Main Responsibilities and Required Skills for Server Administrator
A Server Administrator is a professional who is responsible for managing and maintaining the servers of an organization or a company. They install and configure hardware and software, monitor system performance, troubleshoot issues, and manage security. In this blog post we describe the primary responsibilities and the most in-demand hard and soft skills for Server Administrators.
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Main Responsibilities of Server Administrator
The following list describes the typical responsibilities of a Server Administrator:
Administer
Administer and maintain end user accounts, permissions, and access rights, as needed.
Administer user access and permissions to databases residing on organizational servers.
Analyze
Analyze and resolve end user application and connectivity issues in a timely manner.
Analyze and resolve end user software programs and connectivity issues in a timely manner.
Architect
Architect the infrastructure required to support those strategies.
Assess
Assess the need for any system reconfigurations (minor or significant) and execute them if required.
Assign
Assign content permissions to users and groups.
Assist with
Assist with developing and implementing test activities.
Automate
Automate monitoring & server job processes.
Automate operational tasks, and assist in the transition to service ownership models.
Automate server monitoring and maintenance tasks.
Automate the build of containerized systems with CI / CD and Kubernetes.
Backup
Backup and restore administration (EMC Networker preferred).
Build
Build and configure servers as per standards for higher-level software components.
Build and release Ec2 instances such as Amazon Linux, Ubuntu, Redhat, SUSE Linux, Windows Server.
Build comprehensive dashboards and reports using Tableau Desktop.
Build system to drawing package including loading applications and operating system.
Carry out
Carry out special projects and duties as assigned.
Carry out special IT projects at management's direction.
Communicate
Communicate technical information to both technical and non-technical employees.
Communicate with end-users, support staff, management and other systems departments.
Conduct
Conduct capacity planning as needed.
Conduct root cause analysis of recurring problems for defined projects or major incidents.
Conduct training designed to educate users on basic applications.
Configure
Configure and maintain database servers.
Coordinate
Coordinate and / or perform tasks in change management windows.
Coordinate critical customer issues as well as new product and / or system implementations.
Coordinate with third parties and clients to ensure smooth running of the business.
Create
Create and maintain documentation of IT configuration, processes, and procedures.
Create and verify backups of data.
Create database queries, indexes, and stored procedures, some with high level complexity.
Create clones from existing VMs (both live and powered-off).
Create new mid-tier infrastructures.
Create PostgreSQL reports using Tableau Desktop to customize administrative views.
Create projects and organize site content.
Create site users and groups.
Create Tableau related Standard Operating Procedures (SOP).
Curate
Curate and maintain the Software Center application portal.
Customize
Customize device collections for targeted installation / reporting for Windows desktops.
Define
Define and document best practices and support procedures.
Deploy
Deploy and manage the Configuration Manager client across multiple sites / locations.
Deploy, troubleshoot, and manage Bit locker encryption on Windows workstation devices.
Design
Design and develop CI / CD pipelines.
Design cloud infrastructure surrounding secure networking best practices.
Design complex physical and logical data models.
Design test fixtures and equipment.
Detect
Detect, diagnose, report, and resolve Windows Server related hardware problems.
Determine
Determine and provide user access, privileges and security.
Develop
Develop and administer NetBackup and EPO.
Develop and administer security policies and procedures.
Develop and implement project plans, risk assessments and contingency plans.
Develop and maintain appropriate operation plans to meet defined service level agreements.
Develop and maintain infrastructure as code.
Develop and maintain security documentation.
Develop and review high availability designs.
Develop, implement, and improve Daily Operational Procedures and Business Continuity Plans.
Develop strategies for client / server implementations.
Develop, test and deploy Group Policy Objects within the Active Directory system.
Diagnose
Diagnose system hardware, software, and computer problems based on knowledge of system operation.
Drive
Drive security architecture / new function definition to maintain and enrich security.
Engage
Engage peers or other teams as required.
Engage with 3rd party vendors on product support issues and escalation procedures.
Ensure
Ensure backups and data restore tasks are being completed.
