What Is a Systems Administrator and What Do They Do

In large and medium-sized companies, a sysadmin’s duties include managing servers, networks, databases, and security systems. In smaller companies, they often install Windows or other software, repair office equipment, and communicate with service providers.

So who exactly is a system administrator: a strategically important team member or just a versatile IT specialist? Let’s figure it out.

Who Is a Sysadmin?

A system administrator is an IT specialist responsible for configuring, developing, and maintaining the entire information infrastructure of a company. They ensure the uninterrupted operation of servers, computers, software, and network systems so that the business runs smoothly and efficiently. However, this definition is quite general, as the actual duties of a sysadmin vary significantly depending on the company’s size, industry, and the specialist’s experience and qualifications. Every organization has its unique needs and, accordingly, different requirements for system administrators.

Modern DevOps trends have led to the evolution of the traditional sysadmin role. Today, they increasingly perform hybrid functions, combining deep knowledge of hardware and software with an understanding of development processes. This is necessary to build a resilient, secure, and highly reliable IT architecture for the company to ensure seamless interaction with clients in the future.

To better understand the diversity of this profession, let’s explore the main specializations of system administrators.

System Administrator Specializations: From Beginner to Engineer

• Helpdesk (Enikey): an entry-level sysadmin who performs basic tasks such as configuring computer equipment and software. Often an assistant to an experienced specialist or the only IT professional in a small company that is not specialized in information technology.
• System Administrator: a broad-profile specialist responsible for the stable and uninterrupted operation of the company’s entire IT infrastructure. Their duties include system monitoring, equipment inventory, user security, and network administration.
• System Architect: an expert who designs complex IT infrastructure and network architecture in large corporations. They define the strategic directions for the development of the company’s IT systems.
• Network Administrator: specializes in configuring, developing, and maintaining the company’s physical and logical networks. They are also responsible for managing traffic accounting and billing systems. Such specialists are indispensable in data centers, telecommunications companies, banks, and large corporations.
• Information Security Engineer: responsible for protecting the company’s IT systems from breaches and cyberattacks. Their work is especially important for banks, financial institutions, factories, and other enterprises that can become targets for hackers.

How Much Does a System Administrator Earn in Ukraine?

Currently, the median salary of system administrators in Ukraine is about $1,150 per month. Interestingly, a significant portion of specialists (31%) receive additional bonuses, with the average bonus amount reaching $143 per month.

This data is confirmed by research from the DOU portal.

However, system administrators have significant opportunities for professional development and career growth. One of the most interesting directions is transitioning into DevOps or SRE (Site Reliability Engineering). These specializations are currently among the highest-paid in the IT industry. According to DOU data, the median salary for SRE engineers reaches $4,100 per month, while DevOps engineers earn $3,500 per month.

Thus, the profession of a system administrator can be a great starting point for a career in information technology, with the potential for significant income growth in the future.

System Administrator: Weighing All the Pros and Cons of the Profession

Like any other specialty, the work of a system administrator has its attractive aspects and certain challenges. Let’s take a closer look.

Advantages of the System Administrator Profession:

• Great start in IT: in a labor market saturated with development and testing specialists, system administration can be an optimal path into the world of information technology. An important advantage is that the acquired skills provide a solid foundation for future retraining into in-demand DevOps and SRE engineers.
• High demand in the job market: modern business is almost unimaginable without qualified system administrators at various levels. Forecasts from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) predict a 5% increase in the number of computer network and system administrators by 2030, highlighting the stable demand for these specialists.
• Broad opportunities for career growth: working as a system administrator can be a long-term and engaging career, as specialists face new tasks and challenges daily. Moreover, the experience gained opens many paths for further professional growth. A sysadmin can become a network architect, software developer, systems engineer, cybersecurity specialist, DevOps engineer, and many more.

Disadvantages of the System Administrator Profession:

• Prolonged screen time: a significant part of a system administrator’s workday is spent in front of a computer screen, which can negatively affect health if there is insufficient physical activity and improper workplace organization.
• Work during evenings or weekends: maintaining critical IT systems often requires immediate intervention outside of business hours to minimize downtime and ensure the continuity of business processes.
• Unpredictable tasks at any time: system administrators must be prepared for unexpected situations and emergencies that require immediate resolution, regardless of the time of day.

It is worth noting that such drawbacks are typical for many positions in the field of information technology, where responsiveness and readiness to handle non-standard situations are an essential part of the job.

System Administrator Skills: What Do You Need to Start a Career?

To successfully start a career in system administration, you need both technical knowledge (hard skills) and personal qualities (soft skills).

Soft Skills of a System Administrator

It is important to understand that a system administrator rarely works alone. Therefore, effective communication and the ability to interact with colleagues are extremely important. If you are an introvert, this trait will need to be developed.

In addition to communication skills, the following personal qualities are important for a sysadmin:

1. Stress resistance: the work often involves unpredictable situations, demanding users, and a large volume of tasks. You must be able to remain calm and act effectively even under pressure.
2. Multitasking: managing IT infrastructure involves working simultaneously with different systems and tools, solving several tasks in parallel, and responding quickly to incidents.
3. Technical mindset: system administration requires analytical thinking and the ability to solve problems logically and algorithmically. An engineering approach is indispensable in this profession.

