What is a Network Administrator?

• Network Administrator Definition

  Network Administrator Definition

  A network administrator is a specialized IT personnel who ensures that a computer network runs uninterrupted without any security and performance issues.
• What does a network administrator do?

  What does a network administrator do?

  Network and computer systems administrators manage IT infrastructure operations in an organization ranging from network setup and configuration to maintenance and upgrade. The responsibilities given to network administrators fluctuate based on the size of their organization. In large companies, network administrators generally have a specialized role where they oversee networking-related operations mainly. In contrast, smaller firms require network administrators to handle multiple duties, from network setup and maintenance to hardware and software procurement.

  Outlined below are some of the critical duties that network administrators typically perform in an organization:

  • Set up different types of networks, such as local area network (LAN), wide area network (WAN), and virtual private network (VPN)
  • Maintain and troubleshoot a computer network and associated software and hardware
  • Implement robust physical and technical controls to safeguard the organizational network from malicious insiders and outsiders
  • Notify employees regarding different network issues
  • Periodically review network performance and security
  • Grant access to network hardware and software
  • Manage procurement and licensing of network equipment
  • Provide training to newly recruited networking professionals
• How to become a network administrator?

  How to become a network administrator?

  A solid understanding of different networking concepts, tools, and technologies is needed to pursue the role of a network and computer systems administrator. There are numerous certifications and courses, such as CCNA and CompTIA Network+, that you can undertake to improve your networking knowledge and become qualified for the administrator position. A bachelor's or associate degree in computer science, network engineering, or a related discipline is also required to secure this position in a large organization. Although certifications and degrees in the network engineering discipline are not mandatory, they strengthen your case when applying for the administrator role. You should also have strong analytical and leadership skills and significant work experience in the network engineering field to position yourself as a network or system administrator.
• Key network administrator skills

  Key network administrator skills

  Network administrator hard skills

  • Understanding of complex networks: Network administrators should know how to set up and manage different types of networks, such as LAN, WAN, and WLAN. They must understand the design principles, configuration settings, and challenges of such complex networks.
  • Knowledge of network management tools: Network administrators should know the operational process of different network management tools, such as network performance monitor and network traffic analyzer. These tools help network engineers continuously monitor their organizational network and prevent unexpected security and performance issues.
  • Coding experience: In-depth knowledge of different programming languages, such as HTML, C++, PHP, Python, and JavaScript, is crucial for network and computer systems administrators to remediate complex network issues without additional time and effort.

  Network administrator soft skills

  • Analytical thinking: is vital for network and computer systems administrators to solve complex network issues rapidly and accurately based on the data gathered from different network components. It allows them to approach problems with an open mind and make well-informed decisions.
  • Communication and teamwork: Network administrators should have strong interpersonal skills to initiate clear, concise, and respectful conversations with team members while addressing complex network issues. They should set up a collaborative work environment and be receptive to ideas and suggestions from peers.
  • Time management: Since network and computer systems administrators deal with multiple network issues simultaneously, they must possess strong time management skills to solve those problems proactively and systematically.
• What is the difference between a network administrator and a network engineer?

  What is the difference between a network administrator and a network engineer?

  A network engineer creates and implements the logical and physical layout of a network. The minimum education requirement laid out by organizations for a network engineer role involves a bachelor's degree in computer science or a related field. Network engineers typically resolve the most complex or L3-level tickets in an organization due to their vast experience and advanced understanding of networking issues. They continuously research and implement new technologies to enhance network performance and security.

  In contrast, network administrators generally operate under the purview of a network engineer. They handle the day-to-day network management tasks, such as hardware installation, network traffic monitoring, and security management. An associate degree in network engineering or a related discipline is generally needed to secure this position. Network administrators resolve L2-level problem tickets raised by the customers. Since the roles and responsibilities of a network engineer and administrator overlap significantly, they must work collaboratively to build a secure and high-performance network.
• Network administrator career path

  Network administrator career path

  Outlined below are the steps that you can follow to pursue the network administrator career path:

  • Earn a professional degree: Most organizations seek an associate or bachelor's degree in computer science, network administration, or a related field when recruiting a network administrator. Therefore, you should obtain a professional degree in such fields. It will help you build a solid understanding of basic and advanced networking concepts.
  • Apply for networking certifications: After completing formal education in the networking field, you can apply for different networking certifications, such as CompTIA's Network+ and CCNA, to gain a competitive edge in the job market. Such certificates help validate your networking knowledge and improve your earning potential.
  • Complete an internship: You can apply for paid internships to gain practical experience in the networking field. During or after your formal education in networking, you can apply for internships to learn more about the real-world complexities of modern enterprise networks.
  • Apply for an entry-level position: Most companies assign the network administrator role to individuals with significant work experience in the networking domain. Therefore, it is advisable to start your career with an entry-level position, such as a desktop support technician, in the IT department of an organization. It allows you to expand your networking knowledge by interacting with peers and eventually get promoted to network administrator.
  • Continue your learning: Modern computer networks are evolving rapidly. Therefore, you should continue to enhance your technical and interpersonal skills throughout your network administrator career. Attending different seminars, conferences, and advanced certification programs in the network engineering field can help you stay relevant and competitive in today's dynamic market.
• What certifications are useful for a network administrator?

  What certifications are useful for a network administrator?

  Outlined below are some of some certifications to pursue the role of a network and computer systems administrator:

  • Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA): This associate-level certification helps validate your expertise in Cisco network products, IP management, and network automation. It not only improves your chances of being recruited as a network administrator but also boosts your earning potential. To earn this certification, you need to clear the CCNA exam conducted online and offline by Cisco.
  • Cisco Certified Network Professional (CCNP): This certificate is relevant for experienced networking professionals who want to switch to a senior role. CCNP credentials help organizations confirm that you can build and manage multi-layered networks efficiently.
  • CompTIA Network+: This globally recognized and vendor-neutral certification helps confirm that you have a solid understanding of advanced networking concepts and technologies. Owning this certificate gives you an advantage over other candidates when applying for specific job roles in the networking field.
  • Microsoft Certified Solutions Expert (MCSE): This advanced-level certification helps showcase that you can easily administer different Microsoft products and services, such as Windows Server and Active Directory, in enterprise environments.
• Network administrator tools and software

  Network administrator tools and software

  Network and computer systems administrators utilize various networking tools to manage their complex organizational networks. Network administration tools enable them to rapidly identify the root cause of the network problem and remediate it timely to maximize service availability.

  Outlined below are some of the popular network administration tools:

  • Network performance monitoring software: This tool allows network administrators to build a reliable and secure organizational network by continuously capturing performance data from different parts of the network. Using such tools, they can easily detect various network issues, such as faulty configurations and low bandwidth.
  • Network traffic analysis software: This reliable tool helps networking professionals track traffic patterns across a computer network, such as bot traffic. With such a tool, network engineers can quickly identify the rogue ports and devices sending sensitive business information outside their organizational network.
  • Security information and event management software: This powerful tool enables network engineers to improve their organization's overall security posture by centrally collecting and analyzing the security data captured from different network components, such as routers and switches.