Network Support Analyst
A Network Support Analyst installs, designs, and maintains various network components of an organization. The individual will plan, design, analyze, and provide technical support for the network. The analyst will also research and evaluate network technologies and make recommendations for network equipment purchases. This individual works in conjunction with the IT team to arrange systems.
Analysts are also responsible for the handling and resolving tickets. Since they need to liaise with their team members and clients and also have to create documentation, they need to have strong verbal and written communication skills.
Analysts should have excellent analytical and problem-solving skills. They should be prepared to do physical work, such as handling, carrying, and installing equipment.
Job Description
Network Support Analysts are responsible for installing, configuring, and supporting local area networks (LANs), wide area networks (WANs), Internet systems, and components of network systems. They also diagnose issues relating to software, hardware, IT systems, and network, and troubleshoot them and replace faulty components when needed.
Analysts manage and maintain computer networks, hardware, software, and all configurations. As they need to keep an eye on the performance of networks and systems, and to align network use and access, they work on master consoles.
Analysts interact with users of the network to come up with a roadmap to fix the existing problems of the systems. They suggest changes to enhance network configurations and systems, and decide on the hardware or software needs to carry out relevant changes.
Analysts keep themselves up-to-date with the latest technologies by attending roadshows or reading about them and also learn them to know how they can be deployed within their organization or at the premises of the clients. They take the responsibility of devising, configuring, and testing hardware, the software of operating systems and networking.
Analysts evaluate the functioning of equipment to decide if they have to be replaced or patched up. They conceive, organize, and deploy security measures for the network to safeguard software, hardware, and data.
Analysts monitor the performance of the network to decide whether modifications are necessary and to ascertain the places where they have to be carried out in the future. They configure, administer, and maintain antivirus software or email applications.
Analysts research clients’ data requirements and use the evidence to detect, calculate, deduce, and assess the needs of the system and network. They back up data and conduct tasks to recover from breakdowns.
It is the responsibility of analysts to maintain records concerning both network performance, maintenance and repairs. They conduct network commencement and closing processes.
They oversee networks to make sure that they are available to all the authorized users. Analysts perform the required maintenance to ensure that the network is available, safe, and secure at all times. They monitor and test the performance of any organizational website to ensure that is functioning correctly.
Among the regular tasks of analysts are aiding in the network analysis, modeling, planning, and proper coordination between hardware and software of network and data communications. It is also their job to define security measures for the network.
They also provide desktop telephony support to remote users and train IT team on new technologies, manage technology devices, applications, and network servers. They must secure the network by accessing controls, firewalls, and backups.
Analysts keep an inventory of parts for repairing on an urgent basis. They act as intermediaries between vendors and different teams in their organizations to help in the purchase of software, hardware and other related equipment for computer environments.
Analysts should ensure that all workstations, servers, and other network appliances have proper network connectivity. They must comply with change management processes.
It is their job to train people on how to use computer systems properly. Analysts should keep providing members of all departments’ latest technological information through phones, emails or chats.
Educational Requirements and Other Requirements
A Network Support Analyst must have at least an associate degree, if not a bachelor’s in engineering, computer science or a related technical field. In addition, a certification from Cisco, Microsoft, Dell or CompTIA is preferable. They should be able to script in programming languages, such as Perl, Python or Bash. Aspirants should have worked with network protocols and network management systems. They should be well-versed in MS-Office (Excel, Word, Exchange, and Outlook).
Future for a Network Support Analyst
If Network Support Analysts gain more than three years of experience and have a proper college degree, they can advance their careers and become IT security analysts or systems analysts. Work opportunities for computer support specialists are expected to increase 11 percent during the period 2016-2026, according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). There will be demand for more computer support specialists because organizations will continually upgrade their hardware, software and other IT related equipment.
Salary
Network Support Analyst earns on an average $49,000 per year in the United States. Freelancers in this profession earn $22.93, according to payscale.
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