Ensure Security hardening.
Ensure server environments meet strict security compliance requirements.
Ensure servers, load-balancers, and data storage are maintained across different locations.
Establish
Establish and implement server health monitoring using Microsoft System Center Operations Manager.
Establish Tags to allow for easy virtual searching.
Evaluate
Evaluate and install computer hardware, networking software and operating system software.
Follow
Follow existing support and operation processes and procedures.
Follow up
Follow up managing subscription for servers in all tiers.
Identify
Identify training needs.
Identify process bottlenecks and research tools to fix them.
Identify security gaps, weaknesses, enhancements, roadmap for hospital.
Implement
Implement and manage Windows environments to ensure high availability.
Implement and supports disaster recovery plans.
Implement data, software and hardware security procedures.
Implement infrastructure (mid-tier) detailed in architecture diagrams for projects.
Implement network traffic and security monitoring software, and optimize server performance.
Install
Install and configure Tableau Server.
Install certificates for .NET applications in IIS and configured security ports.
Install, configure and troubleshoot desktop systems and network issues.
Install, configure VMware ESX servers as stand-alone and in clustered HA environments.
Install hardware into racks and label / run cables.
Install, maintain, troubleshoot and upgrade Web-server hardware and software.
Install and test computer-related equipment.
Install patches and upgrade to server hardware, firmware, and / or software.
Insure
Insure server security compliance conforming to customer and / or corporate security requirements.
Interact with
Interact with customers and staff at the technical level.
Interface with
Interface with vendors regarding complex issues and mediate through resolution.
Investigate
Investigate and resolve complex server issues.
Investigate new technologies and assigned projects.
Keep
Keep current with emerging security alerts and issues.
Lead
Lead and / or participate in project activities.
Liaise with
Liaise with end-users, management and other systems departments.
Maintain
Maintain and backup all appropriate databases.
Maintain daily, weekly, and monthly scheduled network backups.
Maintain data integrity and file system security.
Maintain effective communications with other groups.
Maintain integrity of the hardware / software inventory database.
Maintain or develop new documentation.
Maintain system documentation, inventory management, and provide customized reports.
Maintain VMWare tools for servers.
Make
Make repairs and corrections where required.
Manage
Manage all sites, users, groups, and content.
Manage and configure Virtual Server Environments (VSphere 5.0+).
Manage, administrate and support Windows servers and their associated software and hardware.
Manage SQL Server databases.
Manage the application's users, groups, and integration with Active Directory.
Manage the configuration and operation of client-based computer operating systems.
Manage user authentication and security on the network.
Meet
Meet the minimum qualifications and requirements of the position.
Mentor
Mentor / cross train team members on existing and new technologies.
Migrate
Migrate VMs across hosts within a HA cluster to perform maintenance tasks on ESXi hosts.
Modify
Modify Web pages, applets and scripts.
Monitor
Monitor and maintain all resources.
Monitor and maintain site metrics such as content usage, user activity, and scheduled tasks.
Monitor, maintain, and scale server deployments to satisfy business requirements.
Monitor server performance and ensure all application services are running.
Monitor server performance and usage.
Monitor servers and network infrastructure.
Monitor the system daily and respond immediately to security or usability concerns.
Monitor system's performance.
Monitor the system daily and respond immediately to security or usability concerns.
Monitor, troubleshoot and capacity planning of vSphere environment.
Notify
Notify the Government immediately of any problems that occur during daily maintenance of servers.
Order
Order and set up a new hardware as and when required.
Participate
Participate in an on-call pager rotation.
Participate in an on-call rotation and follow established response time and notification procedures.
Participate in management of OSD process - building, capturing, and updating Windows 10 images.
Participate in project deliverables.
Participate in SCCM Application Publishing for Windows workstations.
Participate in supporting the global needs of a 24x7 environment.
Participate in the development of IT infrastructure projects.
Perform
Perform additional duties and special assignments as required and assigned.
Perform administrative tasks related to Windows server installations.
