Mike Houben

From server to code.

Operations, network, administration and IT security as hands-on delivery. Infra coaching for teams who want to do it themselves. Plus dev coaching, business coaching, workshops and private IT support.

IT operations, network and administration

Set up and look after servers, networks, containers and access, so your systems simply work.

For freelancers and small businesses without an admin of their own, but with systems that have to run.

Request IT operations

Topics

  • Network and firewall

    Plan, set up and document routers, switches, VLANs, firewall and VPN, with OPNsense or the hardware you already have.

  • Servers and administration

    Linux, Docker and services: from initial setup to ongoing operations, including updates and backups.

  • Hosting and compute

    Storage and computing power on professionally run servers, Proxmox or Hetzner, instead of cloud lock-in.

  • DevOps implementation

    CI/CD pipelines, container infrastructure and infrastructure as code with Ansible and Traefik, set up and handed over rather than just explained.

  • Access and single sign-on

    Keycloak or Authentik, OIDC and SAML: who may do what, traceable at any time.

  • Monitoring and on-call

    Monitoring, alerting and a fixed point of contact when something is not running.

IT security and compliance

Check your security posture and harden systems, without panic and without paper mountains.

For freelancers and small businesses who want to know where they stand.

Request IT security

Topics

  • Security assessment

    Inventory of network, servers, access and backups with a prioritised list of measures.

  • System hardening

    Firewall, OPNsense, CrowdSec, updates and access rules set so that attack surface and effort stay small.

  • Backup and recovery

    Backups that are tested and a plan that works when it matters.

Infra coaching

Set up CI/CD pipelines, AI workflows and operations so your team understands the process and can maintain it independently.

For teams and freelancers whose software runs, but whose deployment and operations still run on gut feeling.

Request infra coaching

Topics

  • CI/CD pipelines

    From commit through automated tests to deployment: GitLab CI or GitHub Actions with clear approvals and traceable releases.

  • AI workflows and automation

    Connect AI steps to scripts and existing tools, for example to draft documentation or analyse build failures. With limited permissions, verifiable results and approval before changes.

  • Containers and deployment

    Docker, Compose and a reverse proxy for clean, repeatable releases on your own servers.

  • Self-hosting and operations

    Servers, backups, updates and monitoring, so nothing burns unnoticed at night.

  • Access and secrets

    Clean up SSO, secrets and permissions instead of keeping passwords in the repo.

Dev coaching

Architecture, code quality and AI in everyday development: work through your project together and make decisions you can explain. For developers, technical leads and small teams who want to build cleaner and argue decisions better.

Request dev coaching

  • Architecture review. Sort out structure, interfaces and technical debt before they get expensive.

  • Code review and code quality. Improve readability, maintainability and tests in a way the team buys into.

  • Technical decisions. Weigh options, surface risks and find the next sustainable step.

  • Developer workflows. Set up branching, reviews and documentation pragmatically, without process theatre.

  • AI in everyday development. Use AI for code, tests, reviews and documentation. Define focused tasks, check the results and understand the changes yourself.

Business coaching

For technical freelancers whose business side lags behind their craft. Positioning, pricing and acquisition, without the sales theatre.

Request business coaching

  • Positioning. Sharpen what you stand for and who you work for.

  • Pricing. Prices and packages you can represent calmly.

  • Acquisition. A conversation and follow-up system that fits you.

Workshops and training

Hands-on workshops for teams and individuals, on site or remote, with material that gets used afterwards. Git, Docker, CI/CD, Linux administration, network and firewall, monitoring, identity and access management, Proxmox.

Request a workshop

  • Live. Half or full days, tailored to your team.

  • Material. Guides, checklists and runbooks that stay in daily use.

  • Video. Recorded tutorials to work through later.

Private IT support

Home technology that helps instead of annoys: set up cleanly, explained clearly, ready to use. For private households. Many topics can be handled remotely, on site only when it really makes sense.

Request private IT support

  • Wi-Fi and devices. Set up, connect and explain router, laptop, smartphone and printer.

  • Backup and data migration. Back up photos and files, move to new devices without chaos.

  • Smart home and accounts. Home Assistant, password manager and accounts set up so they help in daily life.

How it works

  1. You write to me

    A few sentences on where you are and what is slowing you down.

  2. We talk

    In a first call we figure out whether and how I can actually help.

  3. We work

    In sessions on concrete topics, with clear next steps after each one.

Tell me what you are building.

A few sentences are enough. I will reply with an honest take on whether and how I can help.

Write an email