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Career Details

15-1244.00 - Network and Computer Systems Administrators


Install, configure, and maintain an organization's local area network (LAN), wide area network (WAN), data communications network, operating systems, and physical and virtual servers. Perform system monitoring and verify the integrity and availability of hardware, network, and server resources and systems. Review system and application logs and verify completion of scheduled jobs, including system backups. Analyze network and server resource consumption and control user access. Install and upgrade software and maintain software licenses. May assist in network modeling, analysis, planning, and coordination between network and data communications hardware and software.


Key Facts
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Bright Outlook
Career Details
Green Job
Career Details
Current Employment
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Forecasted Employment
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Change in Employment
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Change in Employment %
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Tasks
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Tasks
The tasks listed below can be performed to prepare you for a career in this field.
Core
  • Perform data backups and disaster recovery operations.
  • Maintain and administer computer networks and related computing environments including computer hardware, systems software, applications software, and all configurations.
  • Plan, coordinate, and implement network security measures to protect data, software, and hardware.
  • Operate master consoles to monitor the performance of computer systems and networks, and to coordinate computer network access and use.
  • Perform routine network startup and shutdown procedures, and maintain control records.
  • Design, configure, and test computer hardware, networking software and operating system software.
  • Recommend changes to improve systems and network configurations, and determine hardware or software requirements related to such changes.
  • Confer with network users about how to solve existing system problems.
  • Monitor network performance to determine whether adjustments need to be made, and to determine where changes will need to be made in the future.
  • Train people in computer system use.
  • Load computer tapes and disks, and install software and printer paper or forms.
  • Gather data pertaining to customer needs, and use the information to identify, predict, interpret, and evaluate system and network requirements.
  • Analyze equipment performance records to determine the need for repair or replacement.
  • Maintain logs related to network functions, as well as maintenance and repair records.
  • Coordinate with vendors and with company personnel to facilitate purchases.
  • Diagnose, troubleshoot, and resolve hardware, software, or other network and system problems, and replace defective components when necessary.
  • Configure, monitor, and maintain email applications or virus protection software.
Supplemental
  • Maintain an inventory of parts for emergency repairs.
  • Research new technologies by attending seminars, reading trade articles, or taking classes, and implement or recommend the implementation of new technologies.
  • Implement and provide technical support for voice services and equipment, such as private branch exchange, voice mail system, and telecom system.
All data sourced from US Department of Labor, Employment & Training Administration O*Net Database.
Knowledge
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Knowledge

The items listed below are organized into sections that contain knowledge useful for pursuing a career in this field. Each section also contains a "Percentage of Importance" statistic that shows how relevant an item is to the occupation.
 Computers and Electronics
  • 98%
    Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
 English Language
  • 77%
    Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
 Customer and Personal Service
  • 73%
    Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
 Engineering and Technology
  • 72%
    Knowledge of the practical application of engineering science and technology. This includes applying principles, techniques, procedures, and equipment to the design and production of various goods and services.
 Telecommunications
  • 64%
    Knowledge of transmission, broadcasting, switching, control, and operation of telecommunications systems.
 Mathematics
  • 64%
    Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
 Clerical
  • 63%
    Knowledge of administrative and clerical procedures and systems such as word processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and other office procedures and terminology.
 Administration and Management
  • 59%
    Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.
 Education and Training
  • 56%
    Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
 Design
  • 56%
    Knowledge of design techniques, tools, and principles involved in production of precision technical plans, blueprints, drawings, and models.
 Communications and Media
  • 56%
    Knowledge of media production, communication, and dissemination techniques and methods. This includes alternative ways to inform and entertain via written, oral, and visual media.
All data sourced from US Department of Labor, Employment & Training Administration O*Net Database.
Tools
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Tools
The tools listed below include machines, equipment, tools, and software that is useful for individuals who are interested in this career.
