Server Administration Prerequisites

Server Administration involves maintaining, updating, and securing company servers and their information. Server Administrators update hardware and software and implement security policies and best practices. You might worry that server administration will be too hard to learn. This guide will help you understand the best methods for learning server administration and what you should study first to make the learning process easier. This way, you’ll be successful however you choose to apply your new skills. 

What is Server Administration?

Server administration involves the management of computer servers. It includes several tasks, such as upgrading software and hardware, storing and organizing data, and developing processes and protocols. Server Administrators work with end-users to access information, recover lost passwords, and troubleshoot technical problems with both hardware and software. Server Administrators also play an important role in cybersecurity. They are responsible for updating database security, including setting up antivirus and firewall programs. They work closely with the IT team to update protocols and processes and educate end-users on security best practices. 

Server Administrators play a crucial role in managing and securing company data and information. Individuals interested in a career as a Server Administrator require coding knowledge in programming languages such as Java, C++, and Python. They also need to know how to set up and create custom databases. Server Administrators make an average salary in the US of $70,000 a year, though this may swing heavily in either direction depending on your area. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the job growth for server administrators is expected to grow by 4% from 2019 to 2029. 

Read more about what server administration is and why you should learn it. 

What Can You Do with Server Administration?

Server administration can be an exciting and fulfilling career. Server Administrators play a vital role in maintaining company information and troubleshooting end-user issues. In this way, Server Administrators know their services are always needed to help the company and its employees flourish. Serving in an essential role can lead to a sense of fulfillment with seeing that one’s job duties have a daily impact. Every company needs ways to manage its data and keep information secure in today's digital world. Thus, Server Administrators can impact virtually any industry of their choosing.

Server administration is an excellent role for individuals who enjoy problem-solving. Whether troubleshooting hardware, identifying needed systems patches or analyzing system logs, Server Administrators face daily challenges and get to flex their intellectual muscles. Server Administrators also experience the thrill of working with new technologies. Over the past few decades, Server Administrators have moved from physical servers to cloud servers. Cybersecurity threats also continue to grow and involve. For individuals who like learning new things, Server administration possesses opportunities for gaining new skills and talents. 

Server Administrators learn various cybersecurity and database management skills and programming languages. Professionals who learn server administration skills can pursue other careers by further focusing on cybersecurity, database management, or computer science skills. Server Administrators can pursue positions in IT, Cybersecurity, or Web Development, to name a few.

Is Server Administration Easy to Learn?

Server Administration is relatively easy to learn, but you must be interested in computer science, emerging technologies, cybersecurity, and problem-solving. For individuals with more creative interests, server administration may be challenging. A lack of interest in technological areas will certainly make learning server administration more difficult.

While free self-lead resources for learning server administration exist, learning the subject on your own will be more complex and take longer than professional classes. Comprehensive server administration courses designed for job seekers take around 3 to 6 months, depending on full or part-time schedules, and are open to pure beginners.

What to Know Before Learning Server Administration

There are no official prerequisites needed to begin learning server administration. However, knowing the basics of computer science principles, coding languages, and cybersecurity can give you a headstart in your learning journey and make you feel more comfortable in the classroom.

Computer Science

Computer science is a broad field concerned with the theory, design, development, and application of computers and computer systems. There are many areas of study within computer science, including artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, database systems, networks, human-computer interaction, programming languages, and software engineering, among others.

Server administration is primarily concerned with the study of networks and databases. If you’re seeking to learn server administration, brushing up on the basics of computer science can give you a solid footing as you explore more complex topics. Fundamental computer science classes explore hardware and software principles, data structures, and algorithms. Noble Desktop offers computer science learn hubs where you can find resources for learning computer science. 

Python

Server administration is not a coding-heavy field. However, basic coding and coding concepts are essential to understanding computer systems. Python is a popular and versatile coding language recommended for Server Administrators to learn. Additional coding languages that could be useful include JavaScript and SQL (for web development and database coding, respectively).

If you’re interested in learning coding basics, you can start with Python in a Day, SQL level 1, and Intro to HTML & CSS (required before learning JavaScript). These courses will teach you the fundamentals of each coding language and enable you to write basic coding structures. 

Cybersecurity

Cybersecurity is an essential aspect of server administration. Server Administrators play a crucial role in protecting company data and information and implementing security policies. Though Server Administrators aren’t considered under the umbrella of cybersecurity professionals, it is integral to the job duties that they understand cybersecurity concepts, risks, and best practices. 

If you want to get a headstart on learning cybersecurity, you can begin with Intro to Cybersecurity & Networks. This course will give you a solid understanding of network models and security protocols. You’ll also learn the roles Linux and Python play in cybersecurity.

Key Insights

• Though not difficult to learn, server administration can be a tough subject for creatively inclined individuals or those not interested in computer science or problem-solving.
• There are no prerequisites to learning server administration, but there are a few areas you investigate to jumpstart your learning journey. 
• Computer science is essential to learning Server Administration and a great place to start learning the basics concepts of the job position. 
• Server Administrators don’t do much coding, but understanding coding concepts is important for working with computer systems. Noble Desktop’s introductory coding classes are a great place to start.
• Cybersecurity is integral to Server Administration job duties and ideal to begin learning. 

Learn Cybersecurity & Tech Skills with Hands-on Training at Noble Desktop

Server Administrators require cloud computing, cybersecurity, and database administration skills. Individuals can learn all of these skills through Noble Desktop. Their small class sizes feature industry-expert instructors with free retake options. Courses can be taken in-person in NYC or online from anywhere.

Cloud Computing with AWS focuses on Amazon Web Services (AWS), one of the most popular cloud computing platforms. Students learn how to build and secure enterprise-level cloud environments with AWS. 

Python is a coding language commonly used by Server Administrators. Noble Desktop offers Python for Network Security, where students learn how to use Python for network monitoring and security. Students must be comfortable coding with Python or have attended Noble Desktop’s Python Programming Bootcamp. 

The previously mentioned courses are available through Noble Desktop’s Cybersecurity Bootcamp. In this extensive course, students learn cybersecurity threats and prevention practices and how to use Python for cybersecurity, Linux for cybersecurity, digital forensics, and cloud computing. Individuals can also view all of Noble Desktop’s cybersecurity courses should they wish to take them individually. 

An additional course not included in the Cybersecurity Bootcamp that Server Administrators may be interested in is the SQL Server Bootcamp. Students learn the coding language SQL for managing databases, querying information, and extracting insights.