Network Administrator – Getting started (A Beginner’s Guide)
Network administrators are IT professionals that maintain computer networks.
Network
administrators are IT professionals that maintain computer networks and keep a
company’s systems connected. From switches to routers to cloud computing to
cabling, if there’s anything related to connectivity, network admins handle it.
According to the BLS (Bureau of Labor Statistics), the median annual salary of
network and computer systems administrators was $82,050 in 2018. That number
increases to USD 109,020 for computer network architects, job title network
administrators can progress into as they gain on the job experience. This is a
popular career path for good reason. If you’re looking to become a network
administrator, but are not sure where to start, you are in the right place. Network
administrators install, support and manage the networks and computer systems
that keep information flowing. They implement and maintain network hardware and
software, troubleshoot network problems, and ensure network security,
availability & performance standards. In challenging economic times,
organizations retain and hire network administrators to optimize existing
systems to reduce costs and boost productivity. In a robust economy, companies
implement new networking and communications technologies to spark a competitive
advantage, leading to increased demand for network administrators to install,
secure and optimize the new systems. This consistent demand, independent of
economic conditions, has led many employment experts to dub network
administrator a "recession proof career." This has become somewhat
less true as the proliferation of cloud computing solutions continues to
increase network productivity, enabling companies to do more with less
personnel, however network administrator remains a solid career path with
strong compensation and plenty of options for upward mobility. Network
Administrators manage a business’ IT networks, including hardware like phones
and computers, and software like network security and password managers. They
also provide technical advice for projects that rely on efficient network
performance. Network Administrators work across nearly every industry, not just
the technology sector.Here we will review the profession’s job outlook, degree
and certification requirements, required skill sets, and day-to-day
responsibilities.
Job
outlook: Are network administrators in demand?
According
to the BLS, network and computer systems administrators are projected to see 5%
employment growth between 2018 and 2028. This number implies an average growth
rate relative to all jobs within the economy. With over 383,000 jobs already
existing in the field, these projections suggest another 18,000+ jobs are
coming.
What
education is required for network administrators?
A
bachelor’s degree is the typical entry-level education for a network and
computer systems administrator. However, on-the-job experience, associate
degree programs with a networking focus, and technical certifications like
Cisco’s CCNA (Cisco Certified Network Associate) can help open the door to a
network administrator job without a bachelor’s degree. In fact, more and more
organizations, including large enterprises like Apple and Google, are dropping
specific degree requirements for potential employees. If you’re an aspiring
network admin that hasn’t earned a bachelor’s degree, that’s good news. You’ll
still need to validate your skills to prospective employers when pursuing these
roles. Skill validation without a four-year degree means earning
certifications, demonstrating experience, and showcasing a portfolio of
completed projects.
What
skills does a network administrator need?
Degrees
and certifications are helpful, but real-world skills are what matter. This is
part of the reason exam dumps — memorizing the certification exam’s questions
and answers without understanding the concepts — aren’t a great way to study.
Gaining practical skills and understanding the reasoning behind answers to exam
questions will help you not only pass the exam, but also help you succeed in
your future career. So, what skills does a good network administrator need to
have? Let’s take a look:
Knowledge of LANs
and WANs: LANs
(Local Area Networks) and WANs (Wide Area Networks) are the responsibility of
network administrators and network engineers. A robust understanding of how
LANs and WANs work is a must if you want to become a solid network
administrator. This means understanding everything from SDN (Software-Defined
Networking) to TCP/IP stack to subnetting to IPv6 to network cabling.
Knowledge of IT
security fundamentals: Within an IT operations team, security is each
team member’s responsibility. This is especially true when it comes to network
administration. As a network administrator, you will need to install and
configure network devices in accordance with cybersecurity best practices.
Experience with
networking hardware: Routers, switches, wireless access
points, firewalls, cables, and other network hardware devices comprise the
standard equipment that keeps a network running. As a network administrator,
you’ll need to be able to install, configure, and troubleshoot these devices.
While no single vendor controls the entire networking hardware market,
developing familiarity with Cisco products
is a good start since Cisco is among the most commonly used vendors for network
hardware solutions. The ubiquity of Cisco solutions is also why the CCNA is one
of the best certifications to pursue to jumpstart a career in network
administration.
Knowledge of
computer hardware: While server maintenance may not be a
network administrator’s primary responsibility, knowledge of computer hardware
and operating systems is an important part of almost any job in IT.
Understanding CPU, RAM, storage, and how compute devices work will help you
understand how nodes within the network operate.
Troubleshooting
skills: “It’s
a network problem” is one of the most common phrases in IT. It’s a network
administrator’s job to sort out when that statement is and isn’t true. This
means being able to isolate variables and apply your education to discover the
root cause of issues with network connectivity.
Programming and
scripting skills: Programming isn’t typically a required
skill for a network professional. However, it can be a valuable one. For
example, as the DevOps movement gains momentum, infrastructure as code and
network automation are becoming more common on technical teams. Additionally,
scripting can make it easy for network administrators to automate routine
tasks. Python is a good
programming language to learn if you’re a network pro.
What
are a network administrator’s day-to-day responsibilities?
