Francis Saanane
IT Consultant — Tanzania
If it's a technology problem, I can fix it — and if it needs managing long term, I'll take care of that too.
Sixteen years in IT, from running ISP network operations to leading HubNet Tanzania's managed services and consulting practice. Whether it's a network that won't behave, a server that needs rebuilding, a Linux system that needs tuning, or a business that needs its entire IT function looked after — that's the work. The automation and AI tools are part of the toolkit now, but the job is still the same: keep technology working, and make it work better.
The person behind the work
I'm Francis Saanane. I started in IT in 2010 by managing networks and systems for internet providers, and over the years grew into helping businesses across Tanzania run their technology — from setting up IT infrastructure to keeping systems running day to day.
My background is hands-on — routing and switching, server infrastructure, cloud migrations, security — but what I actually spend most of my time on is understanding what a business is trying to do and figuring out how technology can get out of the way and let them do it. These days that increasingly includes building automation workflows with n8n and LLM integrations, which is an area I'm genuinely excited about.
I hold a BSc in Business Information Technology from the University of Greenwich, and certifications including PMP, CCNA, CCIP, and CISA. I'm based in Dar es Salaam and splitting time with a commercial farming project in Pwani — which means I work well remotely and across time zones.
Connect on LinkedInWhatever your business needs from IT
Full IT outsourcing, IT Projects, hands-on support, or anything in between.
Managed IT & Outsourced IT Department
For businesses that need a complete IT function without hiring in-house — I become your IT department. Helpdesk, systems management, vendor relationships, strategy, all of it covered on a retainer basis.
Systems Administration
Day-to-day management of your servers, Linux and Windows environments, user accounts, backups, and keeping systems running reliably and securely.
Infrastructure, Cloud & Networking
Design, deployment, and ongoing management of networks, servers, and cloud environments — on-premise or hosted, built to hold up under real load.
Cybersecurity & Compliance
Firewalls, access controls, and the audit and policy work that keeps you compliant and harder to breach.
IT Strategy & Governance
Help making the right technology decisions — investments, policy, risk, and ICT planning that actually matches how your business works.
Project & Programme Management
PMP-led delivery for infrastructure and transformation projects, from scoping through to handover and training.
AI & Workflow Automation
Practical automation built with n8n and LLM integrations — cutting manual work instead of adding more tools to manage.
Team Leadership & Training
Building and mentoring technical teams, and end-user training to make sure the technology you invest in actually gets used properly.
Recent projects
A mix of completed deliveries and AI automation work still in progress — labeled honestly either way.
Food Delivery Platform, Dar es Salaam
CompletedBuilt an automated outbound calling platform so vendor notifications run themselves — IVR, IP-PBX, and a REST API tying it together.
Real Estate Firm, Dar es Salaam
CompletedModernized the IT backbone: redundant Active Directory, a move off legacy file shares to SharePoint, and tighter firewall configuration and audit readiness.
Fintech Company, Dar es Salaam
CompletedCompute and network upgrade for a fintech data centre — new chassis, roughly 500TB of added storage, and a virtualization environment refresh.
Logistics & Trucking Company, Dar es Salaam
In ProgressBuilding an automation that pulls live GPS data from the fleet, writes an AI-generated performance summary, and emails it out — so reporting stops being a manual chore.
Automotive Services Company, Dar es Salaam
In ProgressWorking through a digital operations discovery for a garage management system that wasn't being used to its potential, with a phased roadmap to fix that.
International NGO, Tanzania
CompletedNationwide ICT assessment across partner institutions, looking at where better digital collaboration could actually help the work.
Where I've worked
Outside IT, I'm developing an agribusiness in Pwani Region — commercial pineapple farming, agrotourism and campsite in progress.
Cisco CCNA — Practical Training
Hands-on networking certification training in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
I run practical Cisco CCNA training sessions for individuals looking to build a genuine foundation in networking. The training covers both the theory required to pass the CCNA exam and the hands-on lab work that makes the knowledge stick in a real job environment.
Topics covered include routing and switching, IP addressing and subnetting, VLANs, WAN technologies, network security fundamentals, and troubleshooting. Lab sessions are conducted on real equipment — not just simulators.
From the field
Practical writing about technology, IT management, and working in the Tanzanian market.
What Does Outsourcing Your IT Department Actually Mean for a Tanzanian Business?
A plain-language guide to IT outsourcing — what it means, what you get, and whether it makes sense for your organisation.
Read article →Why Businesses in Tanzania Lose Data — and How to Prevent It
Data loss is common and almost always preventable. A practical guide to backup, recovery and data protection for Tanzanian businesses.
Read article →How to Set Up a WireGuard VPN for Remote Teams in Tanzania
A practical guide to WireGuard VPN — fast, secure, and the right choice for most Tanzanian businesses enabling remote work.
Read article →MikroTik vs Cisco for Small Business Networks in Tanzania
An honest comparison from someone who is certified in both and has deployed both for clients across Tanzania.
Read article →How I Automated Vendor Notifications for a Food Delivery Company Using Asterisk and n8n
A real project — replacing manual vendor calls with an automated outbound calling platform built on Asterisk, Yeastar and n8n.
Read article →Have an infrastructure or automation problem worth solving?
I take on a limited number of consulting engagements at a time — reach out and let's talk about what you're trying to fix.