I just landed a solo system admin position at a small company that's anticipating significant growth on the east coast. I'll be the sole IT person, responsible for everything related to tech, like maintaining hardware and network, provisioning new devices, and more. There's an operations person, but they aren't tech-savvy. Currently, there are about 20-30 users, two servers, a NAS, and an old phone system in place. My background includes consulting, network operations, and building out my own homelab, but I've never solely managed IT before. I'm feeling pretty confident about 70% of my responsibilities, but the remaining 30% worries me, especially since the company's IT policies are pretty underdeveloped after the last IT person left. I'll have to create and document processes from scratch while also managing hardware/software procurement. For anyone who has been in a similar situation, what should I focus on early in my role? Any tips to avoid common pitfalls or things you wish you had tackled sooner? I'd love to hear any lessons learned or general advice, as I'm also battling some imposter syndrome despite feeling I interview well!
9 Answers
My first gig was as a sole IT admin in a manufacturing company. I had zero experience with Active Directory or homelabs when I started, but I learned everything on the job. Don't hesitate to Google things or watch YouTube tutorials when you're stuck. If you get tied up with a helpdesk issue, don't waste hours—just move on and come back later with fresh eyes. Eventually, you'll know the issues and can preempt them, which will make your life easier!
Focus on a couple of quick wins that are high-impact, like backups or MFA. Get those set up and working smoothly, and you'll gain confidence and credibility while learning more complex tasks. It’ll look like you have everything under control!
Honestly, it sounds like you're stepping into a bit of a mess. The fact that the last IT guy left without a replacement set up probably signals some real challenges ahead. Just keep in mind that some companies don't value IT as they should, and you might end up being overworked with not enough resources. Make sure to keep looking for new opportunities while you're there—always good to have options open!
I'm definitely keeping my options open! Just want to make the most of this experience while it lasts.
That's smart; always be on the lookout!
Make sure to document everything you do. It’s easy to forget who fixed what over time, and that record will be invaluable!
Don’t burn out! When the company expands, IT usually gets sidelined, and they will prioritize flashy roles over yours. Here are quick tips: 1) Get approval for a security baseline to protect users. 2) Streamline your machine provisioning. 3) If you're doing out-of-hours support, make sure to set expectations with management. 4) Take breaks—build in some vacation time! 5) Move to cloud solutions wherever you can. 6) Seriously, think about getting rid of that old phone system. 7) If they want you available all the time, get them to provide a work phone to separate your personal life. 8) Backup and secure everything—turn that NAS into cloud storage if you can!
Wow, those are some solid pointers! Thanks a lot!
Great advice! Setting those boundaries early is crucial.
Moving to Microsoft 365 could help a lot, especially by shifting storage to SharePoint. Look into Intune for device management—it'll save you loads of time building machines. Just streamline as much as you can right from the beginning!
You've got this! You'll be fine, with plenty of resources at your disposal. Just keep a learning mindset and ask for help when needed!
You gotta do some solo leveling! Just remember you have Google at your fingertips—use it!
I've been in your shoes, and the key is to set ground rules, like no contact outside of work hours, and adhere to them! Do the necessary groundwork like moving to cloud solutions first, and try not to let urgent requests derail your plans. Find a reliable managed service partner if the workload gets too heavy!
Thanks for the encouragement! I’ll keep this in mind as I tackle my tasks.