Network Administrator Interview Questions

"I have a network administration diploma from IBT College. During this programme, I completed a co-op where I shadowed a network administrator, so I received a mix of on-the-job and in-classroom training. My co-op supervisor liked my work ethic, so he hired me when I got my diploma. I have been working as a network administrator for three years now."

"IDS stands for Intrusion Detection System. An IDS is used to monitor networks for suspicious activity. These systems consist of hardware and software that analyses traffic entering the network. It is usually in place to check for viruses, malware, and other intrusions. It doesn't prevent anything from entering a network, but creates an alert when something suspicious does."

"A network administrator is responsible for instaling and monitoring network systems. If there is a network issue, they need to identify it and solve it promptly. They should also audit the system and its computer logs regularly to improve upon it. Network administrators should also train employees on how to use the system and help them set up an account."

"One of the most common network types is a Local Area Network (LAN) as it is a simple network that connects a small group of computers together across a short distance, such as in an office building. A bigger network is a Metropolitan Area Network (MAN) that connects computers in a geographic area, such as a city or town, together. An even larger network is a Wide Area Network (WAN), that connects computers that can be miles apart in different countries together."

"Firewalls are used to monitor traffic entering and leaving a network. Firewalls monitor for suspicious information, such as a virus, and block it out. Network administrators can also customise firewalls to their client's needs. For example, a company can implement a firewall that prevents private company information from leaving the network. They can also use a firewall to block employees from accessing certain websites on their network."

"I have experience with Microsoft Windows, macOS, and Linux. I have the most experience with Microsoft Windows as my last company exclusively used it. But I would be happy to expand my knowledge on any operating system you prefer."

"I love the IT and tech industries, so I enjoy keeping up with them in my personal life. I attend conferences when I can, such as the Gartner Digital Workplace Summit. I also enjoy reading IT magazines, such as Computing Canada and Disruption Magazine. Most of my friends are in the industry as well, so we keep each other up-to-date."

"When explaining my process to clients without a technical background, I simplify everything. I won't use technical terms and won't go into more detail than is necessary. I explain everything step-by-step and always ask if they have questions to ensure they understand everything. I create an open line of communication with the client as well so they can ask me any questions they think of throughout the process."

"To create a secure network, I start by setting up a firewall to the client's specifications. For example, I will limit certain websites if they want me to. Then, I will instal an anti-virus programme as an extra precaution. I will finish by setting up a two-step authentication method to secure any sensitive information and prevent people outside the network from accessing it."

"I have experience setting up networks of various sizes. From small networks of only 10 employees to large, 200-employee networks. I have the most experience with medium-sized networks of around 50 to 100 employees. I'm comfortable instaling and monitoring networks of any size."

"I start by checking if I missed any physical connections by looking over all the plugs and wires. Then, I restart everything, check for hardware failures, outages, and excessive network activity. If everything seems fine there, I will run diagnostics and use a monitoring tool to see if it can detect an issue."

"I use network monitoring tools, such as Logic Monitor Lab and Lab Tech, to monitor my network's performance. These tools allow me to track a network's traffic, uptime, bandwidth utilization, and more. It allows me to ensure a network is running smoothly and if not, I can adjust it accordingly."

"I have had to deal with a few difficult clients in my ten years as a network administrator. The most difficult client I've had was one that kept calling me for weeks after I set up their network. They would ask me the same question over and over and tell me the network wasn't working when I could monitor it remotely and see that it was. I created a detailed but simple instruction manual to use the network so the client could reference it whenever they needed to."

"I always recommend clients use a two-factor authentication method. It is more secure than a single-factor authentication as users will need to supply more information, such as a fingerprint and password. This makes it harder for hackers to access the network, protecting the company's sensitive information."

"A hub allows you to connect multiple computers to one network. We use it to create local area networks, such as one in an office. A hub will pass on any traffic that a network receives to every computer. A switch also connects multiple devices on one computer network, but it sends specific information to each computer or device in the network. It can analyse incoming traffic and send it to the appropriate device so not every computer receives the same thing. "