Network and Computer Systems Administrator

Also called: Application Systems Administrator, Cisco Certified Internetwork Expert (CCIE), Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA), Cisco Certified Network Professional (CCNP), Computer Systems Security Administrator

Network and Computer Systems Administrator

Varies

estimated salary

Network and computer systems administrator installs, configures, and maintains 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.

  • Maintain and administer computer networks and related computing environments including computer hardware, systems software, applications software, and all configurations.
  • 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.
  • Configure, monitor, and maintain email applications or virus protection software.
  • Operate master consoles to monitor the performance of computer systems and networks, and to coordinate computer network access and use.
  • Monitor network performance to determine whether adjustments need to be made, and to determine where changes will need to be made in the future.
  • Plan, coordinate, and implement network security measures to protect data, software, and hardware.
  • Analyze equipment performance records to determine the need for repair or replacement.
  • Confer with network users about how to solve existing system problems.
  • Recommend changes to improve systems and network configurations, and determine hardware or software requirements related to such changes.
  • Design, configure, and test computer hardware, networking software and operating system software.
  • Perform routine network startup and shutdown procedures, and maintain control records.
  • Load computer tapes and disks, and install software and printer paper or forms.
  • Train people in computer system use.
  • Maintain logs related to network functions, as well as maintenance and repair records.
  • Gather data pertaining to customer needs, and use the information to identify, predict, interpret, and evaluate system and network requirements.
  • Coordinate with vendors and with company personnel to facilitate purchases.
  • Implement and provide technical support for voice services and equipment, such as private branch exchange, voice mail system, and telecom system.
  • Maintain an inventory of parts for emergency repairs.
  • Research new technologies by attending seminars, reading trade articles, or taking classes, and implement or recommend the implementation of new technologies.
Work Context
  • Indoors, Environmentally Controlled — 97% responded "Every day".
  • Electronic Mail — 91% responded "Every day".
  • Telephone — 72% responded "Every day".
  • Face-to-Face Discussions — 61% responded "Every day".
  • Contact With Others — 68% responded "Constant contact with others".
  • Spend Time Sitting — 51% responded "More than half the time".
  • Work With Work Group or Team — 57% responded "Extremely important".
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Work Activities
  • Interacting With Computers — Using computers and computer systems (including hardware and software) to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.
  • Making Decisions and Solving Problems — Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
  • Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge — Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.
  • Getting Information — Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
  • Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work — Developing specific goals and plans to prioritize, organize, and accomplish your work.
  • Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events — Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.
  • Processing Information — Compiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or verifying information or data.
  • Repairing and Maintaining Electronic Equipment — Servicing, repairing, calibrating, regulating, fine-tuning, or testing machines, devices, and equipment that operate primarily on the basis of electrical or electronic (not mechanical) principles.
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Detailed Work Activities
  • Implement security measures for computer or information systems.
  • Create electronic data backup to prevent loss of information.
  • Maintain computer networks to enhance performance and user access.
  • Develop computer or information security policies or procedures.
  • Implement security measures for computer or information systems.
  • Monitor the performance of computer networks.
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Knowledge

Computers and Electronics
  • Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
English Language
  • Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
Customer and Personal Service
  • Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
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Skills

Reading Comprehension
  • Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
Judgment and Decision Making
  • Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
Critical Thinking
  • Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Systems Analysis
  • Determining how a system should work and how changes in conditions, operations, and the environment will affect outcomes.
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Abilities

Problem Sensitivity
  • The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing there is a problem.
Information Ordering
  • The ability to arrange things or actions in a certain order or pattern according to a specific rule or set of rules (e.g., patterns of numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).
Written Comprehension
  • The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.
Oral Expression
  • The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
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Personality

People interested in this work like activities that include ideas, thinking, and figuring things out.
They do well at jobs that need:
  • Achievement/Effort
  • Persistence
  • Initiative
  • Leadership
  • Cooperation
  • Concern for Others
  • Social Orientation
  • Self Control
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Technology

You might use software like this on the job:

Enterprise application integration software
  • Extensible markup language XML Hot Technology
  • IBM WebSphere Hot Technology
  • Oracle Fusion Middleware Hot Technology
  • Microsoft SQL Server Integration Services SSIS Hot Technology
  • Atlassian Bamboo Hot Technology
  • Systems integration software
  • Enterprise application integration EAI software
  • IBM InfoSphere DataStage
Web platform development software
  • JavaScript Hot Technology
  • JavaScript Object Notation JSON Hot Technology
  • PHP: Hypertext Preprocessor Hot Technology
  • Microsoft Active Server Pages ASP Hot Technology
  • Microsoft ASP.NET Hot Technology
  • Microsoft ASP.NET Core MVC Hot Technology
  • Ruby on Rails Hot Technology
  • Hypertext markup language HTML Hot Technology
  • Oracle JavaServer Pages JSP Hot Technology
  • Node.js Hot Technology
  • Apache Tomcat Hot Technology
  • Apache Struts Hot Technology
  • Drupal Hot Technology
  • AJAX Hot Technology
  • Django Hot Technology
  • Dynamic hypertext markup language DHTML
  • Enterprise JavaBeans
  • Extensible HyperText Markup Language XHTML
  • LAMP Stack
Object or component oriented development software
  • jQuery Hot Technology
  • Practical extraction and reporting language Perl Hot Technology
  • Oracle Java Hot Technology
  • C# Hot Technology
  • C++ Hot Technology
  • Apache Groovy Hot Technology
  • Python Hot Technology
  • Advanced business application programming ABAP Hot Technology
  • Swift Hot Technology
  • Jupyter Notebook
  • Microsoft ActiveX
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