Systems Administrators: The First Line of Defense

As computers and networks have assumed critical functions in many aspects of today's business world, the need for their security has increased as well. Businesses depend increasingly on email, web sites, and databases of customer credit card numbers for day to day transactions. A company's immediate financial state as well as its reputation depend on the integrity, availability and reliability of its data. A single system compromise can result in untold financial losses as well as a lack of confidence in the company itself. Protection of electronic information has taken on new importance in the light of increased attacks and thefts. The systems administrators are the people responsible for the defense of a company's cyber structure. Their job is to ensure an organizations' systems are functioning properly while secure from various threats. Because even a single mis-configuration in a computer or network setup can provide a means of unauthorized access, systems administrators must have adequate technical and managerial skills to ensure their security. A properly trained and experienced systems staff is essential to the security of an organization's computer network.