“

WHAT DOES A SYSTEM ADMINISTRATION DO

AND ITS PROFESSION
 • TECHNICAL SKILLS
A system administrator, often
abbreviated as sysadmin or •
Scripts
01
simply admin, is responsible for First and foremost, as there is a lot of
work going into monitoring and
keeping the network of
maintaining a computer system,
computers in check. You likely
administrators absolutely need to be able
won’t be expected to fix to use scripts and script frameworks.
desktops of multiple end-users,
• Traffic Management
but you will be the person 02

• IT systems need to utilize firewalls to

ensuring that everything works,
forward certain types of traffic to specific
in the bigger picture.
servers and block other types of traffic..
A system administrator, often • Security
03
abbreviated as sysadmin or security of the entire IT
simply admin, is responsible for infrastructure is a huge task

keeping the network of

computers in check. You likely 04
• Backup and recovery
won’t be expected to fix
Backing up and recovering big amounts
desktops of multiple end-users,
of data is quite challenging, but
but you will be the person
essential for any company. .
ensuring that everything works,
in the bigger picture.
A system administrator, often 05 Cloud
abbreviated as sysadmin or Cloud services have taken the IT world by
simply admin, is responsible for storm and have done so pretty fast. his means
keeping the network of two things – one, understanding and being
able to work with the cloud is in the demand it
computers in check. You likely highest

has ever been. Secondly, because it’s a new

won’t be expected to fix
skill, it’s also still quite scarce.
desktops of multiple end-users,
but you will be the person
ensuring that everything works,
in the bigger picture.
 • SOFT SKILLS
A system administrator, often 06

abbreviated as sysadmin or •Effective communication

simply admin, is responsible for Learning to listen and explain things in a
simple manner will be essential to your
keeping the network of
position as a system administrator.
computers in check. You likely
won’t be expected to fix 07
• Think proactively rather than reactively
desktops of multiple end-users,
Many people think of sysadmins as soon as
but you will be the person
something breaks. But a really good system
ensuring that everything works, admin has set up things in a way that doesn’t
in the bigger picture. allow much to break in the first place.
A system administrator, often
abbreviated as sysadmin or
simply admin, is responsible for 08 •Flexibility
keeping the network of •If you are the system administrator and the
company is losing dollars every second the
computers in check. You likely
system is down, which means staying to work
won’t be expected to fix
late.
desktops of multiple end-users,
but you will be the person
ensuring that everything works,
in the bigger picture.
“System Administrator Duties & Responsibilities”
1
Sysadmins are responsible for ensuring the uptime of their companies'
computers, servers and internet -- basically "keeping the lights on" to limit work
disruptions. This includes system maintenance and configuration, such as
installing and troubleshooting hardware and software and assessing new
technologies for their companies.

Depending upon an organization's specialty, information system administrator

job titles may include a data center administrator, computer network
administrator, virtualization administrator, server administrator or database
administrator.

Smaller IT departments generally give the system administrator position a wider

scope of responsibilities. In some organizations, a sysadmin may need to
support everything from end-user desktop computer systems to the
organization's local area network, wireless LAN, voice over Internet Protocol
phone system and hybrid cloud storage.
 In-depth knowledge
of operating systems Familiarity with hardware

Knowledge of
networks
Communication and
interpersonal skills

Cloud administration
skills
Real Insights from an
IT System
Administrator
 01
How did you become a System Administrator?

While most employers prefer that you have a bachelor’s

degree in computer science or any related subject to be
Text here qualified for a system administrator role, I find that is not

Unified fonts make reading more fluent. necessary. Many system administrators come from different
Theme color makes PPT more convenient to change. backgrounds. Actually one of my colleagues does not hold a
Adjust the spacing to adapt to Chinese typesetting, use the reference line in
PPT. bachelor’s degree, although he works as a system
administrator.

If you do not hold a bachelor’s degree in computer science,

you have to prove your knowledge in system administration
in another way such as professional certificates credentials
Ahmed Hussien
(Bachelor of Electronic Engineering - offered by different technology vendors like Red Hat,
Computer Science and Engineering) Amazon, etc.
 Red Hat System CompTIA Server+ or A+
Administrator Certification
Designed to prepare you for entry-level positions. The Server+ or A+ certifications
Getting the Red Hat System Administrator
in particular will leave you with the necessary skills and experience under your belt
Certification will give you the needed experience with to start applying for entry-level IT jobs. While you’ll gain specialized
knowledge around servers with the Server+ certification, the A+
Linux operating systems to land an entry-level job
certification covers a broader set of skills applicable to other aspects of IT.
in systems administration.

