitoring network traffic(ntopng and iftop), backup, KVM host, Nagios, etc.
  
  
• CenturyLink Singapore Pte Ltd (formerly Savvis Singapore Co Pte Ltd), Singapore (December 2012-April 2017)
  Web Applications Engineer
  - Primarily support Linux-Apache-PHP and Tomcat for client Coca-Cola, and Procter and Gamble.
  - Use and/or support tools such as Subversion, uDeploy, and Splunk.
  - Use Remedy and Jira as ticketing system.
  - Write shell scripts in Perl and Python for automation, time conservation, and reducing possibility of human error.
  - Researched, studied, and experimented with Ansible and Jenkins.
  
  
• Linkwise Technology PTE LTD, Singapore (March 2012-December 2012)
  Systems Engineer (Computer)
  - Setup and demonstrated, as an initiative, a SMS notification solution for the SCADA needs of the company.
  - Created Perl Nagios module for auto-requeing of failed SMS's to best available GSM modem. This is for Public Utilities Board (PUB) client for company's service on drain water level monitoring.Works under lead developers and engineers to support their needs in GNU/Linux.
  - Setup Nagios with SMS, XMPP and e-mail notification for monitoring of company handled servers.
  - Setup Fedora-based servers/systems known as Facility Monitoring Servers (FMS's) and Facility Monitoring Panels (FAMPs) for company. These use Linux-Apache-PostgreSQL-Python.
  - Troubleshoot and optimize further existing servers handled by company.

Education

• August 2005-January 2009: Informatics International College, Quezon City: BS Computer Science
  Pres. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo Academics and Leadership Awardee

Trainings

• January 2005-May 2005: Bluepoint Institute of Higher Technology: Certificate of Attendance for Total Linux course
• 2018: Rivan School of Technology, Inc.: Cisco Certified Network Associate with CompTIA A+ Training(Certificate of Completion)
• 2020: acloud.guru: AWS Certifified Solutions Architect - Associate 2018 Online Trainingi(Record of Completion)

Awards

• Special Thanks and Recognition (STAR) Award
  Isssued by Maxine Moreau, EVP Global Operations, Centurylink
  Apr 2016
  I was given this award for fulfilling a task required by our P&G client that required Perl shell scripting. In our team, I'm the only one who has sufficient Perl shell scripting skills for this task. Without the Perl scripts I made, the task will take an enormous amount of time and effort. Also, human error will be more likely without the Perl scripts I made.
• Most Valuable Team Player Award for FY16 Q2
  Issued by Gery Messer, Managing Director, APAC, Centurylink
  Jul 2016
  In addition to the STAR award I received for the Perl scripts I made for a P&G client task, I was also given this award for the same task.

Speaking engagements

• Software Freedom Day '08 in the National Computer Center(Robotics using Slackware Linux, stepper motors, and GCC)
• Software Freedom Day '09 in the National Computer Center(Serial programming using GCC)
• STI Cubao, February 2010 (FOSS and robotics)
• QCPU, February 2010 (FOSS, robotics, and the Arduino microcontroller)

Media presence

• Convergence program of Net25 where my mobile robot was featured in September 2008
• Quoted in the December 2008-January 2009 issue of Computer World Philippines magazine