Main Responsibilities and Required Skills for Network Analyst
A Network Analyst is a professional who is responsible for designing, implementing, and maintaining computer networks. This can include local area networks (LANs), wide area networks (WANs), and wireless networks. They troubleshoot and resolve local and remote network issues and recommend and perform network upgrades and repairs. In this blog post we describe the primary responsibilities and the most in-demand hard and soft skills for Network Analysts.
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Main Responsibilities of Network Analyst
The following list describes the typical responsibilities of a Network Analyst:
Adhere to
Adhere to best practice change management policies and procedures.
Analyze
Analyze complex data sets using various scripting languages, including Perl and Python.
Analyze network traffic utilizing different tools and write network status reports.
Analyze routed and switched environments.
Answer
Answer to customers or leadership when outcome does not meet expectation required.
Assist in
Assist in decommissioning virtual machines and adjusting PPS / IP as needed.
Assist in planning, and performs configuration and supporting site to site VPN's and firewalls.
Assist interpretation of firewall rule sets during migration troubleshooting.
Assist in the development and dissemination of usage guides, and FAQ lists for end users.
Assist in the development of IT budgets and estimates and multi-year functional road map for network.
Assist in the development of the overall network architecture design and hardware standards.
Assist in the evaluation of new or revised AMI network products hardware and software.
Assist in the preparation of recommendations for changes to AMI network products and services.
Assist with the evaluation of new products and technologies.
Attend
Attend design meetings to gather requirements.
Attend new project review meetings and provide input regarding network related issues.
Attend weekly move / add / change meetings to plan upcoming network related changes.
Build
Build, improve and maintain system and networking documentation and inventories for full efficiency.
Clarify
Clarify problem areas with supervisory, as appropriate.
Coach
Coach other team members as appropriate, within own area of expertise.
Collaborate with
Collaborate daily with system teams and manage multiple tasks in prioritized order.
Collaborate on processes related to the services we operate.
Collaborate with other Technical Support personnel to provide 24 / 7 coverage basis.
Communicate
Communicate effectively with staff, administration, and vendors.
Complete
Complete periodic routine maintenance and daily tasks, tracking results and resolving problems.
Configure
Configure, implement, and troubleshoot a variety of B2B connections and Extranet User VPN (UVPN).
Configure, install and maintain network hardware and software.
Configure, test and pilot new network technologies / products as required.
Coordinate
Coordinate data centre maintenance on power and safety systems.
Coordinate with internal and external partners and vendors as vital.
Create
Create and present network health reports as well as trending data.
Create documentation of Extranet requirements and update related sources of truth as needed.
Create documentation used as part of routine, expected documentation and ad-hoc as needed.
Create & enforce technology standards, processes and policies related to Network Service offerings.
Demonstrate
Demonstrate support for the school district and its goals and objectives.
Develop
Develop and maintain disaster recovery plans, including documenting solutions and procedures.
Develop, document and communicate implementation best practices & standards.
Develop proficient knowledge of analytical tools and techniques.
Develop, test and maintain response plans for security events.
Diagnose
Diagnose and correct network systems issues along with issues pertaining to other field devices.
Diagnose and fix network issues and identify trends.
Direct
Direct service providers in the resolution of problems.
Dispatch
Dispatch technicians on site to repair / replace appliances and devices as needed.
Document
Document and communicate testing results.
Document network configurations, problems and related resolutions.
Ensure
Ensure all IT systems are working efficiently and optimally.
Ensure integration of various technologies.
Ensure PCI compliance of production voice infrastructure.
Ensure processes are established to provide maximum availability and superior service to all clients.
Ensure service management tickets are updated to reflect current state.
Ensure the availability, performance, and operational integrity of Network Operations domain.
Escalate
Escalate issues and concerns to key stakeholders along with recommendations.
Escalate issues to IT support resources for assistance in reaching a resolution.
Establish
Establish and maintain regular written and in-person communications with the BURNCO.
Evaluate
Evaluate the effectiveness of designated portions of the AMI network facilities.
Examine
Examine complex data sets and identify the root cause of challenges & discrepancies.
Follow
Follow federal and state laws and school board policies, rules, and regulations.
