The world is constantly evolving. With this constant evolution, human civilization is also subjected to constant changes.
From food to fashion to technological changes, we are transforming and putting one step further to many more advancements.
Similarly, in this article, we will closely study the evolving role and ethics of a system administrator today.
To diversely study the role and ethics maintained or are expected to be maintained by a system administrator in today’s world, we need to know what the term actually means.
A system administrator is a professional who maintains the mechanisms or the operations of an electronic system especially a computer system.
This job demands for a skilled personnel with resourcefulness. An aspirant must be able to troubleshoot and resolve any sort of technical problems quickly.
He or She should be efficient. A system administrator candidate must have patience with impeccable communication skills. You have to tutor and update its teams and users on various models and technologies released today.
Why is it constantly evolving?
The reason behind the constant evolution of the role of a system administrator is listed below:
- Evolutionary technological changes
- Changes in IT investment
- The rise in the demand for tools and other accessories
- IT decentralization.
The role of an ideal system administrator
The responsibilities of a system administrator is diverse and wide-ranging and varies from companies to companies. Apart from just maintaining servers and computer systems, they also have to cater to duties like programming, scripting and so on.
Below listed are some of the responsibilities which are mandatory for a system administrator to perform:
- The role of a system administrator includes installation and configuration of software and hardware.
- The role of a system administrator also includes managing technological servers and technological tools required.
- This job requires to set up accounts and workstations.
- A system administrator has to keep the performance of the servers or the machines in check and maintain them accordingly.
- Also, this job demands for the skills to troubleshoot technical faults and power outages.
- A system administrator also has to ensure security over the network of servers or the machines by using access controls, backups and firewalls.
- A system administrator predominantly has to upgrade the systems timely with new and upgraded software or models.
- A system administrator also has to be a patient teacher. An ideal system administrator should have the expertise and skills to train staff and keep them updated on new technologies.
- A system administrator also has to maintain and write technological documentation, manuals and IT policies.
The Code of Ethics for a System Administrator
For any job that you can think of requires sheer dedication and sincerity. Apart from this, any job that you opt for requires the 2 P’s — Passion and Patience.
And in case of a system administrator, there are so many areas of ethics and responsibilities that he or she has to keep in mind. This designation demands of a personnel who has a sense of duty and is professional.
Here are some mandatory code of ethics listed below:
- Professional Conduct: Professionalism is a must as system administrators are hired by high-end multinational companies as they greatly rely on technology.
- A system administrator must have a high sense of professional moral conduct. He or she should not allow their personal feelings or beliefs to cause a dispute or treat people poorly or unprofessionally.
- Integrity: Personal integrity is a must. A candidate must be honest and humble in professional dealings and interactions and seek guidance whenever required.
He or she must keep away from biasness or moral or professional conflict of opinions. But, he or she must be smart and competent enough to voice his/her opinion whenever necessary.
- Privacy: Privacy is the most pivotal factor for this position. A system administrator candidate must be of clear intent. He or she must realize that they will be handling private company information which if leaked or lost, might cause tremendous loss to the company.
As a system administrator, he or she must commit to protect the confidentiality of private information which he or she will or might have access to.
- Ethical Duties: Apart from promises concerned or focused about the job role, there are a lot of areas to fulfill. As an employee, one must aim to build a healthy, secure and a productive work environment.
- Also, he or she must be open about any work related appropriate criticism and also offer the same and contribute to the workplace.
He or she, as an employee must be supportive, helpful and caring towards others in his or her workplace.
Maintaining discipline is pivotal in the workplace. One must abstain from using inappropriate or obscene languages and maintain the decorum of the said environment.
- Building Knowledge: Knowledge is limitless. Everyday there are millions of new things to learn and discover.
- With that attitude, a candidate must promise and aim to update his or her knowledge and skills. He must be willingly and enthusiastically share new knowledge updates among his or her colleagues and users.
- Be Patient and Approachable: As a system administrator, you might have more on your shoulders than you imagine. Patience is a must. You must be communicable. Communication is a must. One must always remember that you will have to be a teacher as well.
You have to teach and make your colleagues and users understand the mechanisms or cater to any technical help they seek.
You should be an avid listener and try to understand and communicate politely with the management, customers and all the other colleagues in your workplace.
- Obedience: As a candidate, one must thoroughly educate themselves on the laws, policiesand the rules and regulations of the establishment.
- He or she should abide by the laws and follow all the rules and maintain discipline in the workplace.
He or she must be obedient and must be competent enough to follow orders and directions given by their superiors and ask questions and seek help from their seniors whenever in doubt.