Brent De Clercq

About Me

Hello! I'm a system and network administrator with a passion for experimenting with new technologies in my own mini-homelab. I thrive in collaborative environments but can also tackle challenges independently thanks to my strong problem-solving skills.

I have a deep appreciation for infrastructure as code, leveraging tools like Nix/NixOS to create reproducible, maintainable, and automated systems. I'm constantly exploring new solutions to stay ahead in the ever-evolving tech world, and I'm motivated to continuously learn and implement innovative approaches to infrastructure management.

Outside of my technical work, I enjoy practicing judo and table tennis, which help me stay sharp and focused.

Technical Skills

Networking

CCNA VLANs Spanning Tree Protocol OSPF Routing & Switching TCP/IP

Systems Administration

Linux NixOS Windows Server Active Directory Proxmox VE Backup Solutions

Container & Orchestration

Docker Podman Kubernetes Argo CD Flux

Infrastructure as Code

Ansible Terraform OpenTofu Nix

Security

IDS/IPS Network Security VPN IPSec

Programming & Scripting

Bash PowerShell Python HTML JavaScript Java

Featured Projects

Homelab Setup

Set up a Proxmox VE environment and automated the provisioning of NixOS containers using OpenTofu. Utilized JSON files to configure the containers, with Colmena applying settings to each container based on this data. Used NixOS flakes for declarative configuration and ensured consistency across the infrastructure.

Proxmox VE Terraform OpenTofu NixOS LXC Colmena IaC JSON Automation

DevOps Project

Worked as an operations team with a team of developers on a real client project, setting up a Jenkins build server and ensuring the site's availability post-build. Managed production and test environments, set up databases, and provided storage solutions (S3 MinIO) through fully automated processes.

Jenkins CI/CD MinIO Database Configuration DevOps Automation Environment Management Docker Linux Collaboration

System Engineering Project (SEP)

Simulated an IT systems and network management company, setting up a Windows environment with Active Directory, Linux web server (WordPress), reverse proxy, DNS, and Cisco routers. Automated the entire environment setup with a single script and configured an FTP server to store settings for the Cisco devices.

Windows Server Active Directory DNS Linux WordPress Cisco Networking Automation PowerShell Scripting FTP Server

Education

Bachelor's Degree in Applied Computer Science

2022 - 2025

Hogent University of Applied Sciences and Arts

Specialization in System & Network Administration, focusing on infrastructure management, network technologies, and IT system implementation.

High School Diploma in Science & Mathematics

2016 - 2022

Koninklijk Atheneum Voskenslaan

Focused on Science & Mathematics with a strong foundation in analytical thinking and problem-solving. In the final year, I participated in a group project where we presented a mathematical problem titled "5 Circles in a Square" (Sangaku), showcasing our teamwork and problem-solving skills in front of an audience.

Experience & Certifications

Professional Internship

2025

Inuits - Open Source Consultancy

Conducting a comprehensive analysis and implementation of GitOps methodologies, comparing Argo CD and Flux frameworks for Kubernetes-based continuous deployment pipelines. Developing streamlined infrastructure-as-code solutions that enable automated, reliable application delivery in cloud-native environments.

Team Lead

2024 - 2025

Virtual IT Company

Mentored second-year students as a third-year team leader, providing guidance on server management, containerization with Docker, and infrastructure automation using Ansible. Facilitated knowledge transfer and practical skill development while fostering collaboration in a professional IT environment.

ICT Staff Member Certificate

2023 - 2024