Once
you land a network administrator job, what can you expect a typical day to look
like?
Generally,
this role’s responsibilities will fall within a few categories:
·
Installing
and configuring network hardware and software
·
Troubleshooting
network problems
·
Upgrading
and patching network hardware and software
·
Working
with network engineers and architects on network design
·
Securing
network devices
·
Testing
network hardware and software
Exactly
which tasks make up most of a workday will vary depending on the needs of the
company. In a large enterprise, for example, network administrators and
database administrators are separate roles that may work together on projects.
However, the network administrator and database administrator may be the same
person for small-to-midsize businesses. Additionally, the network topology can
vary greatly depending on a company’s size and infrastructure. Some businesses
may have primarily cloud-based workloads and rely heavily on technologies like
SDN and SD-WAN (Software-Defined Wide Area Networking) appliances. Other
companies may have most of their networking gear on-premises, requiring admins
to be more knowledgeable with hardware and cabling.
Tasks
and duties
·
Designing, installing and
maintaining computer and telephone networks.
·
Troubleshooting and providing
technical advice to stakeholders and customers.
·
Corresponding with external
agencies to arrange the installation of new services.
·
Making upgrades and repairs to
networks so they run correctly.
·
Maintaining network systems to
ensure optimal performance and security.
·
Training users to use network
features.
What
does a network administrator’s career path look like?
While
there’s no one single trajectory for the career of a network administrator,
there is a general framework for a network administrator’s career path.
Typically, one’s first role within this IT specialization is as a junior
network administrator or help desk technician. At this stage, professionals can
expect exposure to many different network technologies and will learn how to
troubleshoot many types of network problems. Since this role is more of a
generalist, don’t expect to take deep dives into any one subject matter. Within
a few years, you’ll progress to a network administrator job. Here, you’ll
likely carry out many of the tasks outlined in the previous section. This is a
good time to start thinking about where you’d like to specialize. For example,
do you want to become a wireless expert or focus on data center technology?
With experience at the network administrator level, the next step is network
engineer, which is considered a senior version of a network administrator. At
this stage, expect more responsibility and more complex problems to come your
way. Advancing past the network engineer role brings us to the network
architect, a role that dives deeper into network design. As with any industry,
the job titles, organizational team structures, and experience required for
junior versus senior network administrator roles vary greatly depending on the
company, its size, and its leadership. You may even decide to take a career
detour into a management role. Regardless of the specifics, the outline above
generally applies to many network administration career paths. From a
certification perspective, the progression from network administrator to
network engineer is like Cisco’s certification track. It aligns well with the
CCNA to CCNP (Cisco Certified Network Professional) to CCIE (Cisco Certified
Internetworking Expert) progression.
Common
network administrator certifications
The
following certifications can be helpful to those in the beginning stages of
their networking career:
·
Cisco
Certified Network Associate (CCNA): The CCNA validates
your skills in Cisco network solutions, basic IP addressing, and other network
fundamentals. Though exam takers usually have some experience working with
Cisco networking products, a training program can prepare you for the exam if
you're starting from scratch.
·
CompTIA
Network+: The CompTIA Network+ certification covers a wide range of
networking basics, such as security, troubleshooting, and infrastructure. It is
a solid option for those looking for entry-level networking positions, and is
generally considered more fundamental than the CCNA. The Network+ can be a
good option if you're completely new to networking concepts.
If
you’re looking to really invest in your future, a degree may boost your earning
potential and enhance your professional growth. An associate or bachelor’s
degree in computer science can be a great way to get on track to becoming
a network administrator, or other IT professional.
Entry-level
network administrator roles
Many
IT professionals get their start in help desk positions—entry-level IT jobs in
which you'll resolve computer issues that arise for companies and their
employees, such as IT specialist, help desk technician, help desk analyst, or
IT technician. These positions can give you a broad introduction to the world
of IT, and give you some hands-on experience dealing with network issues. Once
you have some experience, you can look to transition to a networking position.
Already in a help desk position? If you have an entry-level IT job but are
hoping to switch into network administration, try building up your network
skills. You can do this through hands-on experience, or by earning a network
certification like the CCNA. You can also approach your employer to see if
they'll let you take on more network-related tasks, or shadow network
professionals at your organization.
A
career in network administration can lead anywhere from maintaining a single
system to managing an entire organization’s IT needs. Some organizations may
require their administrators to meet a general set of requirements while others
allow administrators to specialize in specific areas like servers, networking
equipment, or security. As network administrators gain experience, they can
become certified in additional areas of IT like virtualization, cloud
computing, and storage systems. This will broaden their job opportunities
within the organization they’re working for or allow them to branch out into
new positions at other companies that need support.As you can see, a career as
a Network Administrator can be a diverse and interesting role. It involves
keeping employees connected and productive, ensuring that data is stored
securely, and working on improving the overall strength of a company’s network.
While a typical day can vary, it usually involves some combination of these
responsibilities in addition to administrative duties. Obtaining a bachelor’s
degree in network administration is the gold standard, there are other
acceptable career pathways to find success in this field. Examples include
computer engineering degrees, IT associate degrees, and certification programs.
With a generous median salary, this type of career can be a financially
rewarding one as well.
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