ANALYSIS BETWEEN NETWORK ADMINISTRATOR AND NETWORK SECURITY ANALYST

Prepared for Bobby Delee Student DeVry University Irving, Texas

Prepared by Bobby Delee Career Counselor DCCCD Dallas, Texas

June 18, 2012

ANALYSIS BETWEEN NETWORK ADMINISTRATOR AND NETWORK SECURITY ANALYST

Table of Contents PAGE INTRODUCTION.................................................................................... 3 Purpose, Scope and Limitations ........................................................... 3 Sources and Methods ......................................................................... 4 Report Organization ........................................................................... 4 NETWORK ADMINISTRATOR .................................................................. 5 Job Outlook ....................................................................................... 5 Job Requirements .............................................................................. 6 Job Duties ......................................................................................... 6 Work Environment ............................................................................. 7 Salary Expectations ............................................................................ 7 NETWORK SECURITY ANALYST ............................................................... 8 Job Outlook ....................................................................................... 8 Job Requirements .............................................................................. 8 Job Duties ......................................................................................... 9 Work Environment ............................................................................. 9 Salary Expectations ............................................................................ 9 RECOMMENDATIONS .......................................................................... 10 REFERENCES ..................................................................................... 11 CLIENT INTERVIEW ............................................................................ 12

ANALYSIS BETWEEN NETWORK ADMINISTRATOR AND NETWORK SECURITY ANALYST

INTRODUCTION The Dallas County Community College District (DCCCD) is committed to assist you, Bobby Delee, in your exciting new career endeavors. Upon receipt of your Bachelor of Science in Network and Communications Management from DeVry University, a world of opportunities will become available to you. You have taken the first steps towards your new career by pursuing your education and now its time to make some important decisions. The degree program you chose offers many choices as to career direction and the fields of network administration and network security fall well within your reach. In this report, my mission is to analyze what entails network administration and network security, and together, we will make a valid recommendation and wise choice for your future. Purpose, Scope and Limitations The purpose of this report is to analyze the opportunities and challenges that will arise in moving into a new career in either network administration or network security. The opportunities and challenges that will be deciding factors in this report are: Job Outlook Job Requirements Job Duties Work Environment Salary Expectations

ANALYSIS BETWEEN NETWORK ADMINISTRATOR AND NETWORK SECURITY ANALYST

Sources and Methods In preparing this report, a variety of sources were used to research the topics of network administration and network security. Sources used for this report came from: Bureau of Labor Statistics Salary.com Career Builder.com Network administration. Broadcast Engineering DegreeDirectory.org Schools.com Report Organization The organization of this report is a brief summary of each field describing what the job demands, followed by 5 criteria, detailing specific opportunities and challenges that will be faced in pursuing each career. Upon summarizing and detailing each career field, a recommendation as to which field would be the best choice concludes the report, along with a reference page and client interview.

ANALYSIS BETWEEN NETWORK ADMINISTRATOR AND NETWORK SECURITY ANALYST

NETWORK ADMINISTRATOR In an organization, the person in charge of the technical staff and the overall maintenance of the network is the network administrator. The network administrator is responsible for: Designing and deploying networks Configuring routers and switches Securing network devices Monitoring activity Maintaining the integrity of the network

Job Outlook The field of network administration is expanding at an explosive speed, and is expected to continue for the next decade. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (2012), Employment of network and computer systems administrators is expected to grow 28 percent from 2010 to 2020, faster than the average for all occupations (see Figure 1a). Figure 1a. Job Growth for Network Administrator

Job Outlook
14% 1 22% 28% 0.00% Total, All Occupations Computer Occupations Network Administrator 5.00% 10.00% 15.00% 1 14% 22% 28% 20.00% 25.00% 30.00%

SOURCE: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program.

