Automatically apply for jobs with Zippia

Upload your resume to get started.

Security systems administrator skills for your resume and career

Updated January 8, 2025

6 min read

Quoted experts

Austin McCoy,

David Garaventa

Below we've compiled a list of the most critical security systems administrator skills. We ranked the top skills for security systems administrators based on the percentage of resumes they appeared on. For example, 8.3% of security systems administrator resumes contained security systems as a skill. Continue reading to find out what skills a security systems administrator needs to be successful in the workplace.

15 security systems administrator skills for your resume and career

1. Security Systems

A security system refers to any device that can perform security operations such as surveillance, access control, alarm, or intrusion control in a facility or area through a system of components and multifunctional devices designed to protect people and the property against a variety of hazards including crime, arson, accidents, espionage, sabotage, subversion, and attack. A security system also detects several other threats, including smoke, carbon monoxide poisoning, and water damage.

Here's how security systems administrators use security systems:

Experience developing and implementing policies and procedures for customer service center operations supporting ID card operations and technical security systems.
Ordered security systems and monitored installation, assessed system malfunctions, and provided remediation.

2. Troubleshoot

Troubleshooting is the process of analyzing and fixing any kind of problem in a system or a machine. Troubleshooting is the detailed yet quick search in the system for the main source of an issue and solving it.

Here's how security systems administrators use troubleshoot:

Communicated with all departments within the company to troubleshoot external and internal customer service issues and provide innovative solutions.
Administer, maintain and troubleshoot Active Directory related issues including replication.

3. Linux

Linux is a Unix-like operating system. Just like Windows, Mac OS, and IOS, Linux is an operating system used by millions across the globe. Android itself is powered by the Linux operating system. Linux manages all the hardware resources that are associated with your computer. The software is famous because of the protection it grants from viruses, malware, and crashes. The Linux operating system is entirely free and is an open-source software meaning it can be altered by those equipped with the knowledge to code.

Here's how security systems administrators use linux:

Install new and rebuild existing RCVS application servers on the Red Hat Linux platform.
Worked in Linux and Bash programming for system administration of our in-house server.

4. DOD

Definition of Done (DoD) is a set of deliverables that are needed to devise software. These deliverables are valuable to the system and can be exemplified by writing code, coding comments, unit testing, integration testing, design documents, release notes, and so on.

Here's how security systems administrators use dod:

Provide DOD approved vulnerability scanning and automated remediation using Retina and Hercules.
Designed and implemented security architecture for 150 DOD controlled computer systems.

5. Database

A database is a collection of data and information which makes it easy to view, access, and manage. Databases save a lot of time and can store huge amounts of data. Databases make sorting data easier and stores it in certain fields which narrows the searching criteria. A database usually contains tables, graphs, and columns to display data.

Here's how security systems administrators use database:

Maintained secure accurate up-to-date database of software and hardware inventory and made recommendations for upgrades to contractors.
Updated the inventory asset database with accurate records to enable better production decision making.

6. Windows Server

Here's how security systems administrators use windows server:

Administer Windows servers ensuring system performance, reliability, availability and integrity.
Secured and administered Windows Server and Windows XP/Vista environment within the brigade.

Choose from 10+ customizable security systems administrator resume templates

Build a professional security systems administrator resume in minutes. Our AI resume writing assistant will guide you through every step of the process, and you can choose from 10+ resume templates to create your security systems administrator resume.

7. IDS

An IDS (intrusion detection system) stands for a software application or device that monitors a network to identify policy violations or malicious activities.

Here's how security systems administrators use ids:

Provided Administration support on Lotus Notes 7 Domino Server setup users Notes IDs for users.
Installed and disabled User IDs, reset passwords, and updated access.

8. Network Security

Here's how security systems administrators use network security:

Perform IT security-related tasks reviewing web server audit logs for intrusion attempts and utilize network security tools to identify potential weaknesses.
Administrated McAfee Network Security Manager: reviewed alerts, identified and recorded security breaches, followed set procedures for escalation.

9. VMware

Here's how security systems administrators use vmware:

Created environments for production, testing and development using VMware.3
Install and manage VMware server on Dell PowerEdge servers to test web applications on Windows 2000 OS.

10. Computer System

Here's how security systems administrators use computer system:

Administer Active Directory duties through group policy, security policy, domains, users, and computer systems.
Contributed towards the development of computer systems and storage system architectures for research and end user needs.

11. OS

In technical terms, OS stands for "Operating System". It is a software that is used to run programs on the computer. An operating system acts as a link between the user and the hardware components. Windows, macOS, iOS, Linux are examples of an operating system.

Here's how security systems administrators use os:

Managed automated security and functional OS and application patches.
Assist students, faculty and staff with hardware, software, and OS problems.

12. Security Policies

Here's how security systems administrators use security policies:

Provide guidance and clarification regarding organizational security policies & protocols, helping evangelize security awareness throughout all internal customer interactions.
Identified potential risk, monitored activity, secured network environments, and enforced security policies and procedures.

13. DNS

Domain Name Systems, or DNS for short, is the internet's system for converting readable language, i.e., google.com, to machine language, i.e, 192.168. For a simple analogy, some call it the phonebook of the internet. Any website has its own IP address, for example, 192.168.160. Understandably this is hard to remember. So what a DNS does is link the domain name, google.com, with its IP address, 192.168.160.

Here's how security systems administrators use dns:

Administered Radius servers, mail servers, DNS servers, real audio/video servers, accounting server and news server.
Maintained Active Directory environment with Server 2008 R2, including group policy administration, DHCP, and DNS configuration.