Follow Incident Response and Escalation procedures accurately and within internal SLA.
Gather
Gather requirements to provide expert technical guidance on infrastructure solutions.
Help
Help implementing SDWAN at different sites.
Help to improve system performance through recommended software and hardware changes.
Host
Host meetings providing guidance to our field operations teams.
Identify
Identify large scale issues based on incidents trends that are occurring.
Identify opportunities and establish policies to ensure the security of the corporate network.
Identify opportunities to improve global standardization and organizational efficiencies.
Identify small scale reoccurring incidents based on incident trends.
Implement
Implement various security and network related projects as well as operational support.
Implement various technical aspects.
Install
Install and configure network equipment and maintain network connectivity.
Install and remediate fibre optic and copper structured cabling.
Install, commission, and maintain the mobile computing hardware, voice, and wireless data networks.
Install enterprise-grade Cisco or HP data networking hardware.
Insure
Insure infrastructure hardware and software is updated according to vendor specifications.
Interact with
Interact with vendors to upgrade / improve connectivity.
Keep
Keep supervisor informed of potential problems or unusual events.
Keep up to date with the latest Network technology trends, expertise and career growth opportunities.
Lead
Lead and direct multiple projects managing resources and monitoring progress.
Lead and participate in the design, implementation, and enhancement of global infrastructure.
Lead / Conducts incident recovery and detailed root case analysis.
Lead coordination of switching, routing and firewall updates.
Liaise with
Liaise with and provide training and support to other Network Analysts on network issues.
Load
Load balancing configuration and support (F5 Big IP with iRules).
Maintain
Maintain all network hardware and equipment, including routers, switches, hubs, etc..
Maintain appropriate databases for targeting, tasking, and analysis.
Maintain awareness and oversight of critical operational activities and major changes.
Maintain confidentiality regarding school / workplace matters and maintain high ethical standards.
Maintain current network inventory database and detailed diagrams of current network infrastructure.
Maintain current on new customer technologies, devices, and procedures.
Maintain detailed inventory and configuration documentation.
Maintain documented processes and best practices for a given environment.
Maintain security solutions, including firewall, VPN and intrusion detection-prevention systems.
Maintain situational awareness over the AXIS environment, including ongoing major incidents.
Maintain skills and knowledge as well as keep up with industry trends.
Maintain voice platform configuration and translations.
Make
Make recommendations and implement security hardening (CIS).
Manage
Manage and perform redundancy testing across all services.
Manage company and client Firewalls, Routers, Switches, and VPN configurations.
Manage global and regional system implementations.
Monitor
Monitor and test network performance and provide network performance statistics and reports.
Monitor performance and ensure system availability and reliability.
Monitor technical changes in integration planning stages and assess impacts to the technology teams.
Monitor, troubleshoot, identify and remedy areas of congestion and / or degraded quality.
Network
Network and build lasting relationships with students from diverse backgrounds from across Canada.
Operate
Operate and configure network equipment (Switches, Firewalls).
Operate the cloud networking solution that will communicate with thousands of devices nationally.
Participate in
Participate and oversee design and layout of structured cabling for network infrastructure.
Participate fully as a member of the global and local and international team.
Participate in change management reviews and advisory.
Participate in processes and provide viable solutions for IT network infrastructure needs.
Perform
Perform pre / post-verifications of network changes as required.
Perform security impact analysis on change requests.
Perform support activities required to maintain the department's operational objectives.
Plan
Plan, organize, coordinate, prioritize, deploy and manage multiple projects concurrently.
Plan, schedule and report project & support activities effectively and timely.
Prepare
Prepare and ensure accuracy of documentation, procedures, manuals, and check lists.
Prepare and maintain technical documentation, procedures, and diagrams.
Prepare / update documentation related to the new / decommissioned switch.
Prepare work reports and other documentation for operational and project related efforts.
Prioritize
Prioritize network health related issues based on our different Service Level Agreements.
Prioritize workload according to project deliverables.
Process
Process analysis / design acumen - ability to understand a process and associated risk.
Produce
Produce work that meets the requirements and quality expectation set by the Team Lead.
Provide
Provide advanced network support to the service desk team.
