Michael Walton

Certifications & Technical Proficiencies

• Certifications: CompTIA A+, CCST Cybersecurity, CompTIA Security+ (in progress)
• Operating Systems: Windows (Intermediate), Linux (Beginner), macOS (Beginner)
• Programs: Veritas NetBackup, TeamViewer, Bomgar, Dameware, NextThink, Zoom, ServiceNow, Odyssey, Jira, Azure Portal (Entra), Intune, Entrust, SCCM, Active Directory
• Networking: Cisco, Meraki Dashboard

Work Experience

NTT Data – Senior Helpdesk Support Analyst

June 2023 - Dec 2024 | Remote, Minnesota

• Served as the 2nd point of contact for IT support, diagnosing and remedying hardware, software, and network issues not solvable by Tier 1.
• Contributed to IT support documentation and knowledge bases for faster issue resolution.
• Ensured accurate and comprehensive incident management in ServiceNow.
• Utilized remote support tools for efficient troubleshooting.
• Researched documentation, guided clients, escalated issues, and tracked problem status and solutions.
• Handled calls quickly and efficiently, including first call resolution, troubleshooting, and escalation.
• Collaborated with application-specific teams and technical product owners.

Veritas Technologies – Technical Support Engineer

Nov 2022 - Nov 2023 | Roseville, MN

• Resolved complex backup and recovery issues for NetBackup users, enhancing system reliability.
• Partnered with engineering teams to troubleshoot, patch, and harden systems, improving product functionality.
• Investigated and resolved data recovery and backup security issues.
• Assisted clients with encryption and security best practices for data protection.
• Provided technical support for NetBackup, ensuring secure data retention practices.

Compucom Systems Inc – Configuration Associate

Mar 2016 - Nov 2022 | Edina, MN

• Provided remote support for large enterprise customers, focusing on software installation, data migration, and troubleshooting.
• Facilitated issue escalation and vendor coordination to uphold service standards.
• Created technical training documentation and trained new hires.
• Reimaged defective workstations as part of the Surface Pro revitalization program.
• Set up and imaged new workstations for onboarding.
• Contributed to IT support documentation and knowledge bases.
• Configured and supported Cisco Meraki routers, including circuit setup and user connectivity troubleshooting.
• Monitored network security issues and assisted with security compliance checks.

Education

• IT Career Lab (2025): Cisco Academy CCST Cybersecurity
• CompTIA A+ (2017)
• MCTC: A.S. in Sound Arts (incomplete)
• High School for Recording Arts – St. Paul, MN

Projects & Labs

• Home Security Lab – Deployed a Splunk SIEM to monitor and analyze network traffic for threats.
• TryHackMe Blue Team Labs – Completed hands-on labs in log analysis, threat detection, and incident response.
• Firewall & VPN Setup – Configured and tested firewall rules & VPN tunneling for secure network access.
• Packet Capture & Analysis – Captured and analyzed network traffic using Wireshark to identify anomalies.
• Log Analysis with SIEM – Ingested and analyzed real-world attack logs in Splunk to detect security incidents.
• Malware Detection Lab – Used Any.Run sandbox to analyze malware behavior and identify malicious indicators.
• Phishing Detection & Response – Designed a phishing awareness training simulation to educate users on email security.
• Firewall & IDS/IPS Setup – Implemented pfSense firewall & Suricata IDS to detect and block security threats. (In Progress)
• Automated Threat Intelligence – Developed a Python script to pull and log threat data from VirusTotal, AlienVault, and AbuseIPDB.
• Docker Security Lab: Built & deployed secure web applications using Docker & Docker Compose, configured multi-container environments, implemented container security best practices, deployed to cloud platforms (AWS/GCP) with Kubernetes, and integrated CI/CD pipelines for automated deployment. (in progress)
• Cloud Resume Challenge: https://resume.greykeystudios.com
• Project available on GitHub: CyberSecurity-Projects

Web Development & Digital Presence

• Designed and developed websites for Grey Key Studios and D Lee's Cuisine using Google Sites, integrating e-commerce functionality (Square, Ecwid) and optimizing for user experience, branding, and mobile accessibility.
• Managed site updates and content to align with business needs.
• Restyled www.greykeystudios.com in Next.js and built www.sbminc.com in Next.js.

Founder & Creative Director, Grey Key Studios

• Established and manage Grey Key Studios, an independent music label and creative platform.
• Oversee all aspects of music production, branding, and digital presence, including website development, artist identity creation, and release strategy.

Advanced Music Education & Production Suite (in development)

• A digital audio workstation (DAW) and interactive music education platform integrating real-time audio processing, visualization, and adaptive learning.
• Developed using AI-assisted coding (Claude, ChatGPT, Cursor, v0) for architecture and implementation.
• Technologies: TypeScript, React.js, Web Audio API, JUCE, WebAssembly, Node.js
• Key Features:
  • Real-time audio analysis & DSP processing
  • Interactive music theory lessons & ear training
  • 3D chord visualization & advanced spectral analysis
  • Adaptive learning with AI-powered tutoring
  • Professional-grade audio effects (EQ, compression, reverb)
• Project available on GitHub: DreamVST