 Electronic and communication measuring and testing instruments
  • Asynchronous transfer mode ATM analyzers
  • Communications analyzers
  • Network analyzers
  • Power meters
  • Powerline monitors
  • Protocol analyzers
  • Synchronous optical network SONET analyzers
  • T-Birds
 Indicating and recording instruments
  • Bit error rate testers BERT
 Tool kits
  • Computer tool kits
 Computers
  • Desktop computers
  • Mainframe computers
  • Notebook computers
 Network service equipment
  • Load balancers
  • Network switches
 Light and wave generating and measuring equipment
  • Optical spectrum analyzers
  • Optical time domain reflectometers OTDR
 Cutting and crimping and punching tools
  • Punchdown tools
  • Wire crimpers
 Media storage devices
  • Redundant array of independent disks RAID systems
  • Tape libraries
All data sourced from US Department of Labor, Employment & Training Administration O*Net Database.
Technology
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Technology
The technologies listed below include machines, equipment, tools, and software that is useful for individuals who are interested in this career.
 Networking software
  • Access management software
  • Amazon Simple Storage Service S3HOT
  • Amazon Web Services AWS CloudFormationHOT
  • CitrixHOT
  • IBM Domino
  • Mac HelpMate
  • Microsoft Windows Terminal Services Access Manager
  • Remote desktop control software
  • Storage area network SAN software
  • Tivoli
  • Virtual network computing VNC software
 Network applications software
  • Active directory software
  • Berkeley Internet Domain Name BIND
  • Citrix XenApp
  • DockerHOT
  • Domain name system DNS
  • GitHubHOT
  • Network addressable storage NAS software
  • Oracle WebLogic ServerHOT
  • ParentSquare
  • Red Hat OpenShiftHOT
  • Red Hat WildFlyHOT
  • Secure shell SSH software
  • Skype
 Finance accounting and enterprise resource planning ERP software
  • Adexa eGPS SuiteHOT
  • Delphi Technology
  • Enterprise resource planning ERP softwareHOT
  • Microsoft DynamicsHOT
  • Microsoft Dynamics GPHOT
  • NetSuite ERPHOT
  • Oracle E-Business Suite Financials
  • Oracle Fusion ApplicationsHOT
  • Oracle HyperionHOT
  • Oracle JD Edwards EnterpriseOneHOT
  • Oracle PeopleSoftHOT
  • Oracle PeopleSoft FinancialsHOT
  • SAPHOT
  • SAP Business ObjectsHOT
 Content management software
  • Adobe Systems Adobe AcrobatHOT
  • Apache Subversion SVNHOT
  • Atlassian JIRAHOT
  • GitHOT
 Development software
  • Adobe Systems Adobe ActionScript
  • Advanced business application programming ABAPHOT
  • AJAXHOT
  • Apache AntHOT
  • Apache GroovyHOT
  • Apache KafkaHOT
  • Apache Maven
  • Apache StrutsHOT
  • Apache TomcatHOT
  • Application management software
  • Atlassian BambooHOT
  • Automated installation software
  • C
  • C#HOT
  • C++HOT
  • Chef
  • Command interpreters
  • Common business oriented language COBOLHOT
  • Computer system diagnostics software
  • Configuration management software
  • DjangoHOT
  • DrupalHOT
  • Dynamic hypertext markup language DHTML
  • Eclipse IDEHOT
  • Enterprise application integration EAI software
  • Enterprise JavaBeans
  • Extensible HyperText Markup Language XHTML
  • Extensible markup language XMLHOT
  • GoHOT
  • Hewlett Packard LoadRunner
  • Hypertext markup language HTMLHOT
  • IBM InfoSphere DataStage
  • IBM WebSphereHOT
  • Integrated development environment IDE softwareHOT
  • JavaScriptHOT
  • JavaScript Object Notation JSONHOT
  • jQueryHOT
  • Jupyter Notebook
  • LAMP Stack
  • Microsoft .NET FrameworkHOT
  • Microsoft Active Server Pages ASPHOT
  • Microsoft ActiveX
  • Microsoft ASP.NETHOT
  • Microsoft ASP.NET Core MVCHOT
  • Microsoft AzureHOT
  • Microsoft PowerShellHOT
  • Microsoft SQL Server Integration Services SSISHOT
  • Microsoft Visual BasicHOT
  • Microsoft Visual Basic for Applications VBAHOT
  • Microsoft Visual Basic Scripting Edition VBScriptHOT
  • Microsoft Visual StudioHOT
  • Microsoft Windows Sysprep
  • Node.jsHOT
