jack@github:~$ ./whoami.sh

> Role:     Security Engineer & Advisor
> Work:     Orange Cyberdefense
> Location: The Netherlands
> Focus:    Zero-trust, IaC & Automation
> Blog:     plugntroubleshoot.eu
> Quote:    If it isn’t automated, it isn’t done.

I am a Cybersecurity Engineer with a deep passion for Network Operations and Automation. My philosophy is simple: nothing is ever truly "Plug and Play." It is usually "Plug and Troubleshoot," and that is exactly where the fun (for some) usually begins.

I am falling more in love with Linux every single day. It brings me genuine happiness to realize that I am using a historical artifact built by thousands of brilliant, motivated people working together as humanity. Using Linux feels like standing on the shoulders of giants, and I am honored to be alive in a time where I can learn from and contribute to this ecosystem.

My homelab is the physical manifestation of this passion—a space where I can break things safely to understand how to fix them.

It isn't just a collection of hardware; it’s a living ecosystem. At its heart beats an Intel NUC8i3BEH, the resilient workhorse running Proxmox. I treat virtualization as an art form here, orchestrating a mix of lightweight LXCs and a heavy-duty VM-based Docker host to run my services. The nervous system of the lab is powered by Unifi gear, ensuring stable switching and routing, while my command center is a MacBook Air M3.

Recently, I’ve shifted my focus heavily toward Infrastructure as Code (IaC). I don’t just deploy servers; I automate their existence using OpenTofu for provisioning and Ansible (via Semaphore) for configuration management.

A critical component of this setup is Tailscale. I use it not just for utility, but as a deliberate study in modern networking. From a learning perspective, in my field, understanding overlay networks and mesh VPNs is increasingly vital. Tailscale serves as a masterclass in how to simplify complex networking challenges—like NAT traversal and routing—without sacrificing performance. It allows me to treat my disparate devices as a unified, flat network, regardless of physical location.

From a privacy and security perspective, it acts as the backbone of my personal Zero Trust architecture. By using Tailscale, I can access my home services securely without opening ports to the public internet. It keeps my digital footprint small and my access secure.

🚀 Major Update (January 2026): I am proud to share that I have officially become a Tailscale Insider. This recognition comes from my work as a co-owner of the ScaleTail repository, which has been adopted into the tailscale-dev organization.

My affinity for technology started young (yes, I remember floppy disks). My professional journey began in media-rich environments, maintaining digital systems for studios streaming to the internet. During these early years, I was lucky to learn from Roland Sellis and Arno Kouters as my mentors who truly loved their craft and passed that spark on to me.

As my interest shifted toward the "hacker" side of the spectrum, I studied Information Security Management to understand the intersection of policy, technology, and psychology. I began my tenure as a Cybersecurity Analyst, gaining deep insight into SOC and SIEM architecture while witnessing the rapid evolution of the Microsoft security suite. Following that, I stepped into the role of a Cybersecurity Consultant. This was effectively a crash course in the modern professional landscape, forcing me to tackle unfamiliar subjects daily and significantly accelerating my learning curve.

Later, I took on the responsibility of IT Security Manager at a hospital. This role provided a vital perspective on critical infrastructure. Working in healthcare was particularly impactful; it taught me that security decisions are never just technical—they directly influence patient safety and health outcomes.

Currently, I serve as a Cybersecurity Engineer at Orange Cyberdefense, working alongside talented ethical hackers (shoutout to crypt0rr and other cybersecurity professionals. I realized that the industry is too broad to know everything. Consequently, I decided to specialize in Network Operations—because mastering the TCP/IP stack provides the strongest foundation for everything else in security.

I look forward to future technological advancements; they keep my career interesting and my motivation high. Contributing to a more secure (f)society is what drives me.

If you caught the Mr. Robot reference above, you already know I love hacking culture. But when I'm not staring at (error messages in) a terminal, I'm usually gyming, watching movies and series or creating music. During the COVID-19 lockdowns, I dove into FL Studio and discovered a new passion. I love making rap beats—it allows me to be creative in a way that code and security doesn't always permit.

Besides that, I run the blog plugntroubleshoot.eu. I created it to improve my technical writing and to help others, because let's be honest: rarely is anything in tech truly "Plug and Play". When something actually works out of the box, I’m usually suspicious!

If my projects, repos, or blog posts have helped you, feel free to buy me a coffee!