What is the job of a network administrator?

Today, it is unlikely that any company can function without a computer network and constant access to the Internet. New software is constantly being developed, companies are operating under established rules, and what can be done faster and more efficiently is being automated. So it’s easy to guess what happens in a company when the network fails. It could be a problem with the server or with Internet access. Corporate networks are also vulnerable to hacking attacks, viruses, and after all, company computers store the confidential data of scores of customers. In such unexpected situations, there is panic among employees and no one knows what to do, as functioning is largely disrupted. This is why you need the right person who can quickly diagnose the problem and know how to control it. Such a person is precisely a network administrator.

Almost every company employs such a specialist, who watches over the network and makes sure that everything runs smoothly and without problems. Who exactly is a network administrator and what does his job consist of? What responsibilities does he have, what qualities must a good network administrator have and how can one become one?

Who is a network administrator and what does his job entail?

A network administrator is a person who takes care of the entire corporate network. Generally speaking, he is responsible for building the company’s network, improving it and managing the network. Networks can be local or wide area, to which even customers can be connected. In some companies, the administrator also has the ability to communicate with network users, which is very important, as they report hardware problems, and the administrator can familiarize them with new software he decides to install.

A computer network administrator installs new software, updates current software, has access to each user’s account, manages them, and can provide training on how to use the company’s network. It is also not uncommon to help solve ongoing user problems, although another employee is often assigned to this task.

The network administrator has to monitor the network at all times, check that everything is in order and make it operational at all times. So he must keep his hand on the pulse and respond immediately to any problems. Contact with network users is invaluable here, as they can report to the administrator that they have problems on their devices. When there is a problem, an error, the network administrator must immediately work to fix it.

In addition to this, the network administrator also deals with protecting the network from viruses, hacking attacks or spyware. Its task is also to archive data and create backup copies of all important information, so that in the event of some kind of failure, it will not be lost.

The work of a network administrator can be very anxious and stressful, but it’s also common for nothing to happen and it’s quiet until something worrisome happens. If there are no problems with the operation of the network, the administrator can simply monitor it or try new solutions that can make users’ work easier.

The company’s computer network administrator works closely with the computer system administrator.

Where is a network administrator employed?

As mentioned above, a network administrator is a position in almost every company or institution that has a computer network. Network administrators are employed in every office, be it a small one with a network for a few – a dozen or so computers, or in corporations, where there may be as many as several hundred. They can be employed as permanent employees in one company, or they can run their own business and administer the company’s network as an outside company. Self-employed network administrators can even perform assignments for several companies simultaneously.

What should a professional network administrator be like?

First and foremost, a good network administrator should be a specialist in his field. Working in this position requires constant training, improving one’s skills and constantly gaining knowledge. After all, the IT industry is not one of those standing still and is developing at a very fast pace. The administrator must therefore keep up with all the new developments. A willingness to learn and self-improve is therefore an essential characteristic of a person who wants to pursue a career as a network administrator. Just gaining basic knowledge and skills requires at least several years of work, so a network administrator must be someone with experience.

In addition to continuous learning, the administrator must also be able to work under stress, under time pressure, to act immediately as soon as a problem arises. He or she must act quickly, but must also be able to think logically to make decisions efficiently and for the benefit of the functioning of the entire organization. One cannot succumb to emotions and nerves in such situations, as this leads to making unnecessary mistakes that can only further damage the network. Mastery is another of the basic qualities necessary in a network administrator.

A network administrator is also an independent worker. He works alone, so he must be able to do everything himself. Divisibility of attention is also an essential skill for this specialist, as the job often requires several activities to be performed simultaneously. A network administrator should be able to focus on each of them at one time. An employee in such a position must also have a lot of patience and be able to work routinely when nothing wrong is happening.

In addition, a network administrator must be a communicative person and have high personal culture. Pedagogical skills can also be useful. A network administrator must be able to explain to network users what is unclear to them and introduce them to the new software in use. It is also a job with great responsibility for the reason that the administrator has access to the company’s database, and often the proper functioning of the company depends on the proper operation of the computer network. A network administrator must also be a tremendously available person, and actually available at any time of the day, or even night if the company works in shifts. A breakdown can happen at any time, so a network administrator must be available at all times to take care of the problem at hand as quickly as possible.

How much does a network administrator earn?

Anyone considering the choice of a profession for themselves pays attention first and foremost to earnings. So what kind of earnings can be expected for the position of network administrator? It is assumed that the average salary in this profession is about 5200 PLN net. However, 25% of network administrators earn more, as much as 7000 zlotys, and the same percentage of others earn less than the average salary, about 4100 zlotys. In general, it can be said that earnings in this profession, as in most IT professions, are quite high.

In terms of employment, the positions of network administrators are dominated by men. Women account for only 5% of those employed in this profession. Salary is influenced by several factors. These are:

experience (length of work experience);
The location of the company where the administrator is employed;
The size of the employing company;
employee education.

Overall earnings trends in the network administrator profession are going up. Each year, salaries are rising and may continue to do so.

The reported earnings figures, of course, apply to those employed as full-time employees. The situation with earnings is different for self-employed specialists. Such people price their own services accordingly and can provide them for several companies at the same time. Thus, they can earn much more than a person employed as a full-time employee.

How to become a computer network administrator?

Computer network administrator is one of the prestigious professions. A candidate for such a position must meet a number of not inconsiderable requirements, namely:

Have a degree in computer science or a related field, preferably a university degree;
Have relevant certifications and certificates of completed courses and training, especially Cisco;
Have extensive knowledge of LAN local area networks, WAN wide area networks and the Internet;
perfectly familiar with the HTTP protocol and other modern standards in data transmission;
have programming skills, that is, be able to write their own applications in at least one programming language;
Have knowledge of handling databases (MySQL, Postgres, Oracle);
have the ability to do practical, physical construction of the network, so know the types of cables and intermediary devices;
Have knowledge of various operating systems and their installation;
Know English very well, both spoken and written.

In summary, someone who wants to become a network administrator should first of all complete the appropriate IT studies and specialized training. This is indeed a future-oriented profession, as there is a high demand for this type of worker. Salaries are also on the rise. Unfortunately, often taking such a job requires moving to a larger city, where the cost of living is higher and sometimes even the salary of an administrator, especially a beginner, turns out to be insufficient. This causes many specialists to go abroad and there is simply a shortage of them in Poland. Not everyone is ready for such a responsible and demanding job, as well as continuous learning, and after all, information is the most precious good, which someone like a computer network administrator must remember.

A network administrator isn’t everything – the internet is the foundation

Even a network administrator may not be able to handle network problems if the company does not have a decent Internet connection. It is worth using the services of a professional company to make sure that the link will be fast and secure. ITH offers high-quality Internet services in the form of a fiber-optic link, a public IP subnet and hosting.

ITH is now offering promotional service packages as part of the ITH Net crisis shield:

You can use them until December 31, 2022 for only one zloty. All you have to do is choose a package from ITH Net’s offerings and remotely sign a contract with the company. Of course, you also need to check first if ITH Net’s crisis shield is available at your company’s location.
As early as 7 days after signing the contract, the link will be installed in your company, and you and your employees will have time to evaluate the service and decide whether to use it any longer.
ITH Group are professionals you can always count on. You can be sure that the link from ITH will be reliable and fully secure, which will make the work of your network administrator easier, and allow you and your customers to sleep soundly, without worrying about stored data.

Enjoy the best so that your company can operate at top speed and become more and more successful!

What is the job of a network administrator?