Computer Network Support Specialist

Other Titles

Computer Network Specialist, IT Consultant (Information Technology Consultant), Network Engineer, Network Specialist, Network Support Specialist, Network Technical Analyst, Network Technician, Personal Computer Network Analyst, Senior IT Assistant (Senior Information Technology Assistant), Systems Specialist

Analyze, test, troubleshoot, and evaluate existing network systems, such as local area network (LAN), wide area network (WAN), and Internet systems or a segment of a network system. Perform network maintenance to ensure networks operate correctly with minimal interruption. A Computer Network Support Specialist is someone who resolves problems that may occur in a computer network. Such a specialist may resolve these problems over phone, via email or in person. And they may offer network support to employees within a company, or to end users of a company. A network support specialist requires a number of skills, such as a keen understanding of the network itself as well as the ability to communicate the solution effectively to the concerned user.

Back up network data.

Configure security settings or access permissions for groups or individuals.

Analyze and report computer network security breaches or attempted breaches.

Identify the causes of networking problems, using diagnostic testing software and equipment.

Document network support activities.

Configure wide area network (WAN) or local area network (LAN) routers or related equipment.

Install network software, including security or firewall software.

Troubleshoot network or connectivity problems for users or user groups.

Provide telephone support related to networking or connectivity issues.

Evaluate local area network (LAN) or wide area network (WAN) performance data to ensure sufficient availability or speed, to identify network problems, or for disaster recovery purposes.

Analyze network data to determine network usage, disk space availability, or server function.

Perform routine maintenance or standard repairs to networking components or equipment.

Configure and define parameters for installation or testing of local area network (LAN), wide area network (WAN), hubs, routers, switches, controllers, multiplexers, or related networking equipment.

Install new hardware or software systems or components, ensuring integration with existing network systems.

Test computer software or hardware, using standard diagnostic testing equipment and procedures.

Install or repair network cables, including fiber optic cables.

Monitor industry websites or publications for information about patches, releases, viruses, or potential problem identification.

Create or update technical documentation for network installations or changes to existing installations.

Train users in procedures related to network applications software or related systems.

Test repaired items to ensure proper operation.

Install and configure wireless networking equipment.

Maintain logs of network activity.

Document help desk requests and resolutions.

Research hardware or software products to meet technical networking or security needs.

Create or revise user instructions, procedures, or manuals.

Run monthly network reports.

Critical Thinking→ Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.

Active Listening→ Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.

Judgment and Decision Making→ Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.

Reading Comprehension→ Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.

Active Learning→ Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.

Complex Problem Solving→ Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.

Monitoring→ Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.

Speaking→ Talking to others to convey information effectively.

Systems Analysis→ Determining how a system should work and how changes in conditions, operations, and the environment will affect outcomes.

Troubleshooting→ Determining causes of operating errors and deciding what to do about it.

Operation Monitoring→ Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.

Systems Evaluation→ Identifying measures or indicators of system performance and the actions needed to improve or correct performance, relative to the goals of the system.

Time Management→ Managing one's own time and the time of others.

Writing→ Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.

Interacting With Computers→ Using computers and computer systems (including hardware and software to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.

Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge→ Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.

Getting Information→ Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.

Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates→ Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.

Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships→ Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.

Making Decisions and Solving Problems→ Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.

Analyzing Data or Information→ Identifying the underlying principles, reasons, or facts of information by breaking down information or data into separate parts.

Processing Information→ Compiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or verifying information or data.

Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work→ Developing specific goals and plans to prioritize, organize, and accomplish your work.

Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards→ Using relevant information and individual judgment to determine whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.

Monitor Processes, Materials, or Surroundings→ Monitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems.

Thinking Creatively→ Developing, designing, or creating new applications, ideas, relationships, systems, or products, including artistic contributions.

Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events→ Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.

Interpreting the Meaning of Information for Others→ Translating or explaining what information means and how it can be used.

Scheduling Work and Activities→ Scheduling events, programs, and activities, as well as the work of others.

Documenting/Recording Information→ Entering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.

Resolving Conflicts and Negotiating with Others→ Handling complaints, settling disputes, and resolving grievances and conflicts, or otherwise negotiating with others.

