What does a System Operator do?

A system operator or system administrator is a person employed to maintain a computer system. System operators work in a variety of settings where computers and their networks need to be maintained, such as universities, corporations, and government institutions. Though their tasks depend on the size and technical requirements of their particular organizations, the job of a system operator encompasses the monitoring and maintenance of all computer system operations under his control.

System operators have varied tasks, depending on the setting, but routine duties generally involve such things as installing, configuring and maintaining computers and their networks. It is also important that the system operator handle computer security by maintaining firewalls, and updating antivirus software and other protections, because many computers are capable of accessing the Internet. In addition, computers are susceptible to power outages, surges, and hardware malfunctions, so the system operator must be able to respond to such problems in a timely manner, diagnosing them and quickly repairing them. In case of electromagnetic disturbances, user error or even theft, system operators are often responsible for applying updates to software and providing database backups through a variety of means. This ensures the computers or network are operating smoothly and within specified parameters at all times.

A system operator’s ability to interact with and manage people is important, because he often has to respond to questions and concerns of co-workers and clientele. He also has to train staff, educate users about important issues, and inform supervisors or upper management of changes or abnormalities in the network. In some cases, it may fall to the system operator to manage and train any technical support staff, as well as routinely update user account information.

It is important to note that, although system operators are adept with computer operations, they are not necessarily required to be programmers or software developers. It is, however, within the scope of what a system operator does to understand the essence of the software so he can apply the correct solution to particular software-related problems. Some system operators with a small measure of programming experience may employ this knowledge in repairs requiring light programming or in creating small script programs to perform routine tasks.

What a system operator does can vary depending on the size of the organization in which he is employed. In smaller operations, the system operator’s duties may encompass a wide variety of roles that are usually performed by an array of technical staff and multiple departments. In extremely small organizations, what a system operator does may be relegated to someone with a similar set of skills but not necessarily a direct education in that field. In larger operations, computer assignments are usually divided among many people with differing levels of professional technical education and expertise. Given the varieties of tasks performed by a system operator, it is beneficial that the operator have the ability to solve problems, act independently and respond quickly to problems.