A network support technician is a type of computer network technician who specializes in network troubleshooting and maintenance. A computer network technician is in charge of all the hardware and software that make up a company’s network. This includes various workstations that are connected to communicate with one another, as well as other data-handling hardware such as servers. All of this hardware is usually arranged in complicated patterns, especially in larger businesses with multiple office locations, and maintaining a large office network often necessitates the hiring of a dedicated team of network support technicians.
A network support technician is often in charge of ensuring the proper operation of an existing commercial network. Checking hardware is one example, with the support technician working with cabling and individual hardware pieces. It also includes troubleshooting software issues, where support technicians use specific diagnostic tools based on the type of software used to build the network. Businesses try to match network support staff skill sets with the types of hardware and software products used to build the network.
Novell Netware and the Unix operating system are examples of popular networking software that a network support technician should be familiar with. Standard network configurations such as peer-to-peer and client-server hookups should be familiar to anyone working in network support. His or her job entails assessing all of these components of a network in order to provide effective assistance in the event of a connectivity or other issue.
A four-year degree in computer science is typically required of a network support technician. Individuals beginning a professional career in this field will benefit from math and physics skills. These professionals can also obtain specific certifications from companies such as Cisco to demonstrate their expertise in network administration.
Computer repair and maintenance are skills that network support technicians have. They may be called upon to help configure hardware, update software, or assist with other computer network-related tasks as needed. Network support technicians are frequently part of a larger information technology department that assists a company in managing one of its most complex assets and resources: its information technology network. As businesses achieve more and more through electronic communications, and network administration becomes a larger part of an overall IT maintenance budget, this type of job role is expected to be in demand for a long time.