What Sysadmin Skills Should I Focus on Developing Now?
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TechSavvy98
I'm a system administrator with experience in Azure, Entra Connect (ADDS), AVD, VPN gateways, storage accounts, recovery service vaults, firewalls, and M365. I've also worked with VMware ESXi and VCSA versions 6.7 to 9, and have intermediate knowledge of Citrix CVAD and NetScaler, along with tools like SolarWinds and Hyper-V with SCVMM. My experience includes SCCM, but I haven't delved into Intune yet.
Given the rapid changes happening with Citrix and VMware, I'm feeling uncertain about where to take my skillset next. I'm worried about stagnating in the professional landscape for the next five years. Should I pivot toward cloud technologies or focus on DevOps? What skills would be most beneficial right now?
Answers
Transitioning to Proxmox from VMware could be a great move for you, but make sure to assess how it fits with future job opportunities, especially in larger enterprises.
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Before wrapping up your M365 expertise, definitely explore Intune and Defender. You should also look into migrating AD policies to Intune. Certification-wise, that's crucial for your career growth overall.
TechSavvy98: You're right! I currently hold three certifications: AZ-104, AZ-305, and CCA-V (Citrix).
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Other cloud platforms like AWS and GCP can be very beneficial. But remember, it’s often better to specialize deeply in one area rather than spreading yourself too thin.
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It sounds like you're off to a great start, but I'd suggest checking how deep your understanding of M365 really goes, especially Intune, as it's a key component of that suite.
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It's clear your current stack is solid, though a bit dated. With VMware not being as prominent anymore, leaning more into Azure makes sense, especially since you already have a foundation in it. Learning Terraform or Bicep, along with Kubernetes, will help you stay relevant in the job market.
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Consider diving into Linux, AWS, and containerization with tools like Docker or Kubernetes. They are essential skills that can definitely elevate your career.
TechSavvy98: Absolutely! I've started working with Linux commands and feel like it's a good stepping stone to Kubernetes and CI/CD. Seems essential!
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TechSavvy98: Yeah, I switched to Proxmox myself, and it has been beneficial, but I'm a bit concerned about its relevance moving forward.