An infrastructure analyst is an information technology (IT) professional who specializes in managing and solving problems in complex computer systems. In their work, infrastructure analysts may serve as freelance consultants, or they may work for a single company as an in-house professional. The main jobs of an infrastructure analyst may include diagnosing computer system problems, determining a plan for the solution, and writing protocol or programs for IT technicians to handle similar issues in the system on their own.
While many businesses use computers on a daily basis to conduct the vast majority of their work, the average office worker or professional may not be qualified to handle system problems. Some companies have an IT department to handle day-to-day concerns of the computer system, but even these professionals may not be trained to handle major issues, upgrades, or system maintenance. When a situation becomes too complex for the regular team to manage, an infrastructure analyst may be called in to figure out the problem and create the right solutions for the system.
One of the major tasks an infrastructure analyst faces is the diagnosis of system problems. In a large computer network, problems can arise in many different areas, including network communications, storage, and server platforms. A good analyst can look at the symptoms displayed by the system, and work to diagnose the problem swiftly and accurately. In order to perform this part of the job well, an analyst must have an excellent understanding of computer languages and how systems operate.
Following diagnosis, it is often up to the analyst to determine a plan for fixing the issue. Some jobs will require the analyst to both design the plan and implement it, in order to ensure that the issues are effectively solved. In other cases, however, the analyst may not be required to implement the solutions, but instead may be involved in writing the instructions for an in-house IT team to carry out. This allows the company to retain the management of future systems issues with their own workers, thus cutting down on the cost of hiring outside experts.
An infrastructure analyst may be able to work out of a home or home office most of the time. As a freelance professional, he or she may be required to travel regularly to carry out new jobs. Even analysts who work for a specific company may need to travel between branches and headquarters to manage a company-wide system. This job may be an excellent choice for those who prefer to make their own hours, enjoy travel, and want the challenging task of diagnosing complex problems and finding efficient solutions.
