SysAdmin Job Analysis and Analysis of a Selected Technology Table of Contents Executive Summary 4 Introduction 4 SysAdmin Job Analysis 6 Skills in demand 10 Analysis of a Selected Technology 11 Role of Systems Administrator with Cloud 11 Conclusion 12 References 13 Executive Summary This report is based on the concept of examining the skills set requirements for individuals applying for the role of Systems Administrator. Expected skill sets, job trends and comparisons of the systems administrations’ role in different industries will be discussed. Technological trends for a chosen technology relevant to systems administration will also be mentioned and reviewed. Introduction The role that a systems administrator plays within an organisation in this day and age is varied. The general gist however, is that they “manage all the servers, network equipment and any other IT infrastructure for an organisation” (Pramana, 2014). Their responsibilities may include setting up the network for the company, installing applications, troubleshooting, updating the operating system as well as maintaining the many servers that the organisation relies upon in completing their business activities. In essence, system administrators help to ensure that the technology supporting the organisation is running smoothly. Compared to other professions, system administrators are not required to have a degree in Information Technology or Computer Science. Certification by companies such as Cisco and Microsoft can provide a Systems Administrator with the knowledge that they require, depending on the role that they are required to play. There are different types of systems administrators, each specialising in different areas. As such, qualifications and knowledge required for jobs can vary. Knowledge of the various technologies relevant to the role of systems administrators however can prove to be an advantage, particularly if they play an important role in the current and future environment of the industry. Server infrastructure has As such, individuals planning to or currently searching for roles as a systems administrator should take note of the skill sets and the changing role of technology in the business environment.   SysAdmin Job Analysis While a Systems Administrator may be in charge of the aforementioned responsibilities above in the IT department of an organisation, the role that they are involved in may depend on the size of the organisation. Larger organisations with larger Information Technology departments are able to assign different individuals to specialise in a specific type of systems administration whereas smaller companies may require their systems administrator to have broader knowledge across all areas. Some of these specialised roles within systems administration include: • A Database Administrator maintains and manages a database system. These individuals are responsible for upholding the efficient performance of the system as well as the integrity of the data. • A Network Administrator deals with the business’ network infrastructure such as switches and routers, and troubleshoots any problems that may arise with these or with computers attached to the network. • A Security Administrator specialises in the security of the organisation’s networks and computers. This includes the administration of security procedures such as firewalls, anti-virus programs and security policies, as well the as advising and educating of security measures to the entire organisation. • A Web Administrator upkeeps web server services for the business that allows for access to web sites, both internally and externally. Tasks may include managing multiple sites and security, as well as configuring software. Software change management may also be another role they play. Whilst the above roles may overlap with each other, the skills required are different. The diagram below explains some of the many words and phrases linked to that of a system administrator role: To include chart of different roles? With many responsibilities, a variety of skills will be required by the systems administrator to have in their arsenal. An examination of recent job adverts for the position of Systems Administrator has revealed that some of the general technical skills include the following: • Experience with servers, configuration and troubleshoot • Active directory design and maintenance • Support experience with different OS such as Windows, Apple, Linux and UNIX • Experience in Cloud Base solutions such as VMware • Networking skills including Cisco routing and switching, patching and firewalls • Scripting experience with PowerShell, Python, Ruby etc. Whilst technical skills are important, System Administrators must have personal skills as they are the go-to-source when problems arise with computers and networks. As such, having skills in the following are also important to consider: • Good communication • Problem solving • Decision making • Time management • Critical thinking That being said, it is a lot to ask for a systems administrator to have all the above skills. Many of the job adverts state the different technologies that they will be dealing with and specify the actual skills they require. Depending on the industry that the organisation operates within and the operating systems that they might use, the required skill sets can very different. For example, within the Finance industry, system administrators may require skills in SAP S/4 HANA, Puppet Enterprise and VMware along with problem solving skills 1. Whereas in the Education industry, knowledge of maintaining Microsoft Office suites across a large scale, design and implementation of complex networks (both wireless and structured cabling), file system permissions, and support experience for popular operating systems like Windows and Apple (both these OSs being the most popularly used amongst students). Strong client service orientation will also be required as the systems administrator will be dealing with both teachers and students with computer issues 2. In the Hospitality industry, some skills required may include strong troubleshooting skills and desktop hardware, maintain user and system security procedures and experience in Opera PMS and Micros POS. 1) https://www.adzuna.com.au/details/522091019?v=CAA7C0116B22A296209CA77F707B28F1D59252B5&se=X6wBujYFTu6CC-5HvjRubw 2) https://www.seek.com.au/job/33259569?type=standout&tier=no_tier&pos=107&whereid=3000&userqueryid=846c6f778fe1845797508840647ec92d-5632334&ref=beta 3) http://chp.tbe.taleo.net/chp03/ats/careers/requisition.jsp?org=BEVERLYHILLSHOTEL&cws=1&rid=2015&source=Indeed.com Table 1 below compares the skills required for a systems administrator dealing with servers on different operating systems. Table 1: Different skill set requirements for different OS System Administrators Windows 1 Mac OS X Linux 3 Microsoft Servers Knowledge of Solaris, nginx and/or BSD Microsoft SQL Server Proficiency in a scripting language (e.g. Python, Ruby, PERL) Clustering System management, setup and configuration of Linux based servers Knowledge of Microsoft Azure Knowledge of Buorne or Korn (shell programming) PowerShell Knowledge of backup technologies Desired State Configuration (DSC) Testing methodologies such as Git or Subversion Docker and Containers Knowledge of system and application monitoring tools (SNMP, Nagios) Need to mention qualifications… 1) https://www.petri.com/4-must-learn-skills-for-windows-system-administrators 3) https://www.vps.net/blog/2013/10/31/10-skills-needed-for-a-top-linux-systems-administrator/#.WPydM8JdA2w   Skills in demand 1. VMware 2. Scripting 3. 1. T. 2. M. 3. S. https://www.cloudcomputing-news.net/news/2016/feb/16/top-five-demand-cloud-skills-2016/ https://www.pluralsight.com/blog/career/it-systems-administrator-future   Analysis of a Selected Technology Talk about server infrastructure and how technology is evolving to using cloud in the future. • https://www.ibm.com/blogs/cloud-computing/2014/07/do-we-still-need-system-administrators-in-the-cloud/ • https://cloudacademy.com/cloud-computing-for-system-administrators/ • https://support.rackspace.com/white-paper/moving-your-infrastructure-to-the-cloud-how-to-maximize-benefits-and-avoid-pitfalls/ • https://sysgen.ca/cloud-vs-in-house-servers/ • Role of Systems Administrator with Cloud https://www.accenture.com/us-en/blogs/blogs-emerging-role-cloud-administrator http://www.networkcomputing.com/cloud-infrastructure/rise-cloud-administrator/659577687 http://www.cio.com/article/3149119/hiring/career-roadmap-systems-admin-role-isn-t-dead.html   Conclusion With the evolution of technology and their use in the business environment, system administrators need to continue to learn about new technology trends that may arise. By doing so, the increased skills and knowledge will provide them the capability to meet challenges that organisations face. Demand for individuals with technical knowledge and business acumen continues to grow and the system administrations with skills in both areas will find themselves with organisations offering positions.   References https://simplercloud.wordpress.com/2014/07/25/what-do-system-administrators-do-all-day/ Indra Pramana (2014) Goles, T., Hawk, S. and Kaiser, K.M., 2008. Information technology workforce skills: The software and IT services provider perspective. Information Systems Frontiers, 10(2), pp.179-194. Gallivan, M.J., Truex III, D.P. and Kvasny, L., 2004. Changing patterns in IT skill sets 1988-2003: a content analysis of classified advertising. ACM SIGMIS Database, 35(3), pp.64-87. Raj, E.D., Babu, L.D., Ariwa, E., Nirmala, M. and Krishna, P.V., 2014. Forecasting the Trends in Cloud Computing and its Impact on Future IT Business. Green Technology Applications for Enterprise and Academic Innovation, p.14. Yang, S.Q. (2012), “Move into the cloud, shall we?”, Library Hi Tech News, Vol. 1 No. 1, pp. 4-7.