This guest post was contributed by Apu Pavithran, Founder & CEO of Hexnode Six months into 2024, the cyber threat landscape remains as volatile as ever. Several SMEs have already succumbed to cyber-attacks, with lack of visibility and control over devices being one of the major concerns. In a typical organization, the desktop OS landscape is dominated by 72% Windows, followed by macOS at 15%, with other OSes like Linux gaining traction, now at 4.4%. With such a diverse array of systems under their command, sys admins face an increasingly daunting challenge in ensuring each device meets the necessary security standards.
Every year, the last Friday of July marks Sys Admins Day, a day dedicated to honoring the silent guardians who power our workplace. In an era where the device landscape is becoming ever more complex, it’s essential that we recognize their contributions and support them in the perpetual battle against IT threats.
The Evolving Challenges of Sysadmins
Sys admins today face an overwhelming workload, juggling hardware maintenance, user management, disaster preparedness, vendor coordination and business scalability.
Research shows that 84% of cyber security professionals experience stress, fatigue, and burnout leading to loss of productivity and an annual cost of $756 million for US and UK firms.
The underlying triggers lie with the difficulty in resolving each user request, continuously switching tasks, blurring lines between work and home, and constantly having to up their game. Additionally, the new SEC rule mandating a 4-day deadline for disclosing cyberattacks exacerbates their already challenging role.
With IT operations being the second most sought-after skill after AI, IT skill gap is projected to impact nine out ten organizations by 2026 causing product delays, quality issues and revenue loss amounting to $5.5 Trillion.
Empowering Sys Admins in a Multidevice World
On average, an employee uses 2.5 devices for work comprising both corporate-owned and personal devices. For a company with 1,000 employees, that's 2,500 endpoints, each a potential entry point for attackers. Therefore, the key is to provide IT teams with the tools and resources to develop a robust device management strategy.
An adequate device management solution or unified endpoint management (UEM) solution proves to be a crucial ally. Imagine configuring hundreds of devices with just a few clicks using pre-defined settings, saving hours of manual setups. Once set up, admins can remotely deploy patches, updates and view all the devices’ summary, reports and applications from a single console. Having such a unified console not only boosts efficiency but also slashes the risk of human error, ensuring that every device is consistently and securely configured.
Another critical aspect of a sys admin's role is managing the constant influx of IT requests. Whether for a small business with 50 employees or an enterprise with 5,000, providing technical assistance can be an arduous task. ITSM streamlines the ticketing system helping admins track, prioritize and resolve incidents quickly. By offloading routine service requests to self-help portals, ITSM enables sys admins to focus on more complex and high-priority issues. Finally, businesses should invest in upskilling their existing employees. Given the extensive skills gap in the industry, providing resources to develop their existing talent not only bridges this gap but also fosters loyalty and reduces turnover.
Embracing Emerging Technologies
With the rapid pace of technological progress, sys admins need to stay abreast with the latest advancements in AI, cloud computing, IoT, data science, and other areas. Studies indicate that 39.7% of sys admin tasks, such as system backups, software updates, and analyzing system logs for suspicious activities could be augmented by AI, possibly freeing up 13 hours per week.
As another Sys Admins Day passes us by, let's express gratitude for their indispensable contributions. Users can contribute by upskilling and adhering to basic cyber hygiene practices. Organizations, too, could bear the responsibility of providing advanced training to ensure admins remain at the vanguard of technology. By backing our sys admins and adopting new technologies, we fortify our digital ecosystems and cultivate a culture of resilience.
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