Network and Computer Systems Administrators

Install, configure, and maintain an organization's local area network (LAN), wide area network (WAN), data communications network, operating systems, and physical and virtual servers. Perform system monitoring and verify the integrity and availability of hardware, network, and server resources and systems. Review system and application logs and verify completion of scheduled jobs, including system backups. Analyze network and server resource consumption and control user access. Install and upgrade software and maintain software licenses. May assist in network modeling, analysis, planning, and coordination between network and data communications hardware and software.

The occupation "Network and Computer Systems Administrators" has an automation risk of 57.8%, closely aligning with its base risk of 58.8%. This moderate to high automation potential arises because many core tasks carried out by administrators involve routine monitoring, maintenance, and troubleshooting—processes that are increasingly being handled by advanced automation tools and artificial intelligence. Technologies such as automated monitoring systems, predictive failure detection, and pre-scripted remediation workflows can now perform much of the “always-on” network oversight once requiring human vigilance. As a result, the automation risk reflects the profession’s exposure to efficiency-seeking automation in traditionally manual network management tasks. The top three most automatable tasks further illustrate this vulnerability. First, “Maintain and administer computer networks and related computing environments, including computer hardware, systems software, applications software, and all configurations,” is increasingly addressed using centralized management consoles and automated configuration tools. Second, “Perform data backups and disaster recovery operations,” is now commonly automated through scheduled backup services, cloud replication, and automated failover systems. Third, “Diagnose, troubleshoot, and resolve hardware, software, or other network and system problems, and replace defective components when necessary” is supported by self-healing networks and diagnostic scripts that can address many common issues without direct human intervention. These tasks, being relatively standardized, are particularly suited for automation, thereby increasing the overall risk. Conversely, the tasks most resistant to automation tend to require higher-level judgment, creative problem-solving, or hands-on implementation in unpredictable settings. For example, “Research new technologies by attending seminars, reading trade articles, or taking classes, and implement or recommend the implementation of new technologies,” leans on human adaptability and foresight—skills that AI cannot easily replicate. Similarly, “Maintain an inventory of parts for emergency repairs” still often depends on human oversight and context-sensitive decision-making. Lastly, “Implement and provide technical support for voice services and equipment, such as private branch exchange, voice mail system, and telecom system,” may involve specialized setups or troubleshooting scenarios beyond the scope of current automation. The most significant bottleneck skills, such as Originality (rated at 3.1% and 3.6%), underscore the enduring value of creative and innovative thinking—abilities that remain challenging for machines to automate, thus preserving some aspects of the role despite mounting automation pressures.