Duties and responsibilities of the system network administrator

System network administrators monitor and support the day-to-day operation of computer systems and networks within an organization, ensuring reliable performance and data integrity over local area networks (LANs), wide area networks ( WAN) and intranets of the organization. In this role, system network administrators assess the needs of a business by configuring and maintaining computer networks, monitoring network and system performance, and collecting data to improve security and reliability.

This IT role works primarily on server-side maintenance and deployment tasks, but system network administrator tasks may also include direct user support, particularly during upgrades and migrations. The system network administrator must balance technical skills with an overview of how your organization uses its data infrastructure.

Duties and responsibilities of the system network administrator

While the role of a system network administrator may vary slightly depending on your organization, the posts we reviewed shared several key responsibilities:

Configure and install networks and operating systems

One of the primary duties of a network systems administrator is to install, configure, and deploy networks and operating systems for use throughout the organization. The system's network administrator determines the organization's data storage and transmission needs and makes key decisions about network configuration and the ability to provide users with reliable access to key data and software. The system network administrator can also directly install operating systems and programs on the user's hardware.

Provide technical support to users

System network administrators provide direct support to end users, particularly during system setup and installation, as well as during network changes. This may include helping users install software and make sure it works with the operating system and network settings, troubleshooting connection or performance issues, or providing guidance on IT-related processes and procedures. In some organizations, the system network administrator can also answer help desk questions.

Monitor system performance

The system's network administrator periodically checks the performance of the system to ensure reliability. This may include reviewing error logs, running regular system speed and reliability tests, and monitoring user-reported problems. The system network administrator can also perform routine system checks to assess security and stability, modifying settings to fix problems or improve reliability.

Monitor the backend infrastructure

The system network administrator designs and manages many of the server-side or backend elements of an organization's network architecture. This may include installing firewall or antivirus programs at the network level, configuring databases and accesses, and implementing server-side updates to improve performance. The system network administrator also periodically assesses the need to update or repair these systems while limiting the impact of these changes on employees.

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