Definition
A network administrator is a professional responsible for managing and maintaining a computer network within an organization. Network administrators need many technical skills, including information technology (IT).
Network Administrator Responsibilities
- Network infrastructure: They plan and deploy network infrastructure, such as switches, firewalls, routers, and other network devices.
- Network security: They ensure the network’s security by configuring firewalls, monitoring network traffic, detecting security threats, and reporting cybersecurity incidents.
- Network performance: Network administrators track traffic for anomalies, analyze traffic data to detect issues, and implement measures to improve network performance.
- Network documentation: Network administrators document network topology, security policies and device configurations. This is essential for network repairs or when a new administrator assumes responsibilities.
- Network backups: Network backups prevent essential data from being lost in case of hardware failure or other disaster.
- Technical support: They provide technical support for network operations in an organization.