Hard Skills of a System Administrator: What Do You Need to Know and Be Able to Do?

The technical knowledge requirements for a system administrator may vary depending on the company and its specifics. However, at the start of a career, the following basic skills are generally essential:

1. Knowledge of networking technologies: understanding the OSI model, the TCP/IP protocol stack, and basic network protocols (HTTP, DNS, DHCP, SMTP, etc.) is fundamental.
2. Operating system administration: confident use of one or more operating systems (Windows Server, Linux, macOS), including user management, group policies (in Windows), access rights, remote connections, and working with the command line (PowerShell, Bash).
3. Scripting basics: the ability to write simple scripts in Bash (for Linux/macOS) or PowerShell (for Windows) to automate routine tasks significantly increases work efficiency.
4. Hardware maintenance: skills in diagnosing and basic maintenance of computers, server equipment, and peripheral devices (printers, scanners, etc.).
5. Working with networking equipment: the ability to configure and perform basic routing on networking equipment (routers, switches).
6. Server application administration: understanding how mail servers and telephony servers work and basic setup (depending on the company’s needs).
7. Software installation and configuration: the ability to install and configure office programs and other necessary applications.
8. Network and infrastructure monitoring: understanding the principles of monitoring network and server status and the ability to use appropriate tools to detect issues.
9. English language: for those planning to grow in the direction of DevOps or other advanced technologies, knowledge of English at a sufficient level is essential for understanding technical documentation and communicating with the international community.

Main Responsibilities of a System Administrator:

The role of a system administrator is multifaceted, but the main responsibilities can be summarized in the following five points:

1. Configuration and management of company infrastructure: ensuring the uninterrupted operation of all hardware, software, and operating systems necessary to support users and business processes. This includes installing, updating, and configuring software on servers and workstations.
2. User access and permissions management: administering employee accounts, setting access rights to resources, implementing single sign-on (SSO) policies, and ensuring security compliance.
3. Data backup and recovery: regularly creating backups of important data and developing procedures for restoring it in case of failures or data loss. Ensuring data security is one of the sysadmin’s most critical tasks.
4. Company infrastructure monitoring: continuously tracking key performance indicators of the network and servers (CPU load, memory usage, network latency, DNS, etc.) to promptly detect and resolve issues.
5. Troubleshooting and problem resolution: diagnosing and fixing technical problems, providing technical support to users to ensure the stable operation of the entire IT infrastructure.

Approximate Job Description of a Classic System Administrator Includes:

• Administration of operating systems such as Windows, Linux, or macOS.
• Installation, configuration, and updating of application software and computer hardware.
• Providing technical support and troubleshooting for company employees.
• Creating and managing user accounts and system permissions.
• Conducting regular security checks and monitoring all systems.
• Maintaining local area networks and network file systems.

Career Path of System Administrators: From Entry-Level to Leadership

The profession of a system administrator is an excellent springboard for a successful career in information technology. Due to its nature, which involves constant problem-solving and troubleshooting, it provides a unique opportunity to quickly acquire new skills and gain a deep understanding of various technologies.

In a DevOps environment, system administrators work alongside developers and often engage in tasks that go beyond standard operations. This opens numerous opportunities for professional growth and the development of new skills.

Myths About the “Degradation” of the System Administrator Profession

It is often said that the profession of system administration is losing its relevance, that robots will soon replace sysadmins, or that cloud technologies will take over all administrative functions. But it’s worth asking: who, then, administers the cloud services on the provider’s side?

In reality, the profession of system administration is not degrading but evolving, becoming more complex and requiring greater versatility from specialists. By choosing this path, you open up broad prospects for further development:

• DevOps and DevSecOps Specialists: these specializations lie at the intersection of development, system administration, and security, and today they are among the most in-demand in the market.
• Information Security Engineer: with the rise of cyber threats, information security specialists are needed in almost every IT company to protect critical data and infrastructure.
• CTO (Chief Technology Officer), CIO (Chief Information Officer): leadership positions in the IT field or IT departments of companies are excellent options for those who, in addition to technical knowledge, possess leadership qualities and strategic thinking.
• Entrepreneurship: with experience in system administration, you can start your own business providing IT support and administration services to other companies on an outsourcing basis.

Academy for Heroes invites veterans to a free course “System Administration and Tech Support”!

You are our pride and a symbol of resilience. Academy for Heroes deeply respects your experience and aims to support you in civilian life. That’s why we’re happy to invite you to a free course “System Administration and Tech Support“. The program is specifically designed for veterans.

Why will this course be valuable for you?

• In-demand profession: System administrators and tech support specialists are key players in any modern company. Your problem-solving skills, attention to detail, and ability to learn quickly are strong assets in this field.
• New career opportunities: The IT industry offers stable employment with decent pay and broad opportunities for professional growth.
• Support and community: During the course, you will gain not only quality knowledge from experienced instructors but also build new connections with fellow veterans open to communication and mutual support.
• Free education: Academy for Heroes provides this opportunity at no cost to support your desire for new knowledge and help you successfully adapt to civilian life.

The training starts in September!