Information Technology is a forever emerging sector that deals with anything involved in transmitting information or implementing systems that facilitate communication. Information Technology has a direct impact on our everyday lives and, at present, lays the foundation for most of the workforce in the world. As per the latest statistics, 12.5 Million people are employed in the IT sector globally.
An IT department is responsible for developing, managing, and maintaining an organization’s technology-related assets, including hardware, software, and Network Systems. Careers in the IT sector range from providing technical support to cloud computing. Thus, the IT sector offers jobs with varying levels of complexity, and the pay scale rises in proportion to complexity and leadership positions. Being an IT Administrator is one of the challenging positions in an organization.
Duties of an IT Systems Administrator
An IT Systems Administrator is the backbone of the IT department. Organizations with multiple software platforms need an IT administrator to coordinate various systems. The IT Administrator is an essential resource in providing advice, training, and technical support for various organizational projects. Following are the significant duties carried out by an IT Sytems Administrator:
- To provide expertise and support during system upgrades, installations, and conversions.
- To oversee the integration of new and existing systems in an organization.
- To meet the changing needs of users, offices, new projects, and technologies.
- To supervise and provide end users services.
- To monitor monthly, quarterly, and daily reports from network vendors.
- To develop and implement IT Policies & Procedures.
- To manage servers, security solutions, network hardware, and equipment.
- To manage telecommunications infrastructure and developmental projects of the organization.
- Negotiate and administer vendor, outsource, and consultant contracts.
- To investigate, analyze, and resolve complex hardware problems.
- To perform advanced hardware repairs and maintenance and provide technical assistance and support on various PC Computers and peripherals.
- To provide troubleshooting for escalated software issues.
- To offer technical assistance and troubleshooting to resolve communication failures in the system.
- To report on strategic planning information to the higher authority.
- To maintain systems in compliance with organizational security policies and procedures.
- To review existing and compose new policies as required by the organization.
Why do IT Systems Administrators need cybersecurity training?
The emergence of Information Technology has given rise to various sorts of cyber threats. A cyber threat is a malicious act by any cyber criminal intending to damage the data, steal the data, or disrupt the functioning of digital devices and networks. Thus, Cybersecurity has become an evolving branch in Information Technology, and the Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) position is one of the highest paying Cyber Security Jobs.
From general users to the CEO of corporate giants have become the victims of cyber attacks. Moreover, an organization’s data breaches and other major cyber attacks could have serious consequences. Therefore, it is inevitable that an IT Administrator should have an awareness of cyber threats. Given below are the reasons why an IT Systems Administrator should need cybersecurity training.
- To protect the organization from phishing scams
Phishing is sending malicious emails designed by an attacker to trick individuals into falling for a scam, which results in the leak of confidential data, including financial information. Phishing usually involves sending Emails or SMS disguised as from a legitimate person or company with a sense of urgency. However, sometimes the Email or messages contain links that redirect them to malicious websites and result in data breaches and monetary losses.
Most cybercriminals resort to phishing techniques because they are easy and effective. Phishing bypasses security and human detection most of the time. Mitigating phishing scams requires human defences, and cybersecurity training will help IT Administrators, in identifying the phishing scams and gaining awareness of the latest phishing strategies. This will protect the organization from data breaches and other significant losses.
- To boost network security
Network Security is designed to protect the usability and integrity of data and networks in an organization. Network security comprises multiple layers of defences within and outside the network. An IT administrator plays a crucial role in ensuring the smooth flow of communication through the network systems.
Cybersecurity will help the IT Administrator protect the organizational network from various malicious attacks. In addition, an IT Administrator’s mastery of Network Security at the Physical, Technical, and Administrative levels will benefit the organization to create shortcuts for security enforcement and enhancement of the network as per the evolving needs without hiring any cybersecurity professional.
- The rise in cloud migration
Cloud Migration can be considered as the process of moving a company’s digital assets, databases, applications, and so forth either wholly or partially into the digital repository known as the cloud. More and more organizations are opting for cloud migration to achieve real-time efficiency in their performance.
The IT administrators oversee the organization’s cloud storage and ensure that cloud migration from one cloud platform to another is carried out smoothly. Unfortunately, the cloud platform has now become a vulnerable point for black hat hackers and other cyber criminals to extract crucial data of companies.
By fortifying the skillsets through cybersecurity training, an IT Administrator can defend the cloud platform against such attacks by patching up the vulnerabilities in the cloud service.
- To lead or be a part of the disaster recovery team
The entire system getting compromised due to a security breach is the biggest nightmare for any organization. The actual productivity of the organization will come to a standstill, and it is a tedious attempt to get back to operational capacity.
If an IT Administrator is trained in Cybersecurity, it will be a great asset to the organization in leading the disaster recovery team during security breaches. The operational functions can be resumed faster with the help of a trained IT Administrator who can easily verify the security issues and identify the loopholes and vulnerabilities in the organization’s IT infrastructure.
- To bridge the skill gap
There is a shortage of a skilled workforce in Cybersecurity. As a result, organizations often perceiveCybersecurity as something only dedicated cybersecurity professionals should handle. Providing Cybersecurity training to IT Administrators will help them to carry out the dual role with expertise without relying on cybersecurity professionals from outside.
Thus, an organization can fill this talent shortage by bridging the skill gap of IT Administrators in Cybersecurity. And upskilling them will benefit both the organization and the IT Administrator equally.
- To enhance career prospectus
Recent statistics indicate there will be job growth of 4% in IT Administration for the next ten years, while at the same time, the job growth in Cybersecurity is 31%.
Combining cybersecurity skills with IT Administration skills will make them a far more desirable employee, with more to offer the organization. Thus, providing cybersecurity training will enhance their career prospects and help them to earn a secure place in the realm of IT professionals with a higher salary.
Conclusion
IT Administrators ensure the cohesion and integrity of an organisation’s IT infrastructure. An IT Administrator with cybersecurity training will not only have extensive skill sets in administration and cyber security but will also develop a curious and creative mind with the ability to think outside the box.
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