ANALYSIS BETWEEN NETWORK ADMINISTRATOR AND NETWORK SECURITY ANALYST

Job Requirements Most employers require anywhere from 2-4 years experience in the field, or a bachelors degree in Information Technology, Computer Science or Network Management. To work as a network administrator you must have strong communication and problem-solving skills. Along with these skills, one must be able to work well with others and be able to multi-task. Many times a network administrator will have to work with a team on a large project to over-see the expansion of a network segment. As mentioned in Broadcast Engineering (Gilmer, 2008), Get training that is specific to what you want to know. If you use Windows servers, take a Windows server training course. If you use Cisco routers, then take a Cisco training course. Job Duties The typical duties of a network administrator are to: Design the network Install required components and configure them Support and maintain the network

The network administrators responsibility is to maintain efficiency of the: Local Area network (LAN) Wide Area Network (WAN) Network segments Internet and intranet

According to DegreeDirectory (2012), As a computer network administrator, youll be responsible for developing, installing, maintaining and troubleshooting networks for your employer, ensuring networks operate effectively and consistently.

ANALYSIS BETWEEN NETWORK ADMINISTRATOR AND NETWORK SECURITY ANALYST

Work Environment A network administrator generally works in a well-lit office or computer lab, but on occasion might work from a remote location. A typical work week consists of about 40 hours, with a good chance of overtime. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (2012), Network and computer systems administrators work with the physical computer networks of a variety of organizations and therefore are employed in many industries. In 2010, over 90 percent of network and computer administrators worked full time. Salary Expectations From the client interview, I noticed that you wanted to earn a starting salary of $55,000 a year as a network administrator somewhere in Richardson, Texas. According to Salary (2012), The median salary for a network administrator in Richardson, Texas, is approximately $53,854; with bonuses $54,565. The national median salary for a network administrator is $54,134. This is very close to your goal salary of $55,000 (see Figure 2a). Figure 2a. Median Salary for a Network Administrator

Projected Salary
Goal Salary National Average Median with Bonuses Median Salary 53,000 Median Salary 1 53,854 53,854 53,500 Median with Bonuses 54,565 54,000 54,500 55,000 55,500 54,134 54,565 55,000

National Average 54,134

Goal Salary 55,000

Source: Salary.com/network administrator These projected salaries are Tier I projections for a network administrator just getting into the field. With experience and hard work, a Tier II network administrators median salary is $64,000 and a Tier III is approximately $74,000,(2012). 7

ANALYSIS BETWEEN NETWORK ADMINISTRATOR AND NETWORK SECURITY ANALYST

NETWORK SECURITY ANALYST A network security analyst is responsible for keeping an organizations network protected from security threats and information breaches. A network security analyst will: Plan Implement Upgrade Monitor security measures Respond to security breaches and viruses

In addition, a network security analyst will implement security project plans, administer penetration tests, and utilize Internet protocols to safeguard the network. Job Outlook Networking and security skills are in demand and many employers are finding it difficult to find qualified candidates for employment. From doing research on the topic, it appears that working in network security will bring you a higher income based on your experience. As mentioned by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (2012), Employment of information security analyst, web designers, and computer network architects is projected to grow 22 percent from 2010 to 2020, faster than the average for all occupations. Job prospects for all three occupations should be favorable. Job Requirements To work in the field of network security, you need the right education and training. A bachelors degree is the first step and in some cases a graduates degree may be necessary, along with certifications. Many college graduates need to keep up with the up and coming technologies that constantly change. With technology changing so fast, its important to continue with the latest trends and advances.

ANALYSIS BETWEEN NETWORK ADMINISTRATOR AND NETWORK SECURITY ANALYST

Job Duties As mentioned in CareerBuilder (2012), Technical security analyst help develop technical security project plans and participate on project teams in order to design, modify and implement technical security solutions for authentication, access control, auditing and security administration. Job duties for a network security analyst include: Securing the companys network assets Virus and intruder protection Creating security policies Securing routers and servers with protocols

According to Schools(2011), As a network security administrator, your job is to tighten security protocols so that no one has permissions or access to any information on your companys network that you havent allowed them to have. Work Environment The work environment for a network security analyst is similar to that of the network administrator; well-lit offices and computer labs. There is a very good chance that most assignments will be remote, and occasional nights and weekends may be required to support the system. Salary Expectations Depending on where you live in the country, will make a significant difference on salary, compared to the cost of living. According to Salary(2012), The median salary for a Network-Data Security Analyst in Richardson, Texas is $72,341. The low end of this pay scale is approximately $52,557 and the high end is $92,767.

