Whether you’re an IT administration veteran or just starting out, finding the right courses can have a big impact on where your career goes. Here are a few options to consider.
The roles of the IT administrator within a company is an integral one that is often overlooked, but is most definitely in high demand from employers. In such a competitive industry, many are choosing to specialize or improve their training to specialize within their field, aiming to become systems engineers, technicians, or as we will explore, administrators.
In this article we’ll be taking a brief look at the role of an administrator, what you could expect to earn as one, and some of the best courses to help you get the certification you need.
What does an Administrator do?
The role of an administrator can be a very broad spectrum of responsibilities that are important to the smooth and successful operation of a business.
IT administrators can work alone or as part of a team, but typically the role of an administrator is quite a solitary one, as they are responsible for defining and deciding the steps which need to be taken to ensure that the company’s IT infrastructure is up to date and running smoothly.
Therefore, because of this an IT administrator can work with server maintenance, networks, resource budgets, and upgrades to software and hardware.
On top of this, an IT administrator responds to IT problems and is able to diagnose and respond to, as well as resolve them in a timely manner. It is understandable therefore that administrators on average earn over $40,000 a year with the best in their field earning over $100,000.
Prior Qualifications
Typically, aspiring administrators will need a degree of some sort in their intended field, and some employers will require masters.
However, if you have been working your way up through a company over some years, or have already been learning on the job how to become an administrator, employers may require certification programs instead.
Certifications
As administration is such a broad-spectrum career choice, the certification that is right for you really depends on the company you work with and the systems with which you engage, however, below are listed some of top administration courses you may wish to consider.
MCA Azure Administrator
This certification is delivered by Microsoft, who no doubt represents the gold standard in IT qualifications, and is designed for administrators working within in institutes which utilize Microsoft Azure systems.
Training for this certification typically takes around 6-days and focuses around practical problem solving and application of skills pertaining to the implementation, monitoring, and maintenance of Azure systems, as well as creating an in depth understanding of the systems’ network and security.
Microsoft 365 Administration Certifications
Microsoft also offers five separate administration certifications for their Office 365 software, allowing aspiring or existing administrators to specialize. This is particularly useful for those working within a larger corporation where there may be several administrators working together as a team.
The certifications offered include security administration, desktop administration, teamwork administration, messaging administration, and enterprise administration. This variety of courses allows you to pick what is most important to you, your current work, and your career aspirations.
MSCE SharePoint 2018 Administrator
This certification is also moderated my Microsoft. This course is designed for administrators operating SharePoint 2016, teaching how to effectively maintain, administrate, and troubleshoot SharePoint 2016 systems. This course is also ideal for existing administrators to learn how to upgrade or migrate their current systems to SharePoint 2016, and will teach everything that is needed to make the change as smooth as possible.
MCSA SQL 2016 Database Administration
This course is a great option for those looking to specify in the administration of SQL databases, particularly if their employer is looking to upgrade their system from the 2008 edition of Microsoft’s SQL server as it reaches its end of life in mid-2019.
This 6-day course takes you on a deep dive of the newer editions of the system, bringing you up to speed and up to date fast. It aims to ensure confidence in ensuring and maintaining database infrastructure and combines hands-on learning with technical theory.
Administration and Beyond
Whilst primarily tailored to administration careers, these courses also allow for a variety of other pathways should you chose to move on or search for a change.
The MCSA SQL 2016 Database Administration course, for example, is also suited to those looking to become an infrastructure specialist, and the Microsoft 365 Security Administration course is great for IT security professionals looking to increase their skill set.
Either way, continuing your own training and your professional development is essential to any consummate professional, and there are a whole host of courses available both online and on campus that could help get you another rung up the employment ladder.