When you are considering a career in tech, you soon realize that every career path seems related. Sometimes, a career path can have interchangeable names like a web developer and programmer but not for systems administration and network administration.
Although they are two closely related fields of IT, they have a major difference. In this article, we would explore the details surrounding both career paths, their major defining quality, and how to pick the right career path suited to your unique person.
Systems Administration
What does Systems Administration entail?
Every company has incorporated the use of computers and technology to remain relevant in today's world. And that has created the need for someone to manage and maintain computer systems, networks, and servers to ensure their efficient operation. That precisely describes what systems administration is all about.
Although the intricacies of system administration differ across companies, it generally involves;
Installing and configuring software and hardware that are essential to the organization's operations. This borders on setting up servers, routers, switches, and other network components, as well as configuring operating systems and applications.
Managing user accounts by setting permissions and access levels. Security policies are also enforced to ensure that users have appropriate access to systems and data.
Monitoring operating system and application performance to ensure they are running efficiently. This includes identifying and resolving bottlenecks and other issues that could impact performance.
Troubleshooting problems that arise in normal daily functions. Issues are analyzed, diagnosed and resolved, and resolved promptly. This requires extensive knowledge of underlying systems and applications, as well as the ability to work with users and vendors to find solutions.
Data is crucial to the smooth running of every company. It aids decision-making. System administration steps into the scene to make sure no data is lost through scheduled backups and data restoration. This is a proactive approach against data loss due to a system failure.
Since companies constantly battle security threats, system administration entails ensuring that systems and data are protected from unauthorized access and other security threats.
Planning and implementing upgrades and changes to systems. New software and hardware are tested and deployed, and existing systems are updated.
Aim or Purpose of Systems Administration
The main purpose of system administration is to ensure that an organization's computer systems and servers operate efficiently and securely to support its operations. System administrators are responsible for managing and maintaining the organization's IT infrastructure, including hardware and software to ensure that they are available and functioning properly.
Tools involved in Systems Administration
Configuration management tools to automate the process of deploying and managing software and hardware configurations across multiple servers.
Monitoring and performance tools to track system performance, identify bottlenecks, and diagnose issues that can impact system availability and performance.
Backup and recovery tools to ensure that critical data is backed up regularly and can be restored quickly in the event of a system failure or other disaster.
Security tools to protect the organization's IT systems and data from unauthorized access and other security threats.
Skills involved in Systems Administration
Technical proficiency
Problem-solving skills
Time management skills
Adaptability
Automation skills
Analytical skills
Network Administration
What does Network Administration entail?
Ensuring the smooth running of computers and operating systems is only one part of the equation. Taking the cue from the synergy between the various departments in an organization, computers, and systems collectively form a company network, and that network has to be maintained.
Network administration involves the management, maintenance, and support of computer networks. A computer network is a group of interconnected devices, such as computers, servers, switches, routers, and other network devices that can communicate and share resources with each other.
Network administration involves;
Designing and planning. Network administrators involve themselves in network topology, selecting network hardware and software, and developing a plan for deploying the network.
Installing and configuring. This includes setting up and configuring network devices such as routers, switches, firewalls, and servers.
Monitoring and maintenance: This entails routine checks to ensure that the network is functioning properly and optimally. In the case of a network issue, troubleshooting takes place.
Aim or Purpose of Network Administration
The purpose of network administration is to manage and maintain computer networks to ensure their optimal performance, security, and usability.
Also, network administrators ensure the efficient operation and maintenance of computer networks. This involves managing the hardware and software components of a network, configuring and maintaining network devices such as routers and switches, ensuring network security, monitoring network performance, troubleshooting network issues, and providing technical support to network users.
Tools involved in Network Administration
Network monitoring tools to keep an eye on network traffic, track performance metrics, and detect and diagnose problems.
Configuration management tools to manage and maintain the configuration of network devices.
Remote access tools to help network administrators remotely access and manage network devices from a central location (usually, the company's headquarters).
Network mapping tools to visualize the layout of the network.
Security tools to identify and mitigate security threats.
Backup and recovery tools to back up important network data and restore it in the event of a system failure.
Troubleshooting tools to help diagnose and resolve network issues.
Knowledge and skills required in Network Administration
Knowledge of networking protocols
Extensive knowledge of network security
Troubleshooting
Network monitoring skills
Server administration
Project management
Differences between System Administration and Network Administration
System administration involves managing the hardware, software, and operating systems that make up an organization's computing infrastructure. System administrators routinely install, configure, and maintain servers, workstations, and other computing devices. They ensure that the systems are secure, updated, and functioning properly. They also troubleshoot issues that arise and provide support to end-users.
Network administration, on the other hand, involves managing the network of an organization's computer, including local area networks (LANs), wide area networks (WANs), and the Internet. Network administrators are responsible for configuring and maintaining network devices such as routers, switches, firewalls, and load balancers. They ensure that a company's network is secure, reliable, and performing optimally. They also troubleshoot network issues and provide support to end users.
While there is some overlap between the two careers, system administrators tend to focus more on the hardware (computers) and software (applications) that make up the computing infrastructure, while network administrators focus more on the connectivity and communication between devices on the network.
What is the right pick for you?
If you are a detailed oriented person that can withstand a high amount of pressure that plagues periods of network outages or security breaches, then consider a career in network administration.
But if you are a creative individual that can remain persistent in the face of complex system issues, you just might be well suited to a career in systems administration.
Thread with caution though, these are not hard and fast rules. The only way you can know for sure if you are better suited to a career is to explore. This doesn't mean you need to make a career switch. Exploring could mean taking a few beginner courses in the said path and seeing how you like it or attending a seminar in order to gain some insider's perspective.
Lady Ada Lovelace, the world's first programmer, wouldn't have discovered a love for analytical machines and subsequently, programming, if she had never explored her social network. This act of exploration led to a friendship with Charles Babbage. About a decade after the initial encounter with Charles Babbage, she went on to translate and annotate an article titled "Elements of Charles Babbage's Analytical Machine".
The intricate and well-sculpted details elaborated on the possibility of using the machine to write instructions. And that is what made the foundation of programming as you see it today.
Just like Lady Ada Lovelace, you never know what you would discover about your inclinations if you never leave the shore.