Delve into the world of server administration, a field that encompasses the maintenance, updating, and fortification of company servers. As server administrators play an instrumental role in managing company data, understanding the nuances of this career can pave the way for many exciting opportunities in the tech industry.
Key Insights
- Server administration involves tasks such as upgrading software and hardware, storing and organizing data, and developing processes and protocols.
- Server Administrators require coding knowledge in programming languages such as Java, C++, and Python and earn an average salary of $70,000 a year in the US.
- Learning server administration opens up career opportunities in IT, Cybersecurity, or Web Development.
- Web development is a field where server administration skills are crucial; back-end web development in particular has significant overlap with server administration.
- Python is a fundamental programming language for Server Administrators; mastering Python can enhance server administration skills and lead to new career paths.
- Further honing cybersecurity skills can bolster a Server Administrator's capabilities, with cybersecurity roles being a common career progression path.
Server administration is the skill of maintaining, updating, and securing company servers and the information they contain. The skill requires a solid knowledge of computer science fundamentals. If you already know how to use server administration, consider learning web development, software engineering, or cybersecurity. We’ll cover these below, so you understand what skill to tackle next.
What is Server Administration?
Server administration involves the management of computer servers. It includes several tasks, such as upgrading software and hardware, storing and organizing data, and developing processes and protocols. Server Administrators work with end-users to access information, recover lost passwords, and troubleshoot technical problems with both hardware and software. Server Administrators also play an important role in cybersecurity. They are responsible for updating database security, including setting up antivirus and firewall programs. They work closely with the IT team to update protocols and processes and educate end-users on security best practices.
Server Administrators play a crucial role in managing and securing company data and information. Individuals interested in a career as a Server Administrator require coding knowledge in programming languages such as Java, C++, and Python. They also need to know how to set up and create custom databases. Server Administrators make an average salary in the US of $70,000 a year, though this may swing heavily in either direction depending on your area. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the job growth for server administrators is expected to grow by 4% from 2019 to 2029.
Read more about what server administration is and why you should learn it.
What Can You Do with Server Administration?
Server administration can be an exciting and fulfilling career. Server Administrators play a vital role in maintaining company information and troubleshooting end-user issues. In this way, Server Administrators know their services are always needed to help the company and its employees flourish. Serving in an essential role can lead to a sense of fulfillment with seeing that one’s job duties have a daily impact. Every company needs ways to manage its data and keep information secure in today's digital world. Thus, Server Administrators can impact virtually any industry of their choosing.
Server administration is an excellent role for individuals who enjoy problem-solving. Whether troubleshooting hardware, identifying needed systems patches or analyzing system logs, Server Administrators face daily challenges and get to flex their intellectual muscles. Server Administrators also experience the thrill of working with new technologies. Over the past few decades, Server Administrators have moved from physical servers to cloud servers. Cybersecurity threats also continue to grow and involve. For individuals who like learning new things, Server administration possesses opportunities for gaining new skills and talents.
Server Administrators learn various cybersecurity and database management skills and programming languages. Professionals who learn server administration skills can pursue other careers by further focusing on cybersecurity, database management, or computer science skills. Server Administrators can pursue positions in IT, Cybersecurity, or Web Development, to name a few.
Web Development
Server administration is an essential skill for web developers to secure and manage the servers that host their web pages. Web development generally comes in three forms, the front end (the side the users see), the back end (the server side), or the full stack (both front and back end). Back end web development is more directly suited to server administration and has a lot of crossover in server, network, and cloud management. However, specific individuals who may pursue server administration but switch to something more creative can use their server administration skills in front-end web development.
You can learn full stack web development through Noble Desktop’s Full Stack Web Development Certificate. This certificate teaches front and back end coding, design concepts, and data management. Noble Desktop also offers a certificate in Front End Web Development. You’ll learn the visual side of creating websites and how to use WordPress.
More Coding with Python
Python is a fundamental programming language for Server Administrators to learn, but they’ll likely only need to know the basics. Server Administrators can dig deeper into coding with Python through the Python Programming Bootcamp. Learning Python can improve server administration skills in various areas, such as cybersecurity, network security, and automation.
Python can also lead to possible other career paths. For instance, Noble Desktop’s Python Developer Certificate teaches Python programming and web application development with Python. The Software Engineering Certificate teaches full stack web development and Python programming for software engineering. Python is also essential for finance, data science, and machine learning careers.
Cybersecurity
Cybersecurity is an important skill of Server Administrators. The ability to keep data and information safe is paramount to the success and security of a company. Learning additional cybersecurity skills can make you a better Server Administrator, and roles in cybersecurity are common career advancement choices for information technology professions. Noble Desktop’s Cybersecurity Bootcamp teaches the ins and outs of cybersecurity, how to protect applications and networks, analyze security weaknesses and threats, and prevent cyberattacks.
Key Insights
- A few areas established Server Administrators may choose to increase their skills include web development, Python, and cybersecurity.
- Server administration skills are helpful for Web Developers to be able to manage and secure the websites they create.
- Back End Web Development crossovers with server administration and can be a natural career progression.
- Developing further skills in Python can improve server administration skills as well as lead to a variety of new careers.
- Increasing cybersecurity skills is vital to server administration duties and is a common career advancement path from information technology into cybersecurity professions.
Learn Cybersecurity & Tech Skills with Hands-on Training at Noble Desktop
Server Administrators require cloud computing, cybersecurity, and database administration skills. Individuals can learn all of these skills through Noble Desktop. Their small class sizes feature industry-expert instructors with free retake options. Courses can be taken in-person in NYC or online from anywhere.
Cloud Computing with AWS focuses on Amazon Web Services (AWS), one of the most popular cloud computing platforms. Students learn how to build and secure enterprise-level cloud environments with AWS.
Python is a coding language commonly used by Server Administrators. Noble Desktop offers Python for Network Security, where students learn how to use Python for network monitoring and security. Students must be comfortable coding with Python or have attended Noble Desktop’s Python Programming Bootcamp.
The previously mentioned courses are available through Noble Desktop’s Cybersecurity Bootcamp. In this extensive course, students learn cybersecurity threats and prevention practices and how to use Python for cybersecurity, Linux for cybersecurity, digital forensics, and cloud computing. Individuals can also view all of Noble Desktop’s cybersecurity courses should they wish to take them individually.
An additional course not included in the Cybersecurity Bootcamp that Server Administrators may be interested in is the SQL Server Bootcamp. Students learn the coding language SQL for managing databases, querying information, and extracting insights.