  • Oracle Fusion MiddlewareHOT
  • Oracle JavaHOT
  • Oracle JavaServer Pages JSPHOT
  • Patch and update management software
  • Perforce Helix software
  • PHP: Hypertext PreprocessorHOT
  • Practical extraction and reporting language PerlHOT
  • PuppetHOT
  • PythonHOT
  • Requirements management software
  • RubyHOT
  • Ruby on RailsHOT
  • SwiftHOT
  • Systems and applications migration software
  • Systems integration software
  • TKSoftware
  • VMWareHOT
 Content authoring and editing software
  • Adobe Systems Adobe Dreamweaver
  • Adobe Systems Adobe Fireworks
  • Adobe Systems Adobe Flash
  • Diagramming software
  • Google Sites
  • Microsoft ExcelHOT
  • Microsoft PowerPointHOT
  • Microsoft Publisher
  • Microsoft VisioHOT
 Data management and query software
  • Amazon DynamoDBHOT
  • Amazon Elastic Compute Cloud EC2HOT
  • Amazon RedshiftHOT
  • Amazon Web Services AWS softwareHOT
  • Apache CassandraHOT
  • Apache HadoopHOT
  • Apache HiveHOT
  • Apache HTTP ServerHOT
  • Apache PigHOT
  • Apache SolrHOT
  • Apache SparkHOT
  • Blackbaud The Raiser's Edge
  • Blackboard software
  • CA Erwin Data Modeler
  • Customer information control system CICS
  • Data entry softwareHOT
  • ElasticsearchHOT
  • FileMaker Pro
  • Hibernate ORM
  • IBM Cognos ImpromptuHOT
  • Microsoft AccessHOT
  • Microsoft SQL ServerHOT
  • Microsoft SQL Server Reporting ServicesHOT
  • MicroStrategyHOT
  • MongoDBHOT
  • MySQLHOT
  • NoSQLHOT
  • Oracle Business Intelligence Enterprise EditionHOT
  • Oracle JDBCHOT
  • Oracle PL/SQLHOT
  • Oracle softwareHOT
  • PostgreSQLHOT
  • Qlik Tech QlikViewHOT
  • Relational database management softwareHOT
  • SAP Crystal ReportsHOT
  • Structured query language SQLHOT
  • TableauHOT
  • Teradata DatabaseHOT
  • Transact-SQLHOT
 Business function specific software
  • Ansible softwareHOT
  • ConfluenceHOT
  • Help desk software
  • Human resource management software HRMS
  • Marketo Marketing AutomationHOT
  • Microsoft OfficeHOT
  • Microsoft ProjectHOT
  • Microsoft SharePointHOT
  • Microsoft Teams
  • Oracle Primavera Enterprise Project Portfolio ManagementHOT
  • Oracle TaleoHOT
 Operating environment software
  • Apple macOSHOT
  • BashHOT
  • Hewlett Packard HP-UX
  • Job control language JCL
  • KornShell
  • LinuxHOT
  • Microsoft WindowsHOT
  • Microsoft Windows ServerHOT
  • Oracle SolarisHOT
  • Red Hat Enterprise LinuxHOT
  • Shell scriptHOT
  • Ubuntu
  • UNIXHOT
  • UNIX ShellHOT
 Network management software
  • Cisco Systems CiscoWorks
  • Dartware InterMapper
  • Dynamic host configuration protocol DHCP
  • Element management software
  • Ethereal
  • Hewlett-Packard HP Network Node Manager
  • IBM Director
  • IBM NetView
  • Lavalys Everest
  • LogMatrix NerveCenter
  • Management information base MIB software
  • Micromuse NetCool
  • Multi-router traffic grapher MRTG software
  • NagiosHOT
  • Network address management software
  • Network and application load and performance testing software
  • Network and component performance analysis software
  • Network availability monitoring software
  • Network documentation software
  • Network intrusion prevention systems NIPS
  • Network management software
  • Network modeling, mapping, and analysis software
  • Network shutdown software
  • Network traffic flow monitoring and analysis software
  • Network traffic probe software
  • Network, server and operating system optimization software
  • Novell NetWare Management Station
  • Online traffic calculator software
  • Open source routing protocols OSPF
  • Operating system process control software
  • Optical network management software
  • Oracle Net Manager
  • Packet tracing software
  • Quest BigBrother
  • Quest Foglight
  • Remote monitoring software
  • Simple network management protocol SNMP software
  • Snort
  • SolarWinds
  • Tcpdump
  • Voice over internet protocol VoiP system softwareHOT
  • WiresharkHOT
  • Zabbix
 Information exchange software
  • Cisco Systems Webex
