What do system administrators do? This may not be a question you think about very often yet personnel engaged in system administration play an essential role across virtually every industry.
To mark System Administrator Appreciation Day, which is held on July 28, 2023, this article takes a look at some of the types of roles undertaken. This event was created by Ted Kekatos, a system administrator, in 1999. Kekatos wanted to establish a special day to recognize the hard work and dedication of system administrators who play a crucial role in keeping computer systems running smoothly.
Since then, SysAdmin Day has been celebrated on the last Friday of July each year to honour and appreciate the contributions of these IT professionals, as Manu Heirbaut, Vice President of Engineering, Datadobi has explained to Digital Journal.
To repeat the opening question: What do system administrators do? Here goes:
Healthcare
In the healthcare industry, sysadmins ensure the seamless operation of critical systems, such as electronic health record (EHR) systems and patient management systems. They are responsible for maintaining data security and privacy to protect sensitive patient information. For instance, sysadmins implement access controls and encryption measures to safeguard electronic medical records from unauthorized access or breaches.
Financial
Sysadmins in the financial sector oversee and maintain complex IT infrastructures that support banking systems, trading platforms, and financial databases. They ensure high availability, data integrity, and security of financial transactions. For example, sysadmins implement robust firewalls and intrusion detection systems to protect against cyber threats and ensure compliance with industry regulations like PCI-DSS (Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard).
Manufacturing
In the manufacturing industry, sysadmins manage and optimize production systems, such as enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems and manufacturing execution systems (MES). They ensure smooth operations, monitor equipment performance, and troubleshoot any technical issues that may arise. Sysadmins also oversee data backups and disaster recovery plans to minimize production downtime and data loss.
Retail
Sysadmins in the retail sector support various IT systems, including point-of-sale (POS) systems, inventory management systems, and e-commerce platforms. They ensure these systems are available, secure, and integrated to provide a seamless customer experience. For instance, sysadmins maintain secure payment gateways and implement data encryption protocols to protect customer financial information during online transactions.
Hospitality
In the hospitality industry, sysadmins manage hotel property management systems (PMS), reservation systems, and guest-facing technology. They ensure reliable connectivity, efficient data exchange between systems, and data security. Sysadmins also play a crucial role in managing Wi-Fi networks and ensuring guest privacy and cybersecurity.
Human Resources
Sysadmins support HR departments by managing and securing employee data systems, including HRIS (Human Resources Information System) and payroll systems. They handle user access controls, data backups, and system integrations to streamline HR processes and protect sensitive employee information. Sysadmins also ensure compliance with data privacy regulations, such as GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation).
