Prospective Job Positions For Network+ Holders

Computer networks are the backbone of our modern digital society. Everything around us is run -or supported somehow- using a computer network. For government and business organizations, computer networks become a crucial enabler of digital transformation, in addition to providing other numerous benefits, such as:

Resources Sharing: Computer networks allow sharing computer resources (programs, hardware devices such as printers and scanners) and data between many users in different locations.

Reduce Costs: Using cloud-based applications will significantly lower the software license purchase costs.

Increase Storage Capacity: Instead of saving files on different workstations, you can save data on a central server where all users can access it.

Mastering computer networking technology becomes a lucrative profession for anyone who wants to pursue a career in IT or specialize in network engineering. The computer networking profession is worth learning for the following reasons:

• You Can Work In Any Industry: All organizations across all industries and sectors need to utilize computer networks. Computer networking specialists can work in any industry due to demand.

• Computer Network Skills Gap: There is a massive demand for computer networking professionals. More organizations will utilize computer networks to increase productivity and gain competitive advantages, in addition to the widespread shift to cloud technology and IoT. All these factors will raise the need for computer network specialists significantly. According to itcareerfinder.com, the Network Administrator role is among the top 10 positions with high demand for the next ten years.

• Different Career Path: Computer networking is comprehensive; you can select which career path best suits your goals and interests—for example, Network Administrator, Network Analyzer, or Network Support Specialist.

• Keep Up To Date With Cutting Edge Technologies: Computer networking is advancing daily; this is an exciting profession that allows you to stay current with the latest and emerging technologies.

We will discuss the leading IT job roles for CompTIA Network+ certification holders and provide an overview of each job role in the following section.

Job roles of CompTIA Network+

Network Administrator

A Network Administrator is the central role Network+ certified individuals pursue after getting their certification. It is responsible for ensuring that the computer network and the connected devices function accurately and fulfills organizational needs.

Some job duties of a network administrator include:

• Networking appliances hardware setup (switches, modem, routers, firewalls).
• Network connectivity troubleshooting.
• Configuring LAN, WAN, and wireless networks.
• Keep tracking of IoT devices and other mobile devices accessing a network.
• Apply security best practices to keep the network secure.

In small organizations that own small networks, this role is also called System Administrator. However, in large corporations with large networks, the duties of a Network admin are different from System admin.

Network Support Specialist

Network support specialists commonly work under the supervision of the Network Administrator; their roles include monitoring network performance, troubleshooting network connectivity problems, and configuring all network devices properly. Some job duties of a network support specialist include the following:

1. Configure network security settings to ensure only the authorized entities have access to protected network resources.
2. Analyze network data and identify network connectivity issues.
3. Install and configure network appliances.
4. Support end-users for all network connection issues, including LAN, WAN, and mobile networks.
5. Backup network data.
6. Inform the security team or SOC about security breaches or other intrusions attempts.
7. Maintain network support documentation.
8. End-user training.

Systems Engineer

System engineers play an essential role in designing, implementing, and maintaining information technology systems and processes. The system engineer profession involves software solutions to automate and integrate technology into business processes. Some job duties of a network engineer are:

• Participate in the different design phases of an IT solution to advise on the needed software and hardware components for developing an efficient system and processes.
• Check the possibility of using cutting-edge technologies to incorporate them into current systems and processes.
• Testing systems before deployment to make sure everything is working as expected.
• Monitor system performance to detect and prevent problems.

Maybe you will ask what the CompTIA Network+ exam has to do with this profession. For instance, Network+ covers network architecture and different issues related to network security that all teams involved in system design should know.

System Administrator

As stated earlier, in a small organization that owns small networks, the system administrator role plays the exact position of a network administrator. However, for large networks, each one has its responsibilities.

A system administrator is responsible for the proper functioning of all IT components within a computer network. For example, system admins are responsible for installing software on endpoint devices and servers and keeping everything up to date, beginning with operating systems and ending with applications.

System admins create organization IT security policies to secure networks from authorized access; they also suggest purchasing new IT equipment and software to enhance the performance of computer networks and upgrade the current installation to meet business objectives.

System admins are responsible for monitoring other network support, and the IT specialists work and provide network training for other IT employees. System admins understand different IT topics (software, hardware, security, and networks); they are not specialists with only one type, which makes their profession broader than network admins.

IT specialist

As organizations across all industries became heavily dependent on IT solutions, the need to hire expert IT specialists increased. The IT specialists work across all organization departments where IT is applied. Some specialists work on the following IT areas:

• Network Support
• System Analysis and Design
• System Development
• IT Security and Audit
• Database Administration
• Web Server Administration

Some job duties of IT specialists include:

1. Installing new workstations and other endpoint devices.
2. Solve technical issues from other employees and customers.
3. Technical writing, such as maintaining system documentation, FAQ, and knowledge base.
4. Participate in improving the automation of business processes and suggest the best ways to streamline these processes to make them more efficient.

Summary

As technology becomes an integral part of an organization’s operations, the need for skilled computer networking specialists has increased and will continue to do so. The best method to start your learning path in the networking field is to obtain a networking certificate. This article discussed the CompTIA Network+ certification and the numerous roles Network+ holders can occupy.