Network and Computer Systems Administrators
15-1244.00
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.
Sample of reported job titles: Information Analyst, Information Systems Coordinator (IS Coordinator), Information Technology Specialist (IT Specialist), Information Technology Technical Support Specialist (IT Technical Support Specialist), IT Systems Admin (Information Technology Systems Administrator), LAN Specialist (Local Area Network Specialist), Local Area Network Administrator (LAN Administrator), MIS Manager (Management Information Systems Manager), Network Administrator, Network Coordinator, Network Manager, Network Support Coordinator, Network Support Manager, Network Systems Administrator, Network Systems Coordinator, Server Administrator, Systems Administrator, Systems Operator, Wide Area Network Administrator (WAN Administrator)
Occupation-Specific Information
Tasks
- 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 are needed and where changes will be needed 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 solutions to 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.
Technology Skills
- Access software - Access management software; Citrix cloud computing software; IBM Tivoli software; Mac HelpMate; Remote desktop control software
- Administration software - Cisco Systems CiscoWorks; Dynamic host configuration protocol DHCP; Element management software; Hewlett-Packard HP Network Node Manager; Network address management software; Network documentation software; Network management software; Network shutdown software; Simple network management protocol SNMP software
- Analytical or scientific software - Root cause analysis software; SAS π₯; StataCorp Stata
- Application server software - Citrix XenApp; Docker π₯; GitHub π₯; Oracle WebLogic Server; Red Hat OpenShift π₯; Red Hat WildFly
- Authentication server software - Password management software
- Backup or archival software - System and data disaster recovery software; Veritas NetBackup
- Business intelligence and data analysis software - Apache Spark π₯; IBM Cognos Impromptu; MicroStrategy; Oracle Business Intelligence Enterprise Edition; Qlik Tech QlikView; Tableau π₯
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Cloud-based data access and sharing software -
Microsoft SharePoint
- Cloud-based management software - Amazon Web Services AWS CloudFormation π₯; IBM WebSphere; Splunk Enterprise π₯
- Cloud-based protection or security software - SolarWinds
- Clustering software - VMware
- Communications server software - IBM Domino
- Compiler and decompiler software - Command interpreters
- Computer aided design CAD software - Computer aided design and drafting CADD software; Dassault Systemes CATIA
- Computer based training software - Computer based training software; Moodle
- Computer imaging software - Symantec Ghost Solution Suite
- Configuration management software - Application management software; Automated installation software; Chef π₯; Configuration management software; Microsoft Windows Sysprep; Patch and update management software; Perforce Helix software; Puppet π₯
- Content workflow software - Atlassian JIRA π₯
- Customer relationship management CRM software - Blackbaud The Raiser's Edge
- Data base management system software - Amazon DynamoDB π₯; Apache Cassandra π₯; Apache Hadoop π₯; Apache Hive π₯; Apache Pig; Apache Solr; Elasticsearch π₯; MongoDB π₯; MySQL π₯; NoSQL π₯; Oracle PL/SQL π₯; Relational database management software; Teradata Database π₯
- Data base reporting software - Microsoft SQL Server Reporting Services SSRS π₯; SAP Crystal Reports
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Data base user interface and query software -
Amazon Elastic Compute Cloud EC2 π₯; Amazon Redshift π₯; Amazon Web Services AWS software ; Blackboard software; Database software; FileMaker Pro; Microsoft Access π₯; Microsoft SQL Server π₯; Oracle Database π₯; Oracle JDBC; Structured query language SQL ; Transact-SQL π₯
- Desktop communications software - ParentSquare; Secure shell SSH software; Skype
- Desktop publishing software - Microsoft Publisher
-
Development environment software -
Adobe ActionScript; Apache Ant; Apache Kafka π₯; Apache Maven π₯; C π₯; Common business oriented language COBOL; Eclipse IDE π₯; Go π₯; Integrated development environment IDE software; Microsoft .NET Framework π₯; Microsoft Azure software ; Microsoft PowerShell ; Microsoft Visual Basic π₯; Microsoft Visual Basic for Applications VBA π₯; Microsoft Visual Basic Scripting Edition VBScript; Microsoft Visual Studio π₯; Ruby π₯; Systems and applications migration software
- Document management software - Adobe Acrobat π₯
- Electronic mail software - IBM Notes; Microsoft Exchange; Microsoft Outlook π₯
- Enterprise application integration software - Atlassian Bamboo π₯; Enterprise application integration EAI software; Extensible markup language XML π₯; IBM InfoSphere DataStage; Microsoft SQL Server Integration Services SSIS π₯; Oracle Fusion Middleware; Systems integration software
- Enterprise resource planning ERP software - Adexa eGPS Suite; Enterprise resource planning ERP software; Microsoft Dynamics π₯; Microsoft Dynamics GP; NetSuite ERP; Oracle Fusion Applications; Oracle Hyperion; Oracle JD Edwards EnterpriseOne; Oracle PeopleSoft π₯; Oracle PeopleSoft Financials; SAP Business Objects; SAP software π₯
- Enterprise system management software - IBM Power Systems software
-
Expert system software -
