What Does an IT Person Do? ~ Spot Migration
What Does an IT Person Do? / Your Guide to IT Professionals
You have most likely heard the term IT Professional before and may have a basic idea of what one is; after all, most offices have them. Still, if you are looking to hire someone for your IT services, it helps to know the ins and outs of what an IT person does. Having a deeper knowledge ensures you get the right help you need when adding an IT professional to your office staff or enlisting the help of one through your managed service provider (MSP).
This article will look at what an IT person does and the different ways they help your business. You’ll learn the types of roles this member plays in an organization and the training and education often found in this position, so you know you have a qualified professional. You’ll also learn ways to add an experienced IT person to your team without breaking your budget.
What is an IT Professional?
IT stands for Information Technology – the electronic systems that store and handle information in today’s modern office. Examples include in-house and cloud servers, programs, WiFi, computers, laptops, smart devices, printers, and any related support applications.
IT professionals specialize in programming, managing, and servicing each of these elements. If you and your office workers have an issue with a computer or network device, you will most likely work with an IT professional to solve them.
There are three overall functions of an IT professional:
- Governance: Establishing and enforcing rules for the use of the technology
- Infrastructure: Handling all network, hardware components, and plugins
- Functionality: Maintaining applications, storing and securing data, and aiding office staff with using the software
The Two Types of IT Professionals
There are two categories of IT Professionals:
- Network Systems Administration and IT Support
- Programming and Software Development
Let’s look at each category in detail.
Network Systems Administration and IT Support
“What Does a Network Systems Administrator Do?”
A Network Systems Administrator is an IT person who works and supports your network systems. He or she keeps you connected to WiFi, oversees your network connection and network security, and fixes common computer issues around the office. Typically, this is the IT professional you see servicing computer-related problems from your office staff.
Network administrators are in charge of the design of networks and their coordination with network devices. They handle installation, upgrades, and configuration into your electronic systems, handle network speeds, and offer individual office staff support along the way.
There is a wide range of network equipment in a typical office. Some include:
- Cloud and in-house network servers
- Mobile networks
- Network devices such as computers, laptops and smartphones
- Network drives
Program and Software Development
What Does a Programmer or Software Developer Do?
While a network administrator ensures all systems are connected and working properly, the programmer or software developer creates the programs being installed and used. They are like chefs in a restaurant, creating recipes and making the meal (the programs). Network and Administrators and IT Support acts as both the hosts and servers by ensuring all the guests receive their final products and receive ongoing service.
Programming and software development requires a deep knowledge of code programming and not all codes are the same. It can vary between websites, apps, and systems. The code needs to be planned and implemented correctly, and the resulting systems need to be appropriately managed to ensure they run as intended.
In some cases, both departments work together toward goals. A good example is when designing and implementing operational applications. Working together, these departments can create and install local and cloud-native applications that fit the specific needs of your business to put your business ahead of the competition.
Skills and Experience Needed for the Job
All individuals working as a network systems administrator or within programming and software development should have career training, and nearly all do. On-the-job experience is invaluable. It helps them develop the needed tools to do their job well and gain experience with fresh and new ways of keeping your business competitive in the marketplace. In many jobs today, a company is only as good as its systems, and a career-trained IT person with a high level of experience helps ensure you stay ahead of the pack.
Their abilities range from basic programming skills to in-depth analytical skills and high-level management skills. Higher-qualified individuals often receive educational training, either through a college or professional certification.
In either case, experience is a significant factor for strong performance.
Certification
There are many kinds of certification courses to meet varying needs and technical levels. Two certifications show just how far they range, even though they look similar:
- CompTIA A+ certification: entry-level certification for PC service technicians
- CompTIA Network+ certification showing that your IT professional has knowledge and skills in emerging technologies, such as cloud and virtualization technologies
Due to the number and range of certifications available, many businesses hire an MSP to provide the right level of IT professional for specific business needs. This is something we at Spot Migration do regularly for our customers.
Educational Programs
Educational Programs can be quite extensive. An IT professional can come with a four-year degree program or even a doctorate degree program depending on the complexity of the task and the forms of technology. For instance, a business information technology analyst may have a Master in Technology Management to oversee larger teams.
Not all positions require this level of education. First-hand experience in the field is a big part of the job and a good way to recognize trends within business technology, which can come at any level. Still, higher-level positions benefit significantly from added education to serve you more effectively.
How Much is the Median Salary for an IT Person?
If you are looking to hire full-time, you can expect to pay the following median salaries for your IT professional. Note that individual salaries range depending on the individual’s role and the individual’s level of experience, education, industry, and prior company history.
In general, you will notice the average salary is quite good for those in the IT industry. In some cases, the cost can be prohibitive for business owners, particularly for those running small businesses. For added savings, an MSP can provide different IT professionals for different problems at a set monthly cost instead of having multiple IT professionals on staff.
Here is the median salary for full-time hires in each category:
Network Administrators: $80,000
IT/Support Specialists: $52,000
Contact Us Today for an Experienced IT Professional
When it’s time to hire your IT professionals, enlisting the help of an MSP takes the hassle out of researching the right role levels and screening applicants while saving significant money on overhead.
At Spot Migration, we have the professional staff and industry experts you need to provide IT support of all hardware, software, and network servers when you need it and only when you need it. You will save significant overhead by avoiding full-time employment of IT staff and needing to keep them trained on the latest technologies and services. All of these benefits come to you automatically, at a competitive monthly fee, and without restriction on the number of uses.
At Spot Migration, we pride ourselves on professional service at every level and price our services to fit your exact needs. We believe in being clear with our costs, so you can get the service you need while saving money and keeping you focused on your core business initiative: business growth.
To find out how our team of professionals can help your business, contact us here.
