Administration of networked computer systems: the most in-demand professional profiles
Protecting business infrastructure and networks from threats, vulnerabilities and attacks has become one of the main objectives of organisations, which every year see how the number of cyber-attacks has grown not only in quantity, but also in sophistication and persistence.
As a result, the amount companies spend on cybersecurity has become one of the main items in their ICT budgets, and the competition to hire professionals capable of designing, managing and protecting their network infrastructures is more fierce than ever.
In this sense, training in this field allows students to acquire key skills such as network configuration and maintenance, firewall and intrusion detection system management, communication encryption and security incident response.
In fact, the network management and cybersecurity specialist has a highly technical profile, combining knowledge of systems administration with a high capacity to react to all kinds of threats. In this article, we explore the main career opportunities for those who specialise in this field.
8 professional profiles of ASIR:
Network Systems Administrator
The network systems administrator is responsible for the installation, configuration and maintenance of servers and networks in a company.
They manage operating systems such as Windows Server, macOS or Linux, optimise the performance of resources and ensure the availability of services. He also supervises network security, manages the company's backup policy and monitors network traffic to prevent possible cybersecurity incidents.
Information security analyst
A profile that works proactively to prevent computer failures and attacks. To achieve this, they assess the possible risks present in the company's ICT systems, analyse potential vulnerabilities and propose threat mitigation measures.
It uses tools such as SIEM or IDS/IPS and periodically performs security audits. It also identifies potential data leaks and establishes protocols for responding to security incidents.
Cloud Infrastructure Manager
Increasingly in demand, the cloud infrastructure administrator manages the company's presence in public cloud environments (AWS, Azure, Google Cloud), private cloud or the increasingly frequent hybrid environment.
In addition to implementing measures to improve application and data security, they also develop scalability strategies, oversee process automation and monitor resource consumption.
Network and communications specialist
With more and more software-defined networking (SDN) within organisations, the network specialist has become one of the most interesting profiles for companies that want to get the most out of distributed and complex environments.
They are not only responsible for implementing network access policy (routers, APs, switches, VPNs, etc.), but also for defining communications security, optimising bandwidth and determining the best way to segment the network to offer the best user experience.
IT security auditor
It is as important to implement security measures in the company as it is to test them. The IT security auditor performs penetration tests and security audits on technological infrastructures (pentesting). They evaluate the robustness of the systems against attacks and the company's own compliance policies as well as those required by the different certifications and national legislation on matters such as privacy and personal data protection.
Based on its findings, it also plays a prescriptive role and recommends strategies to strengthen the company's security.
Identity and Access Management Technician (IAM)
Who is connecting to the company network, why are they doing so, what privileges should they have and what privileges do they actually have, and what method are they using to authenticate themselves?
These are just some of the questions the identity and access management (IAM) technician must answer. To achieve this, they implement digital identity policies through multi-factor authentication (MFA) and privileged access management (PAM) solutions. Their profile is not only key to preventing unauthorised access, but even if a low-level credential theft occurs, the attacker cannot escalate within the organisation.
Application security specialist
With development cycles becoming increasingly agile and shorter, the application security specialist must ensure that all enterprise software programmed by companies is free of vulnerabilities.
To achieve this, they apply methodologies such as DevSecOps, which integrate security throughout the software development lifecycle, automating security controls without affecting the speed of delivery. It is also responsible for implementing security tests in test environments and correcting possible failures before projects go into production.
Security Incident Response Manager
With development cycles becoming increasingly agile and shorter, the application security specialist must ensure that all enterprise software programmed by companies is free of vulnerabilities.
To achieve this, they apply methodologies such as DevSecOps, which integrate security throughout the software development lifecycle, automating security controls without affecting the speed of delivery. It is also responsible for implementing security tests in test environments and correcting possible failures before projects go into production.
Want to become an expert in network management and cybersecurity?
The key to standing out in this sector is to have comprehensive training that equips you with the most sought-after skills in the market.
UDIT's Bachelor's Degree in Network IT Systems Administration not only provides the essential knowledge to design, implement and manage secure network infrastructures, but also trains students in the use of advanced cybersecurity tools, guaranteeing data protection and resilience in the face of cyber-attacks.
In addition, this training can be combined with the Higher National Diploma (HND) in Computing, specialising in Cybersecurity, further expanding your career opportunities in one of today's most attractive sectors.