Provide after-hours coverage for any emergency situations.
Provide and maintain a level of effort (LOEs) for integration task.
Provide assistance as needed in relation to routes and / or PPS.
Provide Current and projected IPs of devices transitioning.
Provide hands-on network administration support, network maintenance and operations support.
Provide immediate response to production program or system problems.
Provide Level-1 / 2 / 3 support and troubleshooting to resolve issues.
Provide mostly Tier 1 and Mostly Tier 2 support within the networking environment.
Provide on-call operational level support for all aspects of the Cisco VOIP hardware and software.
Provide ongoing maintenance and updates to the existing and evolving technical architectures.
Provide Operational support for Moves, Adds and Changes for users as required by service tickets.
Provide rotational on-call support outside of regular business hours.
Provide Subject Matter Expertise (SME) on DNS, CDN and F5 Load Balancers.
Provide technical expertise, guidance, advice and knowledge transfer to all network staff.
Provide technical guidance and works on multiple projects in team environment.
Provide technical knowledge support to product management.
Provide Tier 1 / Tier 2 support for Cisco Unified Communications applications.
Provide timely problem determination, notification, resolution and escalation.
Provide up-to-date system and network documentation and inventories.
Recommend
Recommend, schedule, and perform network improvements, upgrades, and repairs.
Represent
Represent the district positively and professionally.
Research
Research a remote site's existing infrastructure.
Research, develop and integrate new network technologies into the IT infrastructure.
Research, evaluate, and test network and data communications hardware and software.
Research skills required for locating resources and information.
Resolve
Resolve issues in a timely manner and demonstrate an appropriate sense of urgency.
Respond to
Respond to inquiries and concerns promptly.
Review
Review and update Network related user and technical staff documentation as required.
Review claims data to identify trends in cost and utilization fluctuations.
Review transition processes and requirements.
Run
Run complex queries using a variety of different tools.
Schedule
Schedule NCR site network outages to allow for installation of new equipment.
Script
Script, automate and test routine network changes.
Select
Select parameters, generate, test and implement.
Supervise
Supervise and measure performance with regards to Service Level Agreements and KPI's.
Support
Support and administration of Proxy servers and Load Balancers.
Support and implement change management strategies.
Support and operate the datacenter environment and the Datacenter infrastructure.
Support deployment activities, managing implementation issues to resolution.
Support enterprise partners in the identification of IT dependencies.
Support initiatives with on-site support and to travel to other local offices as needed.
Support the introduction of new hardware / technologies in production environment, as required.
Track
Track, analyze and report on trends in network / telecom requests.
Track and document all issues in detail, utilizing the Service-Now ticketing system.
Troubleshoot
Troubleshoot and resolve local and remote network issues and proceed to necessary repairs.
Understand
Understand computer network infrastructure enabling discovery of new avenues of target development.
Use
Use Cisco-based LAN / WAN technologies including switching, routing and wireless protocols.
Use these insights to support the development of benefit design.
Verify
Verify configuration and migration steps in LAB environment.
Verify connections and assist in troubleshooting system outages believed to be PPS-related.
Work with
Work towards an efficient and quick resolution of all open incidents.
Work under the direct supervision of the Manager, Network Engineering.
Work with Cisco and other vendors to resolve network issues in the environment.
Work within established configuration and change management policies.
Work with vendors and carriers during problem analysis / resolution as required.
Work with vendors and service providers to produce quotes and statements of work.
Work with vendors, outsourcers, and contractors to secure IT operational products and services.
Most In-demand Hard Skills
The following list describes the most required technical skills of a Network Analyst:
Troubleshooting
Switches
Routers
Routing
Networking
OSPF
WAN
BGP
CCNA
Design
Linux
Switching
DHCP
Network
Communications Technology
Network Standards
EIGRP
Network Analysis
Most In-demand Soft Skills
The following list describes the most required soft skills of a Network Analyst:
Written and oral communication skills
Interpersonal skills
Problem-solving attitude
Analytical ability
Self-motivated
Organizational capacity
Team player
Attention to detail
Organized
Time-management
Leadership
Work independently with little direction
Work with users and vendors
Collaborative
Creative
