Sysadmin’s duties encompass a broad scope of IT-related matters. A company that cares about the proper organization and effective workplace should employ enough system administrators necessary to fulfill all IT needs of a particular business. These needs can be described by the acronym HDMI, which stands for hardware, developers, management, and innovations. Only a company that has each of these elements secured can evolve and function efficiently, without running the risk of falling behind technologically.

Now let’s take a closer look at the HDMI structure.

Hardware

Technology helps employees deliver their work faster at the same time increasing the quality of their output. If company hardware is faulty or outdated, instead of being an asset, it can turn into a source of many issues. Systems administrators keep guard over the technology front so that there are as few glitches from the hardware side of things as possible. They order necessary hardware updates, such as RAMs or SSDs, and manage the company network and servers in addition to mobile phones and tablets.

Fast and reliable hardware not only makes working on computers much more pleasant and efficient, but also determines the range of services a company can deliver. Software development companies, especially when building data-intensive websites or applications, rely on fast load times severely. Without meeting the hardware requirements necessary for developing these types of software, companies might be stunting their growth and risking client satisfaction.

Developers

System administrators help developers with various aspects of their work. Sysadmins can, for example, check server prices for developers as well as advise them on specific server services. They can also be of help when developers need to transfer a website to a client server. And even though sysadmins usually do not work with clients directly, their assistance is often a significant contribution to the final product.

Management

The main role of a system administrator is the creation of a workplace where IT assets are used to simplify and streamline the work of other employees. A company website, various HR applications (vacation app, etc.), and many other services on which everyday work depends lay on the shoulders of system administrators. Sysadmins are also responsible for managing IT security.

As Kamil Kardasz, system administrator at Polcode, says:

It’s up to system administrators to ensure that a company is safe from cyber threats. Frequently updated security alerts, raising cybersecurity awareness, and promotion of best cybersecurity practices should be on the very top of every system administrator’s agenda.

IT security is a particularly important part of sysadmin’s set of responsibilities—cyberattacks are currently a major financial and reputational threat for companies.

That said, a responsible system administrator knows how important backup systems and plans are, both for company security and integrity. But company backup plans stretch beyond protecting data and other company assets from third parties. Backup plans also eliminate any potential work disruptors. For example, implementation of LTE failovers during an emergency of main Internet service providers to ensure uninterrupted workflow at all times.

Backup plans guarantee timely work delivery, but they also increase customer trust toward companies handling confidential data.

Innovations

If a company doesn’t invest in new technologies and solutions, it quickly falls behind the competition, additionally creating an inefficient workplace. System administrators should consistently deliver tested IT solutions that simplify everyday work. For example, an innovative company ensures that employees can communicate freely and effortlessly between each other and the company’s clients, regardless of their whereabouts.

A good system administrator is always open to the needs of his or her coworkers and should react quickly in case of an emergency, being able to stabilize the situation fast and bring back the steady workflow.

System administrators influence how efficiently the company operates. Without their work, it’s easy to introduce chaos into the workplace and the company. To appreciate their contribution to each business, every year, on the last Friday of July, we celebrate SysAdmin’s Day. So go ahead and thank your sysadmin for having your back(up) 🙂