Hey folks! I'm nearing the end of my first year as a sysadmin after spending a few years in contract IT roles. I've been promoted from IT Tech, and now I'm part of a small IT team in a rapidly growing company that does chemistry work, using various lab instruments and software like Agilent and Mettler Toledo.
I've mainly been working with M365 and SharePoint, creating and troubleshooting workflows as we transition to SharePoint Online. My focus has also been on networking and security, especially since we're working towards CMMC compliance. I've done some work with vSphere and Hyper-V, managing firewalls like SonicWall, and I've implemented network setups for new labs. Alongside this, I've been involved in technical writing for policies and documentation.
As we grow, I've noticed I'm playing catch-up with project work while also handling tickets. We use Service Desk Plus for our ticketing, and I feel like there might be ways to streamline things. My main goal is to find strategies to get ahead instead of always catching up. Plus, I'd like some guidance on certifications related to advancing into management or security roles since I already have my CCNA, Sec+, and A+. Any advice would be super helpful!
3 Answers
Best advice I can give is to not box yourself into just what your current workplace uses. Keep learning about new trends and tech! Right now, focus on AI and cloud technologies, and try to get familiar with various operating systems like Linux, Windows, and MacOS. Congrats on your first year!
Sounds a lot like what I’m dealing with! How big is your company now?
Wow, under 100 with just 3 IT staff? You're lucky! I’m one of 2 for over 300 users and multiple offices worldwide, and it’s a struggle! But honestly, if your management understands the importance of IT needs, that’ll definitely help with your catch-up.
We're just under 100 employees now. We were at about 70 when I joined two years back. I thought moving from small to medium meant 50 employees, but apparently it’s 500! So I’d say we’re still on the small side but definitely growing.