Network management is the act of ensuring that a computer network operates efficiently and without issue. Those working in network management are expected to wield an extensive array of skills and tools to maintain the network's functionality and support its users. We presently live in a world that is increasingly controlled by networks; most of our jobs rely on the Internet and internal servers for the ability for employees to do their jobs, and much of our time outside of work – whether we're interacting with friends or family on social media, sending emails, or using streaming services – is still dictated by the functionality of a network somewhere. Without network managers doing their job effectively, our lives as we know them would look very different. This post will discuss the average network manager's various roles and how network management ties into the core tenets of information technology.
It is no secret that computers and technology have become increasingly omnipresent in our daily lives. The seeds of our technological dependence can be traced back to the 1980s when computers began to become smaller and more geared towards personal use; now, in the 21st century, most people use a computer at their job, have a personal computer at home, and even keep one in their pocket in the form of a smartphone. Since the late 1990s, widespread usage of the Internet has significantly increased year by year. Between 1999 and 2015, the number of active Internet users jumped from about 281 million to well over 3 billion. When we consider that the word "Internet" is a portmanteau of the words "interconnected networks," we can begin to see just how important the role of a network manager is. Without people to administer these interconnected networks, the functionality of the Internet runs the risk of feeling far less seamless than it presently does to most people.
Organizations and companies worldwide hire network managers to oversee the stable operation of their networks. Tasks expected of network managers include performing basic network maintenance, allocating network resources according to business needs, and monitoring for potential threats. It is essential for those who work in network management to have all-encompassing IT knowledge. For example, a network manager will likely be tasked with assisting their company with finding and installing new server hardware when it is deemed needed, but they will also be expected to configure the operating system and set up the required programs on the new server once it is up and running. Aspiring network managers should expect that they will draw on every fundamental IT topic throughout their career: they will be expected to have a working knowledge of hardware, software, Internet protocols, programming, and so on.
For a network to operate efficiently, its host hardware must be able to support all the users on the network amply. The computers we use daily do not have enough computing power to help hundreds, if not thousands, of users. A network manager will frequently interface with a server computer in their position, which is a distinct type of computer that is intended to "serve" Internet elements (such as documents and web pages) to computers on a network. Servers contain far more memory, hard drive space, and carry a more powerful central processing unit (or CPU) than the average personal computer, and as such tend to be incredibly large (often fitting in a large closet, with larger servers even taking up entire warehouses). For example, servers can host the local area network for a company – which allows employees to access the company intranet and employer-sanctioned programs hosted on the server – or they can also operate as a web server, which is how every website on the Internet is hosted. The larger the audience, the more intensive the server hardware will need to be: a powerful server will still be required for a local area network owned by a company of 100 employees, but even more power will be needed for a web server that operates a popular website such as Facebook. In either case, those who manage a company's network are responsible for maintaining the accessibility and functionality of these large networks.
Just as network administration relies on more powerful hardware, it also depends on more powerful software. An operating system (or OS) is a program that works with a computer's hardware to deliver instructions and offer ease of use for the user. Just as our personal computers lack physical hardware power, the OSes we use on our personal computers may not have all the networking functionalities necessary to sustain a network properly; network managers will utilize a network operating system instead. Network operating systems allow for more efficient management of users and data and offer more security options. Nowadays, most operating systems come with built-in support of the client-server model needed to properly administer a network. Still, many OSes – such as Microsoft Windows and Mac OS X – offer different dialects for home and server. Currently, the most used operating system for servers is Linux, a popular OS based on Unix – one study shows that 96.3% of the 1 million most popular web servers run Linux. The popularity of Linux for servers can be linked to it being free, open-source, incredibly secure, and far more customizable than closed-source OSes such as Windows. Other Unix-based OSes, such as BSD, are also commonly used for servers. Users on a network could be using any of these different operating systems, and it is beneficial for a network manager to be proficient in each of them.
Network managers may be expected to use programming in their positions as well. Basic coding can help a network manager automate specific processes by creating macros when necessary. Additionally, while a network manager typically would not code a website for a company, a working knowledge of web languages may offer a network manager the ability to directly troubleshoot issues with the company’s website. Many network managers will utilize databases, which are often dependent on programming. SQL (short for "structured query language") is the predominant database language, and MySQL is a free database system that is frequently used for web applications. Both local area networks and larger web servers may use databases to store data for customers or employees. Network managers should expect to access and utilize their company's databases in their jobs, and SQL knowledge is likely to be required for those in network management.
Countless people use the Internet for sensitive purposes every day. Whenever you input your password into your work computer or your credit card number on an e-commerce site, you should expect someone somewhere to be after your data. These concerns make network security the foremost priority of a network manager. Those in the cyber security sector work with network managers to ensure the stability of a network. Security-related tasks customarily expected of a network manager include verifying that all software being used on a network is up to date and ensuring security protocols are adequately followed. As technology advances, so does the ability for people to commit harm on the Internet. This makes the jobs of network managers and cyber security experts even more critical, especially for larger networks. As information systems evolve and become more complex, they become more challenging to supervise sufficiently. With these things in mind, vigilance should be considered a key trait of those in network management.
At work, at school, and in our everyday lives, the Internet has evolved in a way that makes it difficult for many of us to imagine a life without it. At the other end of everything we do on the Internet are network managers who are likely taking daily steps to ensure the proper functionality of the network we are using, whether directly or indirectly. Because of our reliance on networks, network management has become one of the most essential roles in the entire world of IT. This reliance will only continue to multiply as years progress, and the function of a network manager will continue to evolve alongside this growth.
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