5 Kinds of Tools Every IT Professional Should Have

Most people outside of the profession only know the IT team as the techies who come in and fix things when the computers “aren’t acting right.” Beyond that stereotypical generalization, there’s a lot going on behind the scenes that is not often talked about, leaving many people wondering what exactly is involved with being an “IT professional.” 

First, it should be specified that there are various kinds of careers and specialties within the realm of IT. For example, the term “IT pro” could be used to describe a network security specialist, data recovery specialist, or a server administrator. Regardless of which field you specialize in, it pays to be well-versed in all areas of information technology, which is why every well-rounded professional must have access to the following five kinds of tools:

1. Server Monitoring
Since server operation is paramount behind every web-based operation, anybody claiming to be knowledgeable in IT should know how to use server monitoring tools. Software like SolarWinds, Nagios Core, Monitor.us, Ganglia, CollectD, and Cacti are popular choices in the industry, giving professionals the robust platforms needed to facilitate the monitoring and remote control of servers and individual applications. In basic terms, these are the tools the pros use to make sure a website stays online and loads optimally.

2. Network Security
Of course, maintaining network security is another key aspect to ensure safe online business practices, which is why it’s such an important area for IT professionals to study. You could use all of the other tools on this list, but without the ability to safeguard a server from virtual threats, all of the security could wind up being useless. Major security brands like Microsoft, McAfee, Kaspersky, and TrendMicro offer server security tools that help IT pros defend against attacks from hackers and malicious software.

3. Performance Analysis  
Just as it’s important to monitor the performance and health of web servers, it’s equally important to analyze the performance of individual computers and devices on the network. Thus, hardware testing and analysis software like HWiNFO32 are frequently used to make sure all the components in a network are functioning optimally at all times.

4. Data Recovery 
In the event of a security lapse, hardware failure, damaged operating system, or accidental deletion, it’s possible for important company data to be lost without warning. Thus, any self-respecting IT pro should know how to recover data using software like Recuva. There’s an abundance of data recovery tools out there, and most of them are simple enough for a non-pro to use, so this is one of the easier parts of the job.

5. File Transfer and Database Management 
Last but certainly not least, as a self-professed professional in the field of information technology, it would be shameful to not know how to transfer and store information. IT professionals have to be proficient at using software like FileZilla and other file transfer protocol (FTP) and database management applications in order to manage and build databases.

Expanding Your Skillset to Become More Marketable

Every IT pro should aim to land jobs that offer the best pay and most benefits. One way to maximize your chances of doing that is to become versatile in all areas of the profession. Using an arsenal that contains the tool types listed above will ensure that you’re bringing a lot to the table when it’s time to submit your resume.