Ansible software
- File versioning software - Apache Subversion SVN π₯; Git π₯
- Financial analysis software - Delphi Technology; Oracle E-Business Suite Financials
- Gateway software - Microsoft Windows Terminal Services Access Manager
- Geographic information system - ESRI ArcGIS software π₯; Geographic information system GIS software
- Graphical user interface development software - TKSoftware RCM software
- Helpdesk or call center software - Help desk software
- Human resources software - Human resource management software HRMS; Oracle Taleo
- Industrial control software - Supervisory control and data acquisition SCADA software
-
Internet directory services software -
Active directory software; Berkeley Internet Domain Name BIND; Domain name system DNS; Microsoft Active Directory ; Network addressable storage NAS software
- Internet protocol IP multimedia subsystem software - Open source routing protocols OSPF; Voice over internet protocol VoIP system software
- Medical software - Epic Systems π₯
- Metadata management software - Quest Erwin Data Modeler
- Network monitoring software - Dartware InterMapper; Ethereal; IBM Director; IBM NetView; Lavalys Everest; LogMatrix NerveCenter; Micromuse NetCool; Multi-router traffic grapher MRTG software; Nagios; Network and application load and performance testing software; Network and component performance analysis software; Network availability monitoring software; Network intrusion prevention systems NIPS; Network modeling, mapping, and analysis software; Network traffic flow monitoring and analysis software; Network traffic probe software; Novell NetWare Management Station; Online traffic calculator software; Oracle Net Manager; Packet tracing software; Quest BigBrother; Quest Foglight; Remote monitoring software; Snort; Tcpdump; Wireshark; Zabbix
- Network operating system enhancement software - Management information base MIB software; Network, server and operating system optimization software; Operating system process control software
- Network security and virtual private network VPN equipment software - Firewall software; Network intrusion detection software; Virtual private networking VPN software
- Network security or virtual private network VPN management software - Intrusion prevention system IPS; Network and system vulnerability assessment software; OpenService Open NerveCenter; Security incident management software; Virtual local area network management software
-
Object or component oriented development software -
Advanced business application programming ABAP; Apache Groovy; C# π₯; C++ π₯; jQuery π₯; Jupyter Notebook; Microsoft ActiveX; Oracle Java π₯; Perl π₯; Python ; Swift π₯
- Object oriented data base management software - Hibernate ORM π₯; PostgreSQL π₯
-
Office suite software -
Microsoft Office software
-
Operating system software -
Apple macOS π₯; Bash π₯; Hewlett Packard HP-UX; Job control language JCL; KornShell; Linux ; Microsoft Windows π₯; Microsoft Windows Server ; Operating system software; Oracle Solaris; Red Hat Enterprise Linux; Shell script π₯; Ubuntu; UNIX ; UNIX Shell π₯
- Optical network management software - Optical network management software
- Pattern design software - Diagramming software
- Platform interconnectivity software - Virtual network computing VNC software
- Portal server software - Apache HTTP Server
- Presentation software - Microsoft PowerPoint π₯
- Process mapping and design software - Microsoft Visio π₯
- Program testing software - Computer system diagnostics software; Hewlett Packard LoadRunner
- Project management software - Atlassian Confluence π₯; Microsoft Project π₯; Microsoft Teams π₯; Oracle Primavera Enterprise Project Portfolio Management π₯
- Requirements analysis and system architecture software - Requirements management software
- Sales and marketing software - Marketo Marketing Automation π₯
-
Spreadsheet software -
Microsoft Excel
- Storage networking software - Amazon Simple Storage Service S3 π₯; Storage area network SAN software
- Switch or router software - Border Gateway Protocol BGP π₯
- Transaction security and virus protection software - Encryption software; Honeypot; McAfee; NortonLifeLock cybersecurity software; Packet filter software; Ping Identity; Root kit detection software
- Transaction server software - Customer information control system CICS
- Video conferencing software - Cisco Webex π₯
- Web page creation and editing software - Adobe Dreamweaver; Google Sites
- Web platform development software - AJAX π₯; Apache Struts; Apache Tomcat π₯; Django π₯; Drupal π₯; Dynamic hypertext markup language DHTML; Enterprise JavaBeans; Extensible hypertext markup language XHTML; Hypertext markup language HTML π₯; JavaScript π₯; JavaScript Object Notation JSON π₯; LAMP Stack; Microsoft Active Server Pages ASP π₯; Microsoft ASP.NET π₯; Microsoft ASP.NET Core MVC; Node.js π₯; Oracle JavaServer Pages JSP π₯; PHP π₯; Ruby on Rails π₯
Occupational Requirements
Work Activities
- Getting Information - Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
- Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings - Monitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems.
- Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events - Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.
- Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials - Inspecting equipment, structures, or materials to identify the cause of errors or other problems or defects.
