What Does a Network Administrator Do?

By DeVry University

May 13, 2023

6 min read

Network administrators are experienced technology professionals that ensure the function of computer networks on a day-to-day basis. Beyond network maintenance, an administrator may also develop the network itself if a new one needs to be installed.

A talented network administrator can be a vital contributor to the success of a company. Over the past few decades, networks and related technology have grown into the foundational infrastructure for most industries. Companies need to make sure that they have a network administrator on hand who is capable of keeping their technology functional and up-to-date.

Network administration can be an exciting and rewarding career choice for technologically inclined individuals. In this article, you'll find the answers to questions like what does a network administrator do, learn more about the duties of network administrators and discover some of the steps you can take to become one as we explore the following sections:

A network administrator is a technology professional who is tasked with keeping a company's network up to date and functional. They install and update software and prune old programs that are no longer effective. If a company has multiple computers or network software such as cloud computing, they need to have a network administrator to keep everything in working order.

A systems administrator works with company members to ensure that the system is set up in a way that facilitates efficiency and convenience. They are often in charge of things like password management, file organization and user permissions. Outside of those concerns, they typically monitor essential metrics like CPU performance, storage capacity, network latency and more to ensure that everything within the system is working properly

The job duties of a network administrator vary from company to company. Generally, a person with this job title is expected to install and configure computer networks and systems, identify and solve any technical issues, assemble new systems, and research and develop budgets for new equipment.

Depending on the company, these duties may also include system administrator duties such as password delegation and user permission settings. If the company has a server room, there is likely to be some server maintenance involved as well.

The typical network administrator works regular hours that align with the rest of their company. If the company operates around the clock or has a pressing project deadline, the admin may be kept on call to provide assistance should issues arise outside of typical work hours.