What Does a Network Analyst Do?

As businesses rely more on digital avenues to support their day-to-day operations, the need to keep network systems running efficiently and securely grows. Network analysts are vital to a business’s software and computer systems because they help maintain them based on their needs. Read on to learn more about a network analyst’s responsibilities, the tools they use, and more. 

Read more: 6 Network Certifications for Your IT Career

What is the role of a network analyst?

A network analyst is responsible for keeping a business’s complex computing network working securely and efficiently. They identify a business’s technology needs and help design the network’s infrastructure, often through software, computers, and security systems. 

Read more: What Is a Network Administrator? A Career Guide

Network analyst salary and job outlook

According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), computer systems and network analysts are in demand. The industry is expected to grow at 11 percent between 2023 and 2033, much faster than the average for all other occupations [1].

According to Glassdoor, the estimated total pay for network analysts in the US is $94,944 per year. This figure includes an average base salary of $75,208 and $19,736 in additional pay [2]. Additional pay may represent profit-sharing, commissions, or bonuses. Keep in mind your salary may be impacted by years of experience, industry, location, and education level. Some popular industries for network analysts include:

• Computer and system design companies

• Local government

• Wired telecommunications

• Higher education

• Insurance

However, any business that relies on secure and complex network systems needs a network analyst. Some network analysts work at larger companies that provide analyst skills to clients, while others work in-house. 

Network analyst tasks and responsibilities

Network analysts spend their days evaluating, testing, upgrading, and maintaining the network and troubleshooting any issues. Network analysts are also key in assisting a business if data backups or recovery are necessary. Specific tasks vary based on each business, but some typical responsibilities for a network analyst role include:

• Installing, updating, monitoring, and maintaining software and hardware

• Identifying business network needs and upgrading as necessary

• Ensuring proper security of sensitive data

• Troubleshooting issues as they occur

• Staying aware of new software trends and applying them as needed

• Providing technical assistance and training

• Serving as a point of contact for employees

• Analyzing all local and wide area networks

• Conducting network surveys and reporting test results

• Performing system backups as necessary

• Assisting in specific project completion when needed

• Automating network processes

• Planning and configuring network infrastructure

A network analyst role is a great fit for someone who is a natural problem solver and enthusiastic about constant learning. Network analysts need to be flexible, creative, and able to think quickly if any issues within the network occur. These professionals should also feel comfortable working with a team and collaborating with other IT staff.

What tools do network analysts use?

Network analysts use various tools to give them insight into the network’s security, functionality, and efficiency. This insight is possible by detecting anomalies within data packets, which are subsets of data that are examined and reported on. Network analysts use data packets to look for abnormal patterns and trends, which often signal issues like hardware failure, security breaches, network congestion, or misconfigurations. Traffic data is usually collected from:

• Routers

• Servers

• Switches

• Endpoints

• Firewalls 

Some of these anomalies include unusual or excessive requests or responses, corrupt or inconsistent data, unauthorized connections, and suspicious data packets. Network analysts use tools like:

• Performance monitors use simple network management protocol (SNMP) queries to collect statistics

• Packet sniffers, which are software like Wireshark or Nmap, capture packets

• Network analyzers, such as SolarWinds or Splunk, examine packets as they pass

• Network testing tools, such as Zabbix or ManageEngine OpManager, can detect network issues

• Network test access points (TAPs), which are physical devices that copy packets for analysis

Once the data is collected, the network analyst reviews the packets for issues or anomalies. Based on the reports, they make recommendations or troubleshoot.

Network analyst qualifications

You’ll need a strong computer science and analysis background to become a network analyst. You can typically develop these network analyst skills through a four-year degree, online certification, or on-the-job experience.

Education requirements

Most employers expect a network analyst to have at least a bachelor’s degree in subjects like computer science, engineering, telecommunications, or information systems. These majors are all great ways to learn the foundational skills necessary to be successful in this role.

Additional Cisco certification and a demonstrated familiarity with routers and switches are great ways to set yourself apart from other professionals in the field.

Read more: What Are Computer Information Systems? Definition, Degree, and Careers

Technical skills

Network analysts need experience with the different tools and software used to analyze a business’s networks, as well as typical network analyst skills like:

• IT support 

• Wide area network 

• Cloud, scripting, routing, and writing protocol 

• Experience with network analysis tools

• Familiarity with network protocols and topologies

Read more: Entry-Level IT Support Jobs Overview: Skills, Education, Salaries

Experience

Many network analysts start gaining experience through internships or as assistants to more senior network analysts. Businesses often offer on-the-job training since their network and analysis tools are specific to their needs and goals. As you gain experience, you can move into leadership roles or roles that oversee larger and more complex network systems.

Network analyst career path

Once you’ve gained the necessary experience, skills, and education, an entry-level position is a great way to enter the network analyst field. You can either move into this industry from an adjacent field, such as IT, or you can gain a degree and then move into the field from something completely unrelated.

Career advancement

Network support analysts have many opportunities to grow within the role, particularly by taking on leadership or management roles as they gain experience. The following is a career advancement path that you may take:

• Network analyst → network engineer → systems engineer → infrastructure manager

Read more: What Is CompTIA Network+ Certification?

Getting started with Coursera

Sharpen your skills and gain the foundational knowledge needed for a network analyst role. Consider Google's IT Support Professional Certificate on Coursera to learn in-demand IT skills from industry leaders. This Professional Certificate covers technical support fundamentals, computer networking, operating systems, and more. Upon completion, gain exclusive access to career resources like resume review, interview prep, and career support.