Feras Kanaan
VP of Digital Infrastructure & Music Producer

I don't fit in a box.
Good.

A technologist, security architect, and electronic music producer.

For 29+ years, I've been building digital infrastructure, securing industrial systems, and advising boardrooms across MENA and global markets.

It's hard to pigeonhole me into "just a CTO" or "just a security guy." I've designed enterprise architectures at dawn and produced ambient tracks at midnight. This timeline is my story—not a resume.

// Work History

The Timeline

2026 — Present
VP of Digital Infrastructure
TAQA Water Solutions
Executive Innovation & Infrastructure
  • ▸Bridges innovation and security for the connected enterprise as VP of Digital Infrastructure.
  • ▸Directs digital strategy and technology transformation for critical large-scale infrastructure.
  • ▸Specializes in securing innovation at scale while managing vendor costs and technical debt.
  • ▸Oversees emerging technology roadmaps including AI/ML, Private 5G, and OT Cybersecurity.
2023 — 2026
Manager Industry 4.0 & Emerging Tech
TAQA Water Solutions
Industrial Industry 4.0 & AI Pioneer
  • ▸Architected private LLMs for secure data processing and developed agentic business roadmaps.
  • ▸Optimized GPU cluster performance and hardware infrastructure for enterprise-grade GenAI applications.
  • ▸Designed private 5G and M2M network architectures for OT/SCADA across 18 distributed sites.
  • ▸Deployed enterprise hybrid SD-WAN, achieving a 70% cost reduction compared to MPLS.
2022 — 2023
Cyber Risk Advisor
TAQA Water Solutions
Digital Resilience & Cyber Risk
  • ▸Directed the successful achievement of ISO 27001 certification within a 10-month timeframe.
  • ▸Re-engineered disaster recovery architecture, reducing RTO and RPO by 70%.
  • ▸Developed an AI-driven Security Operations Center (SoC) for advanced threat detection.
  • ▸Streamlined compliance with regional regulations (NESA, ADDA) through a unified reporting framework.
2017 — 2022
CISO
TAQA Water Solutions
Cybersecurity Governance & Leadership
  • ▸Served as CISO, strengthening Information Security Assurance (IA) to 100% compliance.
  • ▸Implemented the National Cyber Risk Management Framework (NCRMF) for UAE standards.
  • ▸Orchestrated government Data Management programs and established formal data governance committees.
  • ▸Chaired the Information Security Committee to oversee risk monitoring and cross-functional collaboration.
2016 — 2017
Digital Consultant
Andiamo Yacht Charter
E-Commerce & Emerging FinTech
  • ▸Led the system design and full-cycle development of the company's E-Commerce portal.
  • ▸Optimized business intelligence through improved macro and micro location targeting strategies.
  • ▸Participated in the development of a blockchain-based pilot for the company loyalty program.
  • ▸Provided strategic consultancy at the intersection of digital marketing and technical architecture.
2013 — 2016
Information Systems Advisor
Ministry of International Cooperation and Development
National Security & Strategic Advisory
  • ▸Provided security advisory for NESA compliance and UAE Information Assurance frameworks.
  • ▸Developed the Ministry's primary and secondary data center architecture and migration plans.
  • ▸Conducted annual cyber risk assessments and monitored KPIs for national information sharing.
  • ▸Conducted feasibility studies for hosting the UNISDR Global Disaster Risk reduction portal.
2008 — 2013
Information Systems Expert
Ministry of Foreign Trade
E-Government & Standards Implementation
  • ▸Led the implementation of the comprehensive e-Government strategy for the Ministry.
  • ▸Directed the adoption of global security standards including ISO 27001, COBIT, and ITSM.
  • ▸Designed and developed the First UAE Foreign Trade Portal as a secure digital gateway.
  • ▸Implemented the Ministry's Business Continuity (BCP) and Risk Management Frameworks (RMF).
1997 — 2007
Systems Engineering
Early Career
Systems Engineering & Software Development
  • ▸Served as CTO for Qpassion Technology and Senior Developer for Saudi Research & Publishing Company.
  • ▸Developed E-Commerce solutions for Lootah BCGas and product software for Al Aqariya TV.
  • ▸Began technical career as an Information Systems Engineer at Damascus University.
  • ▸Earned a B.Eng. in Electrical and Electronics Engineering from Damascus University.
// What's Next

Emerging Tech Focus

feras@0xFK:~/emerging-tech
feras@0xFK:~/emerging-tech$ cat ./focus-areas.conf
PID 001 | Private LLMs

On-premise large language models. Data sovereignty, custom fine-tuning, and air-gapped deployments for regulated industries.

RAG Fine-tuning Air-gapped GPU Clusters
---
PID 002 | 5G Private Networks

Enterprise 5G for industrial automation, real-time analytics, and ultra-reliable connectivity in manufacturing and energy.

URLLC Edge Computing Industry 4.0 M2M
---
PID 003 | Industrial IoT

Secure sensor networks for predictive maintenance, environmental monitoring, and digital twins across critical infrastructure.

Digital Twins SCADA Predictive OT Security
feras@0xFK:~/emerging-tech$ systemctl status --all
● 3 focus areas running · 12 capabilities loaded · uptime 29y
feras@0xFK:~/emerging-tech$
// Credentials

Certifications

feras@0xFK:~/credentials
feras@0xFK:~/credentials$ ls -la --sort=date ./
total 20 certifications — 26 years of continuous learning
ISSUED   AUTHORITY            CERTIFICATION
█ /cybersecurity
2018.02 ISC2 (ISC)² CISSP
2019.01 ISC2 DevSecOps: Integrating Security into DevOps
2019.12 Cisco Cisco Cyber Ops 210-250
------ FIRST CVSSv3 Certificate
█ /offensive-security
2025.11 OffSec Antivirus Evasion Skill Path
2025.11 OffSec Windows Attacks Skill Path
2025.11 OffSec Enumeration Skill Path
2025.11 OffSec MITRE ATT&CK - Lateral Movement
█ /iso-standards
2025.08 UKAS ISO/IEC 42001 AI Quality Infrastructure
2024.05 Bureau Veritas ISO/IEC 20000-1:2018 Lead Auditor
2024.02 Bureau Veritas ISO/IEC 20000-1:2018 Lead Implementer
2022.11 BSI ISO/IEC 27001:2022 Lead Implementer
2021.04 BSI ISO 31000:2018 Advanced Lead Risk Manager
█ /business-continuity
2025.12 The BCI CBCI 7.0 Qualification
█ /governance-process
2016.10 IMF Financial Programming & Policies, Program Design
2016.04 Delft Univ. Certificate for Open Government
2012.04 OMG OMG Certified Expert in BPM
2011.06 BP Group Certified Process Professional Master (CPPM)
█ /foundations
2003.07 Adobe Adobe Certified Macromedia Flash MX Developer
1999.02 Oracle DB Administrator & Oracle 2000 Developer
feras@0xFK:~/credentials$ echo $STATS
20 certifications · 6 categories · 12 issuing bodies · 1999–2025 span
feras@0xFK:~/credentials$
// The Other Side

Sonic Studio

Music production is engineering with a different compiler. The same systematic thinking that architects secure networks creates layered, textured electronic compositions.

🎹
Electronic & Ambient
Industrial textures, melodic synthesis
🎚
Sound Design
Modular synthesis, granular processing
🎧
Production & Mixing
Ableton Live, hardware integration
// Releases

Latest Tracks