Provide Consultation and Advice to Others→ Providing guidance and expert advice to management or other groups on technical, systems-, or process-related topics.

Communicating with Persons Outside Organization→ Communicating with people outside the organization, representing the organization to customers, the public, government, and other external sources. This information can be exchanged in person, in writing, or by telephone or e-mail.

Judging the Qualities of Things, Services, or People→ Assessing the value, importance, or quality of things or people.

Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Material→ Inspecting equipment, structures, or materials to identify the cause of errors or other problems or defects.

Create electronic data backup to prevent loss of information.

Implement security measures for computer or information systems.

Analyze security of systems, network, or data.

Resolve computer network problems.

Document network-related activities or tasks.

Configure computer networks.

Install computer software.

Test computer system operations to ensure proper functioning.

Analyze data to identify or resolve operational problems.

Monitor the performance of computer networks.

Provide technical support for computer network issues.

Troubleshoot issues with computer applications or systems.

Maintain computer hardware.

Install computer hardware.

Develop specifications for computer network operation.

Test computer hardware performance.

Test software performance.

Update knowledge about emerging industry or technology trends.

Train others in computer interface or software use.

Document operational activities.

Conduct research to gain information about products or processes.

Prepare instruction manuals.

Deductive Reasoning→ The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.

Oral Comprehension→ The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.

Problem Sensitivity→ The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing there is a problem.

Inductive Reasoning→ The ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events).

Oral Expression→ The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.

Written Comprehension→ The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.

Information Ordering→ The ability to arrange things or actions in a certain order or pattern according to a specific rule or set of rules (e.g. , patterns of numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).

Near Vision→ The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).

Speech Clarity→ The ability to speak clearly so others can understand you.

Speech Recognition→ The ability to identify and understand the speech of another person.

Written Expression→ The ability to communicate information and ideas in writing so others will understand.

Selective Attention→ The ability to concentrate on a task over a period of time without being distracted.

Category Flexibility→ The ability to generate or use different sets of rules for combining or grouping things in different ways.

Finger Dexterity→ The ability to make precisely coordinated movements of the fingers of one or both hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble very small objects.

Flexibility of Closure→ The ability to identify or detect a known pattern (a figure, object, word, or sound) that is hidden in other distracting material.

Fluency of Ideas→ The ability to come up with a number of ideas about a topic (the number of ideas is important, not their quality, correctness, or creativity).

Computers and Electronics→ Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.

Telecommunications→ Knowledge of transmission, broadcasting, switching, control, and operation of telecommunications systems.

Customer and Personal Service→ Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.

Engineering and Technology→ Knowledge of the practical application of engineering science and technology. This includes applying principles, techniques, procedures, and equipment to the design and production of various goods and services.

Language→ Knowledge of the structure and content of a language - English, French, Swahili et cetera - including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.

Administration and Management→ Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.

Communications and Media→ Knowledge of media production, communication, and dissemination techniques and methods. This includes alternative ways to inform and entertain via written, oral, and visual media.

Access software -- e.g., Remote access software; Citrix

Administration software -- e.g., Hewlett-Packard HP Network Node Manager; Cisco Systems CiscoWorks; Cisco Systems CiscoWorks LAN Management Solution; ifconfig; SolarWinds; ipconfig

Backup or archival software -- Tape backup system software; Symantec Veritas NetBackup; EMC NetWorker; Roxio Retrospect; Veritas NetBackup; NovaStor NovaBACKUP

Communications server software -- e.g., Collaborative client-server software

Computer aided design CAD software -- Network design software

Configuration management software -- Application management software; Automated installation software; Patch and update management software; EMC Ionix Network Configuration Manager; Microsoft Windows Sysprep

Customer relationship management CRM software -- e.g., Sage; Xero; Salesforce software; Oracle Eloqua

Database management system software -- Database management software; Relational database management software; MySQL; Amazon Data Pipeline; Amazon Kinesis; Apache Cassandra; Apache Flume; Apache Hadoop; Oracle PL/SQL; MongoDB; NoSQL; Teradata Database