14. SCCM

Here's how security systems administrators use sccm:

Design, deploy, and provide operational support for 2012 SCCM environment - including migration from previous 2007 environment.
Developed process to manually push patches with software developed by fellow administrator when SCCM went down.

15. Incident Response

Incident response is defined as the process by which a company or organization handles a cyber attack or a data breach. Along with dealing with the initial attack, this also deals with the possible consequences of the breach. The goal of incident response is to limit the damage caused by the attack.

Here's how security systems administrators use incident response:

Execute Incident Response measures to efficiently identify, categorize, contain, and eradicate security incidents.
Supervised tests and data recovery processes in coordination with incident response team.

5 Security Systems Administrator resume examples

Build a professional security systems administrator resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 5+ resume templates to create your security systems administrator resume.

Create my resume

Build a professional resume in minutes using this template.

What skills help Security Systems Administrators find jobs?

Tell us what job you are looking for, we’ll show you what skills employers want.

What skills stand out on security systems administrator resumes?

Austin McCoy

Director of Javelina Engineering Student Success Center, Texas A&M University - Kingsville

-Internship/co-op experience -Research experience
-Good leadership skills and involvement on campus and in the community and activities where the individual works as part of a team.
-Well written resume can tell a lot about the technical writing skill; a resume needs to be clean and comfortable to read; recruiters can find what they are looking for easily.
-Less is sometimes more because students sometimes will put more information on a resume than is pertinent to the position applying for.

What soft skills should all security systems administrators possess?

David Garaventa

Director, Computer Information Systems and Cybersecurity Programs, Assistant Professor, CIS, Albertus Magnus College

Communication and collaboration skills are critical. Particularly now that many employees are working remotely, it has become more difficult - yet more important than ever - to have IT teams that work effectively together, even when they are not in the same room together. But this is not unique to the IT realm. Whether via remote meetings or through effective written communications, it is no longer enough to simply have "technical skills." Technical skills can be taught to employees more easily than developing employee's soft skills, so when an employee approaches their job with a strong set of communication skills and strong analytic reading and writing abilities, they can often make themselves stand out to employers. The employers will recognize that they have the attributes to be an asset to the team and can then invest in helping them develop any technical areas where they may be lacking.

This is not to say that technical skills don't matter, because they do, especially in the IT field. But suppose an employee brings a strong set of soft skills to an IT team (e.g., collaboration, communication, critical thinking, etc.). In that case, they probably also can learn more technical skills as part of their job function. I once had a colleague say to me that when she is hiring, she has found that technical skill is all over the place...but it's the soft skills that are harder to find. Lastly, having the ability - and a desire - to be continually learning is essential. Technology is not static, and businesses are not static, so thinking critically in different settings across various technology platforms is very important. The tools your department uses today may not be the tools they are using tomorrow, so being fluid, adaptable, and constantly learning is the name of the game.

What hard/technical skills are most important for security systems administrators?

David Garaventa

Director, Computer Information Systems and Cybersecurity Programs, Assistant Professor, CIS, Albertus Magnus College

The technical skills that are required are broad and tend to be business and/or industry-specific. If you are working in healthcare IT, the patient management platforms you use could be different from the client database used by a bank's IT team, for example. So, on the one hand, the recommendation would be to determine what platforms are most commonly used in your industry area and spend time mastering those platforms. On the other hand, most industries tend to have specific tools that are most commonly used, and spending time mastering those is important.

Going deeper into the subject, technical skills around project management, cloud infrastructure, security, and end-user support bridge across all industries. Having knowledge and skills in these areas will serve IT professionals well, no matter what field or industry they end up in. Again, it is challenging to recommend specific technical skills because the field of IT is so broad.

What security systems administrator skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?

Dr. Ariful Azad Ph.D.

Director of Graduate Studies for the Dept. of Intelligent Systems Engineering, Assistant Professor of Intelligent Systems Engineering, Indiana University Bloomington

I recommend enhancing skills in data analytics, if a graduate lacks such skills. Revitalizing business practices by analyzing user or inventory data is an integral part of almost all business applications. Hence, skills in data analytics will give a graduate an edge in the changing job market. Data analytics comes in various flavors: from gathering simple statistics to advanced machine learning. Hence, a graduate can always improve their skill from freely available online lectures, online classes such as Coursera, or on-ramp classes offered by many universities.

What type of skills will young security systems administrators need?

Vince Bowen

Executive Director, Department Chair Energy Systems Technology & Education Center (ESTEC), Idaho State University

How to learn. How to problem-solve. Emotional Intelligence to work in teams and get along with coworkers/customers. Then they need the tech skills.

Do you want to know more?

List of security systems administrator skills to add to your resume

The most important skills for a security systems administrator resume and required skills for a security systems administrator to have include:

Security Systems
Troubleshoot
Linux
DOD
Database
Windows Server
IDS
Network Security
VMware
Computer System
OS
Security Policies
DNS
SCCM
Incident Response
Unix
Intrusion Detection

Switches
Tcp Ip
Management System
Nessus
Security Incidents
Technical Support
LAN
TCP/IP
User Accounts
DHCP
Lenel
Workstations
Physical Security
SAN
SQL Server
Data Loss Prevention
HBSS

Disaster Recovery
System Performance
Virtualization
VPN
Provisioning
PKI
Encryption
McAfee
PC
GPO
CCTV
Red Hat
National Security
Security Administration
SharePoint

Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

Updated January 8, 2025

Browse computer and mathematical jobs