What Is a Systems Administrator & What Do They Do?
A systems administrator, or sysadmin, is one of the most pivotal IT manager positions in a modern company. System administrators maintain the accessibility and uptime of vital systems across the business.
Their knowledge of both hardware and software helps them build and maintain the important technological infrastructure that keeps employees and employers in contact and able to perform their jobs.
Sysadmins typically manage servers, which for many years were the physical computer systems that stored information that the company might need to access. However, as cloud computing has become a more affordable option and easier to implement compared to physical storage, the job of a systems administrator has become more concerned with managing cloud computing networks and associated software. This means SysAdmins are more likely to encounter security issues than ever before.
Job description for a systems administrator (sysadmin)
A system administrator is on staff because they are ultimately responsible for the easy, smooth performance of all company connections that involve digital or internet traffic. You are responsible for mail servers within or outside the company, network setup, implementing and updating software, and much more.
This is an increasingly wide-ranging job, as more employees work from home or all over the world, access remote systems, use cloud computing or personal devices, and otherwise involve an internet connection, regardless of security, to do their work. This means that a sysadmin is one of the first people to deal with internet security issues at their root. They handle daily maintenance and repairs, updating or installing new software, upgrading and maintaining computer hardware, performing routine automation and examining its results, troubleshooting potential issues or questions, training IT employees, and providing or overseeing technical support for the entire company.
If you want to work as a sysadmin, you must know how to maintain all the company’s technology and IT stack — the entire technological infrastructure holding up your employer’s business. To do this, you must stay up-to-date with the latest software innovations and security risks. You often have to manage an entire development or IT team, getting their feedback and overseeing their work. Most importantly, you must be an efficient problem-solver.
Sysadmin educational qualifications, training & salary
To become a sysadmin, it helps to have these qualifications:
- Microsoft Certified Solutions Expert (MCSE)
- Oracle Linux System Administrator (Oracle)
- Linux
- Unix
- Red Hat Certified Engineer (RHCE)
- CompTIA Server+
- VMware Certified Professional 6- Data Center Virtualization
Entry-level sysadmin salaries start between $60,000 and $80,000 per year. Median pay in 2020 was listed at $84,810 per year, or $40.77 per hour. The exact numbers can depend greatly on where you live in the country, but you can make upward of $120,000 in this position.
You should at least have a bachelor’s degree in computer science, although some sysadmins can work their way into this position through other entry-level positions with lower-level degrees or training certificates.
The skills & responsibilities of sysadmins
- Monitoring and alerting: Curr