Database user interface and query software -- Data entry software; Microsoft Access; Microsoft SQL Server

Desktop communications software -- Remote control software; Symantec pcAnywhere

Development environment software -- Microsoft Visual Basic; Microsoft PowerShell; Microsoft Visual Basic Scripting Edition VBScript; Ruby

Document management software -- e.g., Adobe Systems Adobe Acrobat; Papertrail; Document Warehouse; GreatSoft’s online document management software; EMC Documentum

Electronic mail software -- e.g., Google Gmail; IBM Notes; Microsoft Exchange Server

Enterprise application integration software -- e.g., BMC Software Control-M; IBM Websphere

Enterprise resource planning ERP software -- e.g., Microsoft Dynamics

Enterprise system management software -- e.g., IBM Power Systems software; Splunk Enterprise

Filesystem software -- File server software; IBM Tivoli NetView Distribution Manager

Graphics or photo imaging software -- e.g., Adobe Systems Adobe Creative Cloud ; Adobe Systems Adobe Illustrator; Adobe Systems Adobe Photoshop; GNU Image Manipulation Program GIMP; Microsoft Visio; Trimble SketchUp Pro; SmugMug Flickr

Helpdesk or call center software -- e.g., BMC Software Remedy IT Service Management Suite

Internet directory services software -- e.g., Microsoft Active Directory; Novell eDirectory

Network monitoring software -- Packet analyzers; Port scanners; Route; Arping; B&W Port Scanner; BitWizard B.V. mtr; Cisco Systems Cisco NetFlow Collection Engine; Cisco Systems Cisco Traffic Analyzer; Clarified Networks Clarified Analyzer; Colasoft Capsa Enterprise; Colasoft Capsa Free; Compuware ClientVantage Agentless Monitoring; Congruity Technologies Inspector; Dartware InterMapper; Dig; Ethereal; Ettercap NG; Fluke Networks Enterprise LANMeter; LogMatrix NerveCenter; Microsoft Network Monitor; Nagios; WildPackets OmniPeek Network Analyzer; Wireshark; Zabbix; Oracle Solaris Snoop; Network Instruments Observer Standard; NetScout Sniffer Global Analyzer; NetScout Sniffer Portable Professional Analyzer; netstat; Nslookup; Tcpdump; Traceroute

Network operating system enhancement software -- Traffic shapers

Network security and virtual private network VPN equipment software -- Network intrusion detection software; Firewall software; Virtual private networking VPN software

Network security or virtual private network VPN management software -- Security incident management software; Intrusion prevention system IPS; Network and system vulnerability assessment software; NIKSUN NetDetector; IBM Security Network Intrusion Prevention System; Sonicwall SonicOS Enhanced

Object or component oriented development software -- e.g., C#; Apache Groovy; Advanced business application programming ABAP; C++; Python; Scala; Oracle Java; Practical extraction and reporting language Perl; Microsoft ActiveX

Office suite software -- e.g., Corel WordPerfect Office; Microsoft Office; Google Workspace; Apache OpenOffice.org

Operating system software -- e.g., Apple macOS; Bash; Hewlett Packard HP-UX; Job control language JCL; KornShell; Linux; Microsoft Windows; Oracle Solaris; Red Hat Enterprise Linux; Shell script; Ubuntu; UNIX

Platform interconnectivity software -- Connectivity software

Presentation software -- e.g., Google Slides; Apple iWork Keynote; Corel Presentations; Microsoft PowerPoint

Program testing software -- e.g., Defect tracking software; Dynamic analysis software; Functional testing software; Integration testing software; Interoperability testing software; Load testing software; Migration testing software; Mutation testing software; Recovery testing software; Regression testing software; Security testing software; Static analysis software; Stress testing software; System testing software; Test design software; Test implementation software; Unit testing software; Usability testing software; Hewlett Packard LoadRunner; JUnit ; Selenium; Source code editor software

Project management software -- Project planning software; Confluence; Sapama Projects; Sciforma PPM solution; Xero Projects; Microsoft Project; Easy Projects; Microsoft SharePoint; Oracle Primavera Enterprise Project Portfolio Management; Bentley ProjectWise