Perform advanced troubleshooting concerning systems operation.
Performance
Performance monitoring (CPU, Memory, Network and Disk).
Perform
Perform and test routine system backups and restores.
Perform daily tasks such as checking logs, adding users, backup validations, etc..
Perform data backups and disaster recovery operations.
Perform performance analysis of existing Tableau Servers and make Best Practice recommendations.
Perform routine network start up and close down and maintain control records.
Perform routine problem analysis and resolution design for systems and applications.
Perform server maintenance (backups, updates, restores, etc.).
Perform SharePoint builds and upgrades.
Perform site and farm migrations.
Perform, verify, and test routine system backups and restores.
Perform Web-server backup and recovery operations.
Plan
Plan enterprise server deployments, on premises and cloud-based.
Plan, implement, oversee and maintain server and network infrastructures and projects.
Prepare
Prepare support and procedural documentation.
Process
Process Work requests according to established procedures.
Produce
Produce deliverables as defined by the manager.
Produce quarterly server aging report for OS.
Provide
Provide alerts and situation status information to both client and Unisys management.
Provide call and change order progress updates using core ITO systems.
Provide guidance and mentoring to server team on supported Azure technologies.
Provide opportunities for skill development through on-the-job training experiences.
Provide problem-solving services to network users.
Provide server documentation and how-to instructional guides as necessary.
Provide technical support for both hardware and software issues encountered by users / clients.
Provide understanding of the behavior of software / hardware for accurate deployment.
Recommend
Recommend options for SharePoint 2013 to 2019 and SharePoint Online performance tuning.
Research
Research, evaluate and recommend new Server, Storage and Backup equipment and technologies.
Research new technologies to implement towards growth of the organization.
Resolve
Resolve complex IT issues in a Tier 3 capacity.
Respond to
Respond to and resolve help desk tickets / requests.
Respond to incident tickets.
Review
Review and store the systems, security, and application event logs from servers.
Review requirements and update / create forms and engage other teams as required.
Review test equipment and capacity.
Set up
Set up local area networks and connections to the Internet.
Suggest
Suggest improvements based on technology, best practices, or changing requirements.
Support
Support an on-call rotation for patching and escalations.
Support corporate policies, procedures and best practices pertinent to supporting Windows servers.
Support Infrastructure changes.
Support vulnerability assessments in accordance with Office of Information Security directives.
Take
Take ownership for the environments that you support and monitor them using available tools.
Transfer
Transfer knowledge to server support team.
Troubleshoot
Troubleshoot and perform root-cause analysis.
Troubleshoot moderate to complex issues across the breadth of the Azure solution.
Troubleshoot user issues within a site.
Upgrade
Upgrade systems and process as required for enhanced functionality and security issue resolution.
Verify
Verify and validate the integrity of the backups; and perform recovery test or drills periodically.
Work with
Work to collaborate with team members and communicate effectively.
Work with advanced features of SQL server 2014.
Work with our client in a fast-paced, highly technical and demanding environment.
Work with the development team to deliver new workflows.
Work with the team to implement, manage and support Azure related virtual infrastructure.
Work with the team to implement, manage and support virtual infrastructure.
Most In-demand Hard Skills
The following list describes the most required technical skills of a Server Administrator:
Hardware Troubleshooting
Hyper-V
RDS
Server
Clustering
Server Virtualization
Customer Service Orientation
Dell Openmanage
Enterprise Environment
Enterprise Servers
Hci Infrastructure
Hpe Oneview
Server Hardware Management
Storage Administration
System Center Product Suite
Windows 2012 R2
Work After Office Hours
Azure Ad
Azure Governance
Azure Infrastructure
Most In-demand Soft Skills
The following list describes the most required soft skills of a Server Administrator:
Written and oral communication skills
Analytical ability
Interpersonal skills
Self-motivated
Problem-solving attitude
Attention to detail
Collaborative
Effectively prioritize and execute tasks in a high-pressure environment
Troubleshooting skills
Team player
Identify and resolve systemic problems
Learn and accept challenges