ANALYSIS BETWEEN NETWORK ADMINISTRATOR AND NETWORK SECURITY ANALYST

RECOMMENDATIONS After careful consideration, and thorough analysis of the research information, it is my recommendation to you, Bobby Delee, to continue your path onto network administration. With your degree from DeVry University, you will be able to get started at an entry level position, or better, in network administration, and be able to learn as you go. I recommend that you continue to work hard, and learn as much as you can for the next couple of years. I also recommend, getting some certifications along the way to beef up your resume. With certifications and a few years of hard earned experience, you can make the transition to network security later on, if thats something you are still interested in.

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ANALYSIS BETWEEN NETWORK ADMINISTRATOR AND NETWORK SECURITY ANALYST

REFERENCES
Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor (2012). Network and Computer Systems Administrators, Occupational Outlook Handbook http://www.bls.gov/ooh/computer-and-information-technology/networkand-computer-systems-administrators.html CareerBuilder(2012). Jobs and Job Search Advice, Employment & Careers. CareerBuilder.com http://www.careerbuilder.com Croix, Y. (2011). Network security administrator salary and career outlook. Schools.com http://www.schools.com/news/network-security-administrator-salary-careeroutlook.html DegreeDirectory(2011). Job Duties, Career Outlook, and Educational Requirements. Computer Networking Administrator http://degreedirectory.org/articles/Computer_Networking_ Administrator_Job_Duties_Career_Outlook_and_Education_ Requirements.html Gilmer, B. (2008). Network administration. Broadcast Engineering, 50(10), 34-36. http://search.proquest.com/docview/204181625?accountid=44759 Salary(2012). Do you know what your worth?Salary.Com Salary Wizard http://swz.salary.com/salarywizard/Dta-Security-Analyst-Salary-DetailsRichardson-TX.aspx?

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ANALYSIS BETWEEN NETWORK ADMINISTRATOR AND NETWORK SECURITY ANALYST

CLIENT INTERVIEW 1.What kind of working conditions are you looking for? I am looking for a career that has room for advancement and gives me something to look forward to everyday. Ideally, I would like a nice air conditioned job where I can work with my laptop from anywhere. 2.Do you have a preferred geographic location? I would like to stay in the Dallas-Ft. Worth area, preferably Richardson, Texas. If the pay is right and everything falls into place, I would consider relocating. 3.What skills and abilities do you feel come naturally to you? Which abilities do you want to see your career utilize? I am good at working with my hands and enjoy challenging myself. I hope to be in a hands-on type atmosphere in my career, and where I can always learn something new. 4.What industry are you interested in? What careers have you thought of previously? I am interested in the Information Technology field. I found a liking for network administration and am interested in network security. 5. Where do you see yourself in 5 years? Does that include any particular career path? In 5 years I hope to have my foot in the door at a Fortune 500 company, such as Cisco Systems, Raytheon, or Alcatel. 6. What salary expectations do you have? I would like a starting salary of at least $55,000 with a chance to advance into the $100,000+ range after a couple of years. 7. Are there additional degrees, certifications, or training that you think you will need or would like to obtain? I would like to continue my education and work towards getting my Masters degree. Besides graduate school, I would also like to become Cisco certified; CCNA, CCNP, and CCIE. 8. What is job availability? Are you willing to relocate for the job? Job availability is very high for those with a Bachelors degree and certifications, and is expected to continue growing until 2018. Depending on where my kids are in school, will make a huge difference in deciding to relocate or not.

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