What jobs does a network administrator do?

I'm exploring careers in IT and curious about what a network administrator's job entails. Do they primarily focus on maintaining networks, or are there other important aspects to the role?

A network administrator is responsible for diverse duties, a role that requires a broad skillset encompassing the IT domain. Primarily, network administrators are tasked with managing an organization's networks, their main aim being to ensure that the network is running smoothly and efficiently.

In terms of specific duties, these encompass performance monitoring, troubleshooting network issues, ensuring system availability and reliability, securing networks by enforcing policies, and defining and monitoring access control measures.

Moreover, they often maintain and upgrade network systems, including servers, routers, switches, and other hardware. Additionally, they typically configure network architecture and are responsible for creating and maintaining a disaster recovery plan.

Furthermore, documentation and assignment programming also come under their umbrella: They often oversee software and hardware upgrades, network asset management, and infrastructure accountability. In many cases, they may also train other staff members to ensure everyone knows how to use the network correctly.

Remember, the exact duties might vary depending on the organization's size and nature. For example, in smaller organizations, a network administrator might also take on the roles of a systems administrator or a database administrator. It's a field with many overlaps, so having a diverse skill set can be highly beneficial. It's also evolving, so continuous learning and staying updated with tech trends is usually a part of the job.