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I started learning how to use GitHub practically in July 2026 while working on a challenging project, after spending months learning what GitHub is used for and how it fits into real development workflows, with assistance from AI tools. My GitHub profile is available here; most repositories are currently private: github.com/jly0033/

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Professional websites. Secure technology. Real business results.

Fortress® (Started 2016 with physical security for retail - No Human Security Guards) with Accosy®, Workotel®, RealGold®

I combine practical business experience with websites, cloud technologies, and secure digital systems to help organisations improve their online presence, streamline operations and strengthen customer experience.

My experience spans property, accommodation, retail, hospitality, and modern technology, supported by ongoing study/upskilling in cybersecurity and cloud computing.

Based in Christchurch, New Zealand

I enable businesses to improve their websites, digital systems and customer experience, by combining practical business experience with modern technology skills.

This website is continually being expanded with new portfolio projects, case studies, and cloud computing demonstrations. Thank you for visiting while new content is being added.

Find Out More

What I do

Role: Property and Technology Systems Specialist with practical experience in retail (read this article from 2016 - includes the physical security in the shop which made it safer than working anywhere else until dark at night 4 seasons a year!), property management, accommodation operations, websites, digital systems, and cybersecurity.

Education: Graduate Diploma in ICT specialising in Cybersecurity, Cloud Computing and Databases.

Industry Engagement: Student Candidate with Summer of Tech and active in New Zealand's technology community.

I enjoy designing practical, secure, customised and maintainable technology solutions for real organisations with real people, real customers and real data.

Experience with PHP, HTML, CSS, SQL, Microsoft SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS), MySQL, phpMyAdmin. Examples include benjaminyap.co.nz, realgold.co.nz (custom website with integration of a property management system by a vendor), retailgroup.nz/amberley.

Also have experience with WordPress-powered Visual Website Builders, allowing businesses to make everyday website updates themselves, saving both time and avoiding the cost of paying for every single minor update. Plaforms I have worked with include Avada (e.g. retailgroup.nz), Oxygen Builder (accosy.nz), Breakdance (workotelaccommodation.com), and Bricks Builder, which I am currently evaluating for future web projects based on its performance, flexibility, maintainability and long-term scalability.

I develop custom web solutions by combining AI-assisted development with my own technical knowledge and hands-on web design & programming skills. My experience includes database design, development, and customisation, including:

Latest Project: Production-Ready Secure Contact Form v3.1 (new)

Featured Project: AWS Hybrid Cloud Implementation (88.3% project)

Featured Commercial Project: Real Gold Commercial Property Platform

Upcoming updated Accosy Accommodation responsive website with Content Management System for anytime content updates

Experience

Hands-on experience with real websites, domains, email systems, Real-Time (SaaS) Booking and Property Management Systems used for property and accommodation (Residential, Commercial and Backpackers/Hostels properties) operations based in Christchurch, New Zealand since around 2009.

Looking for a family-owned and operated retail store where I worked?

After several years working in New Zealand retail, I decided to focus on technology/websites, real estate/property management, property systems, and cybersecurity.

Although no longer actively in retail, still involved in retail management and looking after retail businesses based at 573 Cashel Street, Linwood, Christchurch 8011, New Zealand, corner Cashel Street and Olliviers Road.

The customer service, problem-solving, and operational experience I gained continues to influence how I design and implement practical business solutions today.

Project Pricing Contact

Latest Project: Production-Ready Secure Contact & Enquiry System v5.0

Designed, developed and continuously improved a custom PHP contact system for my portfolio website, simulating the type of secure, production-ready contact solution used by modern businesses.

Rather than functioning as a traditional contact form, the system has evolved into a secure, production-ready enquiry platform suitable for property management, accommodation providers and commercial businesses.