Spreadsheet software -- e.g., Corel Quattro Pro; Microsoft Excel; Google Sheets

Storage networking software -- Storage area network SAN software; EMC Symmetrix DMX

Transaction security and virus protection software -- Anti-spyware software; Antivirus software; Encryption software; Root kit detection software; Packet filter software; Ping Identity; McAfee; Symantec Norton Antivirus

Transaction server software -- Customer information control system CICS; Microsoft Internet Information Services IIS

Web platform development software -- e.g., Apache Tomcat; LAMP Stack

Word processing software -- e.g., Corel Wordperfect; Microsoft Word; Google Docs

Access servers→ Remote access servers

Circuit tester→ Continuity testers; Test lights

Computer servers→ Caching engines; Network address translation NAT appliances

Hard disk arrays→ Redundant array of independent disks RAID systems

Laser fax machine→ Laser facsimile machines

Mainframe computers

Network analyzers→ Asynchronous transfer mode ATM analyzers; Cisco Systems Cisco Application Visibility and Management AVM Traffic Collector; Communications analyzers; Fabric analyzers; Fibre channel protocol analyzers; Port analyzer adapters; Synchronous optical network SONET analyzers; Throughput testers; T-Birds

Notebook computers→ Laptop computers

Personal computers

Photocopiers→ Copy machines

Power meters→ Powerline monitors

Screwdrivers

Server load balancer→ Load balancers

Voltage or current meters→ Cable testers

Realistic→ Realistic occupations frequently involve work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They often deal with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery. Many of the occupations require working outside, and do not involve a lot of paperwork or working closely with others.

Enterprising→ Enterprising occupations frequently involve starting up and carrying out projects. These occupations can involve leading people and making many decisions. Sometimes they require risk taking and often deal with business.

Conventional→ Conventional occupations frequently involve following set procedures and routines. These occupations can include working with data and details more than with ideas. Usually there is a clear line of authority to follow.

Cooperation→ Job requires being pleasant with others on the job and displaying a good-natured, cooperative attitude.

Analytical Thinking→ Job requires analyzing information and using logic to address work-related issues and problems.

Attention to Detail→ Job requires being careful about detail and thorough in completing work tasks.

Dependability→ Job requires being reliable, responsible, and dependable, and fulfilling obligations.

Integrity→ Job requires being honest and ethical.

Adaptability/Flexibility→ Job requires being open to change (positive or negative) and to considerable variety in the workplace.

Initiative→ Job requires a willingness to take on responsibilities and challenges.

Self Control→ Job requires maintaining composure, keeping emotions in check, controlling anger, and avoiding aggressive behavior, even in very difficult situations.

Stress Tolerance→ Job requires accepting criticism and dealing calmly and effectively with high stress situations.

Persistence→ Job requires persistence in the face of obstacles.

Independence→ Job requires developing one's own ways of doing things, guiding oneself with little or no supervision, and depending on oneself to get things done.

Innovation→ Job requires creativity and alternative thinking to develop new ideas for and answers to work-related problems.

Leadership→ Job requires a willingness to lead, take charge, and offer opinions and direction.

Achievement/Effort→ Job requires establishing and maintaining personally challenging achievement goals and exerting effort toward mastering tasks.

Concern for Others→ Job requires being sensitive to others' needs and feelings and being understanding and helpful on the job.

Social Orientation→ Job requires preferring to work with others rather than alone, and being personally connected with others on the job.

Achievement→ Occupations that satisfy this work value are results oriented and allow employees to use their strongest abilities, giving them a feeling of accomplishment. Corresponding needs are Ability Utilization and Achievement.

Support→ Occupations that satisfy this work value offer supportive management that stands behind employees. Corresponding needs are Company Policies, Supervision: Human Relations and Supervision: Technical.

Working Conditions→ Occupations that satisfy this work value offer job security and good working conditions. Corresponding needs are Activity, Compensation, Independence, Security, Variety and Working Conditions.