Hi, I'm Carsten.
I've been building and running IT for fast-growing companies in Hamburg since 2012. I like systems that are simple, automated where it makes sense, and looked after by people you can actually talk to.
Open to IT leadership roles and selected projects.
What I do
Identity and single sign-on
Everyone gets one account that works in every tool, from their first day to their last.
Automation
Connecting HR and IT tools so that onboarding, offboarding and licence changes happen on their own.
Setting up IT from scratch
Workplace IT for young companies: cloud-only, ready for investor audits and built to save on IT costs and avoid technical debt. Also as interim Head of IT.
Keeping SaaS costs in check
Finding unused accounts and licences, and cancelling what nobody needs.
My guiding principles
Keeping it simple
Only run what's needed. No oversized network, no on-prem servers, no VPN unless absolutely necessary. Simple infrastructure means easy troubleshooting.
Automate as much as needed
Automate the repetitive work where it helps. Machines don't forget a step in offboarding.
Cloud only
Cloud services are easier to run, more flexible and scale faster than servers in a closet. The rare exception is a deliberate one.
Support by humans
Ask in a public chat channel and a person answers. AI makes the IT team faster every day, but good support still needs a personal touch.
Be trustworthy
Every admin access is logged. Before anyone accesses a personal space, we ask first.
Efficiency from the start
Use it or lose it: unused accounts get deactivated, unused services cancelled, old hardware sold.