Gerd Pflueger, currently residing in Nuremberg, is a seasoned Cybersecurity Architect at Fortinet with over two decades of experience in the internet business. With a specialization in designing and implementing security solutions for customers in the DACH region, Gerd leverages his extensive experience to ensure optimal cybersecurity practices.
Before his role at Fortinet, Gerd demonstrated his skills as a Lead Solution Engineer at VMware for seven years. In this position, he was a key figure in Network and Security Virtualization within the organization. His experience is further enriched by a 16-year tenure as a Distinguished Systems Engineer with Cisco Systems in Central Europe, where he concentrated on enterprise routing and switching.
Apart from his full-time professional engagements, Gerd has also lent his expertise to academia, serving as a Lecturer for Data Protection and IT Security at Hochschule Ansbach – University of Applied Sciences and Lecturer for Communication Informatics at Hochschule für Technik und Wirtschaft des Saarlandes Saarbrücken.
Gerd holds an Engineer’s Degree in Mechanical Engineering from Technische Hochschule Nürnberg Georg Simon Ohm. He also has a variety of licenses and certifications, such as VMware Certified Professional 6 – Network Virtualization, Introduction to VMware Tanzu Portfolio, Google Cloud Platform Fundamentals: Core Infrastructure, Cisco Certified Design Expert (CCDE), Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH) from EC-Council, Fortinet NSE4 and HPI Design Thinking.
Gerd’s extensive skill set covers a wide range of areas, including Network Security, Firewalls, IDS, IPS, Cisco Technologies, Network Architecture, Routing, MPLS, and OSPF. His commitment to cybersecurity and network engineering, academic accomplishments, and industry certifications firmly establish him as an expert in his field.