- Estimating the Quantifiable Characteristics of Products, Events, or Information - Estimating sizes, distances, and quantities; or determining time, costs, resources, or materials needed to perform a work activity.
- Judging the Qualities of Objects, Services, or People - Assessing the value, importance, or quality of things or people.
- Processing Information - Compiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or verifying information or data.
- Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards - Using relevant information and individual judgment to determine whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.
- Analyzing Data or Information - Identifying the underlying principles, reasons, or facts of information by breaking down information or data into separate parts.
- Making Decisions and Solving Problems - Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
- Thinking Creatively - Developing, designing, or creating new applications, ideas, relationships, systems, or products, including artistic contributions.
- Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge - Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.
- Developing Objectives and Strategies - Establishing long-range objectives and specifying the strategies and actions to achieve them.
- Scheduling Work and Activities - Scheduling events, programs, and activities, as well as the work of others.
- Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work - Developing specific goals and plans to prioritize, organize, and accomplish your work.
- Performing General Physical Activities - Performing physical activities that require considerable use of your arms and legs and moving your whole body, such as climbing, lifting, balancing, walking, stooping, and handling materials.
- Handling and Moving Objects - Using hands and arms in handling, installing, positioning, and moving materials, and manipulating things.
- Controlling Machines and Processes - Using either control mechanisms or direct physical activity to operate machines or processes (not including computers or vehicles).
- Operating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or Equipment - Running, maneuvering, navigating, or driving vehicles or mechanized equipment, such as forklifts, passenger vehicles, aircraft, or watercraft.
- Working with Computers - Using computers and computer systems (including hardware and software) to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.
- Drafting, Laying Out, and Specifying Technical Devices, Parts, and Equipment - Providing documentation, detailed instructions, drawings, or specifications to tell others about how devices, parts, equipment, or structures are to be fabricated, constructed, assembled, modified, maintained, or used.
- Repairing and Maintaining Mechanical Equipment - Servicing, repairing, adjusting, and testing machines, devices, moving parts, and equipment that operate primarily on the basis of mechanical (not electronic) principles.
- 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.
- Documenting/Recording Information - Entering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.
- Interpreting the Meaning of Information for Others - Translating or explaining what information means and how it can be used.
- Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates - Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
- Communicating with People Outside the Organization - Communicating with people outside the organization, representing the organization to customers, the public, government, and other external sources. This information can be exchanged in person, in writing, or by telephone or e-mail.
- Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships - Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.
- Assisting and Caring for Others - Providing personal assistance, medical attention, emotional support, or other personal care to others such as coworkers, customers, or patients.
- Selling or Influencing Others - Convincing others to buy merchandise/goods or to otherwise change their minds or actions.
- Resolving Conflicts and Negotiating with Others - Handling complaints, settling disputes, and resolving grievances and conflicts, or otherwise negotiating with others.
- Performing for or Working Directly with the Public - Performing for people or dealing directly with the public. This includes serving customers in restaurants and stores, and receiving clients or guests.
- Coordinating the Work and Activities of Others - Getting members of a group to work together to accomplish tasks.
- Developing and Building Teams - Encouraging and building mutual trust, respect, and cooperation among team members.
- Training and Teaching Others - Identifying the educational needs of others, developing formal educational or training programs or classes, and teaching or instructing others.
- Guiding, Directing, and Motivating Subordinates - Providing guidance and direction to subordinates, including setting performance standards and monitoring performance.
- Coaching and Developing Others - Identifying the developmental needs of others and coaching, mentoring, or otherwise helping others to improve their knowledge or skills.
- Providing Consultation and Advice to Others - Providing guidance and expert advice to management or other groups on technical, systems-, or process-related topics.
- Performing Administrative Activities - Performing day-to-day administrative tasks such as maintaining information files and processing paperwork.
- Staffing Organizational Units - Recruiting, interviewing, selecting, hiring, and promoting employees in an organization.
- Monitoring and Controlling Resources - Monitoring and controlling resources and overseeing the spending of money.
Detailed Work Activities
- Maintain computer networks to enhance performance and user access.
- Implement security measures for computer or information systems.
- Create electronic data backup to prevent loss of information.
- Resolve computer network problems.
- Troubleshoot issues with computer applications or systems.
- Resolve computer software problems.
- Monitor the performance of computer networks.
- Develop computer or information security policies or procedures.
- Analyze data to identify or resolve operational problems.
- Collaborate with others to resolve information technology issues.
- Provide technical support for computer network issues.
- Analyze project data to determine specifications or requirements.
- Identify information technology project resource requirements.
- Recommend changes to improve computer or information systems.
- Test computer hardware performance.
- Test software performance.
- Design integrated computer systems.
- Document operational activities.
- Install computer hardware.
- Train others in computer interface or software use.
- Document network-related activities or tasks.
- Collect data about customer needs.
- Coordinate resource procurement activities.
- Maintain the inventory of equipment.
- Conduct research to gain information about products or processes.
- Update knowledge about emerging industry or technology trends.