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Systems Support

Systems Management

Definition of Systems Management

Technologies are continuing to become ever more inter-connected. System Management is the skill of insuring that various technological systems can communicate and work together properly. System management includes competencies in networking, server management, security, resource sharing, automation, and system life-cycle management.

Assistant: The Assistant will have basic knowledge of system automation tools, resource sharing, and security best practices. The Assistant should be able to use these tools to accomplish simple task like imaging a computer, sharing a file, printing over a network, or scanning for computer viruses.

Associate: The Associate will have working knowledge of common networking protocols and how to trouble-shoot standard network problems. The Associate should be comfortable using automation tools to accomplish task and manage devices. Additionally, the Associate should know how to complete tasks in Active Directory and Group Policy Manager.

Senior Associate: The Senior Associate will possess the technical skills necessary to work comfortably with network, server, security and automation technologies. The Senior Associate may not have a deep skill set with each technology but they should feel comfortable handling moderately complex tasks in each of the system management areas.

Professional: The Professional should possess a solid understanding of the OSI networking model and be able to troubleshoot problems at each level. At the Professional level individuals should be comfortable using system automation tools like Active Directory, Group Policy Manager, SCCM or JAMF to create and manage computer groups under their control. The Professional level should also possess a working knowledge of various server types (web, file, print) and know the basics of configuring, updating, securing and maintaining those servers both in a physical and virtual environment.

Senior Professional: The Senior Professional will possess an in-depth knowledge of System Management Technologies and understand the value and power that these technologies provide. In addition to being able to work comfortably across the various system management technologies the Senior Professional will have the ability to understand and use scripting tools like PowerShell and BAT files to simplify complex tasks.

Principal: The Principal will possess an in-depth knowledge of System Management Technologies and understand the strengths and weaknesses of each technology. The Principal will use this knowledge to make informed system management decisions that will benefit not only their department but BYU campus as a whole. The Principal will play an active role in working with other departments across campus to help provide the best possible system management tools and practices to the campus community. The Principal will understand and support the standardization of system management across campus as the first choice but, they will also have the technical expertise to recognize isolated use cases and suggest custom solutions when required.

How to Develop Systems Management

University Courses:

  • Information Systems
  • Computer Science
  • Information Technology

Training / Other Courses:

  • Coming Soon

Professional Associations / Certifications:

  • CompTia Network +
  • CompTia Security +
  • CompTia Server +
  • Cisco CCNA
  • Cisco CCNP
  • Microsoft MSCA
  • VMware VCP

Books / Publications:

  • IT Systems Management by Rich Schiesser
  • Management Information Systems seventh edition by Kenneth J Sousa
  • Management Information Systems 3rd edition by Rainer, Prince, Watson

Experiences that can assist the employee in his/her development:

  • Experiences that can assist the employee in his/her development
  • Clean out and organize departmental areas of Active Directory, SCCM and JAMF
  • Find new ways to automate an existing task
  • Learn a new type of server management, file, web, or print.
  • Create and configure a small isolated test network with routing, IP, printing and computing
  • Learn BYU network tools like NIT

How to Demonstrate Systems Management

DO: Describe what you did in completing / achieving your development plan

ASSESS: Share, if applicable, any assessments that were taken / provided related to your activities

LEARN: Explain what you felt that you were able to learn during your journey / experiences

APPLY: Give specifics examples where you have / plan to make direct application to your work

REFLECT:Review / consider things you would have done differently had you had this experience earlier