What systems administrators do, and how to become one
In modern organisations, technology isn’t a back-office extra, it’s the engine of productivity, communication and growth. Keeping that engine reliable is the job of the systems administrator (“sysadmin”): the person who ensures your networks, servers and core apps stay available, secure and fast.
What does a systems administrator do?
At a high level, sysadmins install, configure and maintain the operating systems, servers, storage and networks a business runs on. Day to day, that looks like:
Monitoring performance and availability, applying patches and updates
Managing users, permissions and access controls
Troubleshooting hardware/software issues and documenting fixes
Backups, recovery procedures and disaster-recovery planning
Capacity planning and recommending upgrades as needs evolve
As organisations adopt cloud, hybrid work and stronger security baselines, the role keeps expanding, combining classic infrastructure skills with observability, automation and risk management.
Preventing downtime and optimising performance
Downtime is disruptive, so sysadmins work proactively:
Monitor systems and networks to detect issues early (health checks, logs, alerts). The Australian Cyber Security Centre (ACSC) publishes guidance on effective event logging and system monitoring.
Maintain: schedule patching, firmware updates and hardware diagnostics.
Tune: balance loads, right-size resources and streamline network paths.
This combination reduces incidents and shortens time-to-restore when they happen.
Securing systems - and planning for the unexpected
In Australia’s current threat environment, baselines like the ACSC Essential Eight (application control, patching, MFA, backups, etc.) are widely recommended to make compromise much harder. Sysadmins help implement and maintain these controls in practice.
Even strong controls can’t guarantee 100% protection, so disaster recovery matters: tested backups, documented recovery steps, and clear roles. Regular, resilient backups are a core defence against ransomware and other data-loss events.
For context, Australian organisations continue to report notifiable data breaches - reinforcing why access control, monitoring and recovery planning are essential operational disciplines.
Why businesses rely on sysadmins
Sysadmins create measurable value by:
Preventing costly interruptions via proactive monitoring and maintenance
Reducing risk with patching, least-privilege access and baseline controls
Boosting efficiency through automation and capacity planning
Preparing for disruption with tested backups and DR runbooks
Supporting growth by scaling infrastructure and integrating new tech
How to become a systems administrator (practical pathway)
You don’t need a computer science degree to start. A realistic path is:
Build foundations with a nationally recognised qualification that mirrors workplace tasks.
ICT40120 - Certificate IV in Information Technology (Systems Administration Support). Delivered 100% online with trainer support; designed around managing, maintaining and securing IT networks and systems.
ICT40120 packaging rules require 20 units (7 core + 13 electives); choose electives that align with systems admin, networking and security.
Create a small portfolio:
A lab for patching, AD/identity basics, group policy, and backup/restore
Monitoring dashboards (logs/metrics) and a short DR checklist
Target entry roles while you keep learning:
Service desk / desktop support → junior systems administrator
Junior cloud/infra roles in a managed service provider (MSP) or internal IT
Level up with experience + further study (optional):
Consider a Diploma (e.g., ICT50220) or vendor certificates as your responsibilities grow.
Typical tools and practices to learn
Operating systems & platforms: Windows Server, Linux, basic macOS management
Networking: IP, DNS, DHCP, routing, VPNs; basic firewall concepts
Identity & access: AD/Azure AD/Entra ID, MFA, least privilege
Automation & observability: scripting (PowerShell/Bash), logging/metrics/alerts per ACSC guidance
Backup & DR: restore drills, off-site/immutable backups; RPO/RTO basics
Job outlook in Australia
“Systems Administrators” sit within the ANZSCO group 2621: Database and Systems Administrators, and ICT Security Specialists. The national occupation profile lists tasks covering system security, backups, recovery, performance and documentation - exactly the competencies you’ll exercise in junior sysadmin roles and build on over time
FAQs
Is systems administration still a good career choice?
Yes. As organisations modernise and strengthen security, the ANZSCO/Jobs and Skills Australia profiles show sustained demand for professionals who can secure, maintain and scale systems.
Do I need to know cloud?
Increasingly, yes. Many environments are hybrid, so understanding identity, networking and backups across on-prem and cloud is valuable (and aligns with ACSC baseline practices).
What’s the first cert I should get?
A broad ICT40120 pathway is a practical start; then add vendor-specific badges that match your stack once you’re in-role.
Ready to get started?
If you enjoy troubleshooting and keeping complex systems humming, explore ICT40120 - Certificate IV in Information Technology (Systems Administration Support) and chat with an education consultant about the best next steps.
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