Key Features

Modern responsive contact page designed for desktop, tablet and mobile
Professional enquiry workflow designed to maximise enquiries
Custom PHP backend with modular architecture
PHPMailer integration using authenticated Google Workspace SMTP
HTML email notifications with branded formatting
Two secure document attachments (PDF, Word, JPG and PNG)
Client-side and server-side validation
User-friendly validation messages
Professional success notification
Form remembers entered values after validation errors
Automatic scroll back to the enquiry form
Character counter and accessibility improvements
Honeypot spam detection
Cloudflare Turnstile bot protection
Spam scoring and rate limiting
Secure configuration stored outside the public web root
Google Workspace Inbox delivery using SPF, DKIM and DMARC
Production-ready Linux shared hosting deployment

Technologies Used

PHP • PHPMailer • Google Workspace SMTP • Cloudflare Turnstile • HTML5 • CSS3 • JavaScript • Linux Shared Hosting • Responsive Web Design

Skills Demonstrated

Secure web application development
Server-side input validation
Email authentication and deliverability
Spam prevention and bot protection
Security-focused web development
Linux web hosting deployment
Problem solving through iterative software development - Progressive enhancement

Additional skill demonstrated:
Prompt Engineering (AI-assisted software development)

This project evolved through multiple versions, with each improvement solving a real-world challenge—from improving email deliverability and user experience to strengthening spam protection and application security.

Status: Production-ready. Actively used on: BenjaminYap.nz Contact page and Real Gold Contact Page

Featured Commercial Project: Real Gold Commercial Property Platform

Designed and developed the Commercial section of the Real Gold website from scratch, including a bespoke PHP/MySQL Property Management System with:

Responsive commercial property listings
Administration portal
Multi-image gallery management
Drag-and-drop photo ordering
Automatic image resizing (thumbnail, medium, large and original)
Image captions and featured photos

Technologies used: PHP • MySQL • JavaScript • HTML5 • CSS3 • SortableJS • GD Image Library

Additional skill demonstrated: Prompt Engineering (AI-assisted software development)

View project

Featured Project: AWS Hybrid Cloud Implementation

Successfully completed June 2026 as part of the BCCS355 Cloud Services - Cloud Implementation Project (Hybrid Cloud) at Ara Institute of Canterbury.

Designed, deployed, configured, and tested a hybrid cloud infrastructure using Amazon Web Services (AWS) and an on-premises network environment (example Ara TechLabs).

AWS services used:
Amazon VPC, EC2 instances, Launch Template, Auto Scaling Groups, Public and Private Subnets, Elastic IP, Application Load Balancer (ALB), Amazon RDS for MySQL, Route Tables, Target Groups, NAT Gateway, Security Groups, AWS Secrets Manager, and Site-to-Site VPN.

Supporting technologies:
pfSense, IPsec, Ubuntu Linux, VMware Workstation, PHP, and MySQL Server.

Designed and demonstrated secure database failover from Amazon RDS to a backup on-premises MySQL server over an encrypted Site-to-Site VPN, while keeping the web application hosted entirely within AWS.

Implemented application-level database failover using AWS Secrets Manager, allowing the web application to switch between Amazon RDS and an on-premises MySQL database without modifying the application code (optional).

Skills demonstrated:

Hybrid cloud architecture
AWS infrastructure deployment
Amazon VPC networking
Site-to-Site VPN configuration
Amazon EC2 administration
Auto Scaling Groups
Application Load Balancer configuration
Amazon RDS for MySQL
AWS Secrets Manager
Linux server administration
MySQL database administration
Database migration
Database failover testing
Network routing and connectivity
Cloud security
Technical troubleshooting
Solution architecture and design
AWS topology diagram design
Technical documentation
Customer-focused technical presentation - Design Documentation and also via video

Additional skill demonstrated: Prompt Engineering (AI-assisted software development)

This project demonstrates practical experience in designing, implementing, documenting, and presenting a production-style AWS Hybrid Cloud solution.

Design Documentation created for this Practical Project: View Design Documentation with Full Hybrid Cloud Topology diagram and Design Decisions 100% grade for this design documentation. Copyright Benjamin Yap

Looking to Reconnect

I moved from Singapore to Christchurch, New Zealand after my first South Island holiday.

If you attended Jiemin Primary School or were in Class 4 Honesty (2002) I'd love to reconnect.

Jiemin Primary School — Yishun, Singapore

Feel free to reach out

Property & Technology

Hands-on experience across property, accommodation, websites, networking, wireless connectivity, and practical business technology. Combining business understanding with technology-focused thinking to improve trust, efficiency, and usability.

Real Estate Qualification at Age 16

I completed the New Zealand Certificate in Real Estate (Salesperson) (Level 4) in January 2009 at 16 years of age.

