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Common certifications asked for by employers are Cisco Certified Network Associate and Cisco Certified Network Professional. Depending on the technologies used within the organisation Sun Solaris certifications for instance may be required for administrating Solaris Servers. Other examples are Microsoft Certified System Administrator or MCSA for those managing Microsoft server technologies or Red Hat RHCT for those using Linux technologies.

To perform certain necessary tasks the system administrator will need to be familiar with a range of operating systems and programme - Microsoft, Unix, Linux, and Oracle. System administrators may also be asked to perform debugging duties occasionally, so they need to be familiar with the notion of computer coding and programming.

The system administrator is not your stereotypical IT role, where you work from the basement rarely encountering human interaction. The role requires the individual to work with several departments outside of IT, on a daily basis. Therefore they need to possess a high level of patience and professionalism when working with other employees who will have a varying range of computer competencies.
Network and computer systems administrator jobs often require a bachelor's degree – typically in computer or information science, although sometimes a degree in computer engineering or electrical engineering is acceptable. Coursework in computer programming, networking or systems design will be helpful.

Some businesses require that an administrator get a master's degree, while others are willing to accept an associate degree or professional certification along with related work experience. Completing certification programs and otherwise keeping up with new technologies is also important.

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