How to become a System Administrator

System Administrators operate and support on-premises and cloud infrastructure, servers, identity services, applications, networks, security controls, backups, and end-user systems. The role combines proactive maintenance, troubleshooting, monitoring, compliance, documentation, automation, and occasional on-call support.

Top Skills Required

  • Server administration
  • Cloud infrastructure
  • Identity and access management

Education & Certifications

Typical: Associate's or bachelor's degree in computer science, information technology, or a related field

Alternative paths:

  • Equivalent professional experience
  • Relevant IT certifications such as CompTIA A+, CompTIA Network+, or Microsoft certifications
  • Cloud infrastructure or modern infrastructure certifications