Beginning my real estate education at an early age gave me a strong foundation in New Zealand real estate legislation, property, sales, customer service, negotiation, and professional practice. This knowledge continues to influence my work across property, technology, accommodation, and business systems today.

2009 – First Commercial Website

Built my first commercial tourism-focused website for a Christchurch-based hostel, supporting direct enquiries, guest communications, and online bookings while reducing reliance on third-party travel platforms.

Configured and deployed a broadband modem-router for the first time, integrating it with an Internet Service Provider (ISP) service to extend wireless coverage and improve connectivity across the property.

Design and technology partner you can trust Benjamin Yap - Lincoln University Graduate 2014

Lincoln University, 2014

Property, operations, websites, and practical technology.

I am Benjamin Yap, based in Christchurch, New Zealand. My work sits at the intersection of property, accommodation, digital systems, and customer experience. I aim to build environments and systems that are organised, reliable, and easier for people to use.

Hands-on experience managing real websites, hosting, domains, and email systems
Background across property, hospitality, customer service, and operations
Current upskilling in ICT and cybersecurity with practical lab-based learning
Interested in solutions that are easy to maintain, deliver strong long-term value, and useful in the real world

What employers and clients should know

I focus on real outcomes, not just theory.

That includes improving how information is presented, reducing unnecessary friction, and making websites and systems easier to manage over time. I care about credibility, clarity, and practical problem-solving.

Can communicate with both technical and non-technical people
Understands that trust and usability matter as much as features
Comfortable working across content, systems, operations, and customer-facing tasks
Values security, maintainability, and straightforward design

I am a Student Candidate with Summer of Tech, a New Zealand programme that connects students with paid internships and graduate opportunities in the Technology sector.

AWS Academy Cloud Architecting Trained Badge

Verified AWS Cloud Architecting badge achieved June 2026. View verified achievement from Amazon Web Services (AWS) Successfully completed the BCCS355 Cloud Implementation Project and AWS Academy Cloud Architecting practical project work at Ara Institute of Canterbury in June 2026.

Cisco Networking Academy CCNA: Switching, Routing, and Wireless Essentials View Certificate of Completion

Services and strengths

A clearer and more professional digital presence.

These are the kinds of areas I can contribute to directly or support as part of a wider project.

Website improvement

Improve readability, page structure, messaging, trust signals, and overall presentation for customers and employers.

Hosting, email & cloud infrastructure

Design customised hosting, email and cloud solutions that improve reliability, security and long-term maintainability.

Property and accommodation systems

Bring operational awareness from accommodation, rental, and property-related environments into digital decisions.

Technology with business context

Deliver customised technology solutions that align with business objectives, improving trust, usability and long-term value.

Website pricing

Professional small business websites

A practical starting point for businesses needing a professional website with more than one page.

Multi-page websites

Small business websites from

NZ$2,999 excluding GST

Suitable for professional websites consisting of multiple pages, such as Home, About, Services, Portfolio or Projects, and Contact.

Every business is different, so final pricing depends on your goals, required functionality, content, integrations and overall project scope.

Discuss Your Project

Why choose me

Built around practical experience and accountability.

This website is not just a profile. It reflects real work across websites, systems, customer-facing operations, and ongoing technical development.

Real systems experience

Experience working with real domains, hosting, websites, and email systems rather than only classroom examples.

Local and accountable

Based in Christchurch, New Zealand, with a practical understanding of local business presentation and trust.

Cross-disciplinary

Combines property, accommodation, customer service, and technology thinking instead of treating them as separate silos.

Security-minded

Current ICT and cybersecurity study supports a more careful approach to systems, risk, and online operations.

Industry-connected and actively engaged

Member of Canterbury Tech.
Student Candidate with Summer of Tech, actively engaging with New Zealand's Technology sector and staying aligned with real industry expectations and opportunities.

Maintainability matters

Interested in solutions that remain understandable, manageable and designed to deliver long-term value over time.

Professional communication

Can present information in a clearer, more credible way for customers, employers, and broader audiences.

Selected Work

Experience connected to real businesses and practical work

Examples of brands and projects connected to accommodation, property, and community-oriented business activity.

View more of portfolio

Next step

Need a stronger online presence, customised technology solutions, or a more professional digital platform?

I am open to relevant work, collaboration, and conversations with potential customers and employers.

See portfolio Contact Benjamin