Personal Website
Rene Kärkkäinen
Welcome to my digital abode! I'm a tech enthusiast and student navigating the landscape of information technology with a security-first mindset. Here, you can explore some of my projects and experiences. Settle in!
About me
Hey there! I'm 19 and I've spent the last six years getting hands-on with servers, networks and cyber security. I'm really into figuring out how things work (and how to keep them safe). I've also dabbled in IT management and software development along the way.
Feel free to reach out however suits you best!
Work Experience
Managing Director
Rene Investments Ab, Vantaa, Finland
Dec 2024 - Present | Hobby
Managing investments, accounting, and ensuring a slow and steady growth of investments.
IT Manager
Nordiska Partners Limited, Causeway Bay, Hong Kong SAR
Jun - Jul 2024 | Internship
I was responsible for overseeing IT operations and creating new security measures to strengthen the company's security posture. I optimized the budget and managed vendor relations.
Information Technology Trainee
WithSecure Oyj, Helsinki, Finland
Oct - Dec 2023 | Internship
Maintained computer systems and hardware, analyzed customer data to ensure accuracy and integrity, troubleshooted internal IT issues, and wrote documentation for hardware installation procedures.
Nursing Home Assistant
City of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
Jun - Jul 2022 | Summer Job
Brightened residents' days with walks, reading time, and fun outings like disco nights, bingo games, and trips to parks.
Store Assistant
K-Market Rekola, Vantaa, Finland
Dec 2021 | Internship
Contribute to efficient store operations by assisting with sales, shipment logistics, providing customer service, and ensuring the store maintains a clean and organized environment.
Education
Bachelor of Engineering, Information and Communication Technology
Metropolia University of Applied Sciences
Jan 2024 - Present
High School
Töölön yhteiskoulun aikuislukio
Aug 2022 - May 2025
Matriculation Examination/Ylioppilastutkinto
Vocational qualification in ICT specialized in Cyber Security
Business College Helsinki
Aug 2022 - Dec 2024
Random Stuff
Taitaja 2025 Finalist | ICT Specialist
Skills Finland ry
May 2025
What is Taitaja?
Junction 2024 Participant | Kone x Granlund Challenge
Junction Oy
Nov 2024
What is Junction 2024?
Slush 2024 Volunteer | Recycling Team
Slush Oy
Nov 2024
What is Slush?
LähiTapiola Hack Day 2024 | Hacker
LähiTapiola Palvelut Oy
Oct 2024
What is LähiTapiola Hack Day?
Technical Skills
Diving into the Tech Wonderland, I transform ideas into IT magic!
System Administration
I enjoy managing both on-premises and cloud-based infrastructure.
Cyber Security
Practical experience in securing environments, vulnerability management and ethical hacking principles.
Software Development
Experience writing clean, maintainable code in Python and JavaScript. Experienced with API development, CLI tools and full-stack projects.
Experimenting with Technology
Home Lab
Where Ideas Take Flight
Gained valuable insights into networking, virtualization, server management, and hardware configurations. The art of running servers, understanding how networks work, and the importance of adaptability in the tech landscape were among the many discoveries.
Experimented with a variety of software tools including Jenkins, Puppet, Git, pfSense, Suricata, OpenVPN, unbound, Nextcloud, NGINX and Apache.
FPS Multiplayer made with Unreal Engine 4
Inspired by Counter-Strike Series
In 2021, I developed 'Beryllium,' an online multiplayer tactical first-person shooter using Unreal Engine 4. The game features competitive gameplay where two teams, Attackers and Defenders, engage in strategic encounters. Attackers aim to achieve specific objectives while Defenders employ various tactics to protect key positions and thwart their opponents.
Haven't looked at the source code since 2022 nor have I any game servers running anymore but if you would like to test the game locally send me an E-Mail and I will send you a Steam redeem code ;)
Flight Game
In the Flight Game, your goal is to reach Thailand without using up all your carbon credits. Answer sustainability questions correctly to earn more credits and keep flying.
This was a group project at Metropolia UAS. Read more about the project in Finnish on GitHub
Let's stay in touch!
Have a question, idea or just want to say hi?