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Network and Computer Systems Administrators

Install, configure, and maintain an organization's local area network (LAN), wide area network (WAN), data communications network, operating systems, and physical and virtual servers. Perform system monitoring and verify the integrity and availability of hardware, network, and server resources and systems. Review system and application logs and verify completion of scheduled jobs, including system backups. Analyze network and server resource consumption and control user access. Install and upgrade software and maintain software licenses. May assist in network modeling, analysis, planning, and coordination between network and data communications hardware and software.

What you’d do

  • Plan, coordinate, and implement network security measures to protect data, software, and hardware.
  • Perform data backups and disaster recovery operations.
  • Diagnose, troubleshoot, and resolve hardware, software, or other network and system problems, and replace defective components when necessary.
  • Maintain and administer computer networks and related computing environments, including computer hardware, systems software, applications software, and all configurations.
  • Configure, monitor, and maintain email applications or virus protection software.
  • Confer with network users about solutions to existing system problems.
  • Operate master consoles to monitor the performance of computer systems and networks and to coordinate computer network access and use.
  • Maintain logs related to network functions, as well as maintenance and repair records.

Skills that matter

  • Active Listening
  • Judgment and Decision Making
  • Systems Analysis
  • Systems Evaluation
  • Troubleshooting
  • Complex Problem Solving

How to get there

Medium preparation: usually vocational school, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree

Also called

  • LAN Administrator (Local Area Network Administrator)
  • Network Administrator (Network Admin)
  • Network Engineer
  • Systems Engineer
  • LAN Specialist (Local Area Network Specialist)
  • Network Analyst

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