  • ESRI ArcGIS softwareHOT
  • Geographic information system GIS softwareHOT
  • IBM NotesHOT
  • Microsoft ExchangeHOT
  • Microsoft OutlookHOT
 Industry specific software
  • Computer aided design and drafting CADD softwareHOT
  • Dassault Systemes CATIAHOT
  • Epic SystemsHOT
  • Root cause analysis software
  • SASHOT
  • StataCorp Stata
  • Supervisory control and data acquisition SCADA softwareHOT
 Educational or reference software
  • Computer based training software
  • Moodle
 Security and protection software
  • Encryption software
  • Firewall software
  • Honeypot
  • Intrusion prevention system IPS
  • McAfee
  • Network and system vulnerability assessment software
  • Network intrusion detection software
  • OpenService Open NerveCenter
  • Packet filter software
  • Password management software
  • Ping Identity
  • Root kit detection software
  • Security incident management software
  • SymantecHOT
  • Virtual local area network management software
  • Virtual private networking VPN softwareHOT
 System management software
  • IBM Power Systems software
  • Splunk EnterpriseHOT
 Utility and device driver software
  • Symantec Ghost Solution Suite
  • System and data disaster recovery software
  • Veritas NetBackup
All data sourced from US Department of Labor, Employment & Training Administration O*Net Database.
Certifications
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Certifications
FastForward at Virginia's Community Colleges is a short-term training program for high-demand industries, like healthcare, information technology, and skilled trades and infrastructure, helping Virginians get the jobs and salaries they need. Our goal is to get you trained, help you earn your certification, and get you into a career that can support you and your family. Explore the latest training program offerings by visiting FastForward
The certifications listed below are useful to pursue if you are interested in a career in this field.
No specific certifications are listed for this career
All data sourced from US Department of Labor, Employment & Training Administration O*Net Database.
Licensing
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Licensing
The licensing information below is organized into sections and is useful for pursuing if you are interested in a career in this field.
No specific licensing information is listed for this occupation in the area you have selected.
All data sourced from US Department of Labor, Employment & Training Administration O*Net Database.
Related Programs
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Programs related to this career, offered by participating institution(s), are listed below.

Clicking on the Degree programs in the list below will take you away from the Careers page.
INSTITUTION
PROGRAMS
Blue Ridge Community College
Bluefield University
Bridgewater College
Brightpoint Community College
Central Virginia Community College
Danville Community College
Eastern Shore Community College
George Mason University
George Washington University College of Professional Studies
Germanna Community College
J Sargeant Reynolds Community College
James Madison University
Laurel Ridge Community College
Marymount University
Mountain Empire Community College
Mountain Gateway Community College
New River Community College
Norfolk State University
Northern Virginia Community College
Old Dominion University
Patrick & Henry Community College
Paul D. Camp Community College
Piedmont Virginia Community College
Radford University
Randolph-Macon College
Rappahannock Community College
Regent University
Richard Bland College
Shenandoah University
Southside Virginia Community College
Southwest Virginia Community College
The University of Virginia's College at Wise
Tidewater Community College
University of Lynchburg
University of Mary Washington
Virginia Commonwealth University
Virginia Highlands Community College
Virginia Peninsula Community College
Virginia Western Community College
Wytheville Community College