Windows Server Google IT Support

Administration Fundamentals Professional Certificate
The Windows Server Administration Fundamentals The Google IT Support Professional Certificate equips you with
the skills to tackle common sysadmin tasks such as customer support
certification will qualify your expertise in Windows
and troubleshooting. It also introduces you to commonly
servers, networking, Active Directory, account used systems like Linux and Domain Name Systems, and prepares
management, and system recovery tools you for the CompTIA A+ exam.
 02 How did you become a System Administrator?

As a system administrator, your typical daily routine will

include monitoring, deployment, and troubleshooting. Monitoring
Text here means that you should have your list of all systems under your
responsibility to check their availability, performance, backup…
Unified fonts make reading more fluent.
Theme color makes PPT more convenient to change. etc. Many available tools are available for this purpose both
Adjust the spacing to adapt to Chinese typesetting, use the reference line in
commercial and free tools.
PPT.
Deployment is when you respond to a business need or to a
request from other departments within your organization to
deploy a new system. Finally, troubleshooting, this is your
response to emergencies once they happen. Remember, as a
system administrator your core responsibility is to keep your
Ahmed Hussien organization’s business up and running by making sure that your
(Bachelor of Electronic Engineering - systems are available upon your organization’s rules.
Computer Science and Engineering)
 What are the tools a system administrator
03
can’t do without?

The answer to this question depends on the system you

Text here are administrating. Tools used on Linux are different from

Unified fonts make reading more fluent.

those used for Windows. However, they have the same
Theme color makes PPT more convenient to change. objective. In short words, as a system administrator, you
Adjust the spacing to adapt to Chinese typesetting, use the reference line in
PPT. need tools for monitoring performance, processes,
network availability, and other system activities. Also, you
need tools for provisioning and disk management. Tools
for remote connection also required to ease your life as a
system administrator. A very wide variety of system
Ahmed Hussien administration tools are available out there that you would
(Bachelor of Electronic Engineering - need a separate blog article.
Computer Science and Engineering)
 04
What’s the most enjoyable part of the job?

Text here
For me, I have been always interested in
Unified fonts make reading more fluent.
Theme color makes PPT more convenient to change. controlling things, working as a system
Adjust the spacing to adapt to Chinese typesetting, use the reference line in
PPT. administrator allows me to enjoin the
control. But this comes with the price of
responsibility, so you need to be careful.

Ahmed Hussien
(Bachelor of Electronic Engineering -
Computer Science and Engineering)
 What are the tools a system administrator
05
can’t do without?

The answer to this question depends on the system you are

Text here administrating. Tools used on Linux are different from those

Unified fonts make reading more fluent.

used for Windows. However, they have the same objective.
Theme color makes PPT more convenient to change. In short words, as a system administrator, you need tools for
Adjust the spacing to adapt to Chinese typesetting, use the reference line in
PPT. monitoring performance, processes, network availability,
and other system activities. Also, you need tools for
provisioning and disk management. Tools for remote
connection also required to ease your life as a system
administrator. A very wide variety of system administration
Ahmed Hussien tools are available out there that you would need a separate
(Bachelor of Electronic Engineering - blog article.
Computer Science and Engineering)
 Why did you become a system administrator?
06
What advice would you give to those aspiring
to be one?

Text here Working as a system administrator allows you to be

Unified fonts make reading more fluent. up-to-date with new technologies. Also, in most
Theme color makes PPT more convenient to change.
Adjust the spacing to adapt to Chinese typesetting, use the reference line in cases, working as a system administrator has its
PPT.
advantages like flexible working hours. If you are
enthusiastic and aspiring to be a system
administrator I suggest you be eager to learn. The
very fast rapid changes in this area are a force to be
Ahmed Hussien reckoned with, and you’ve got to catch up.
(Bachelor of Electronic Engineering -
Computer Science and Engineering)
“ THANK YOU