What is an IT Support Specialist?
Day-to-Day Responsibilities
An IT support specialist is responsible for helping the office run as smoothly as possible. As our very own IT support specialist, Logan Ellinger explains, this can range from assisting with printing issues to complex troubleshooting, or even aiding in setting up new copiers or installing new document management software. Every day is different, but the goal of seeing the office run as smoothly as possible and lending a helping hand when things go awry stays the same.
IT Support Specialist Qualifications
This is the good stuff that separates an IT support specialist from the co-worker that offers the age-old advice of turning it off and back on.
There are several different paths that an IT support specialist can take to get into this line of work. For some, it’s getting a bachelor's degree in computer science, Information Technology, or a related field and taking things from there. For others, it’s going straight to earning industry-standard IT certifications, such as CompTIA++ or Microsoft 365 Certified: Endpoint Administrator Associate. It’s all about gaining experience and developing skills.
For an IT support specialist, the learning is never done! The world of technology is always changing, so specialists will put in the time to attend webinars and complete training courses on the newest technology, software, and hardware. This comes in addition to simply completing and earning as many certificates as they can, to be as knowledgeable and helpful for their client as possible.
An IT support specialist can help keep your printing operations up and running.
Why Does My Organization Need an IT Support Specialist?
Sure, it may be nice to have an IT support specialist available in my office, but is it necessary? Is it a sustainable solution? Let’s answer these questions.
The Growth of Business Technology
It’s no secret that strides have been made in the world of business technology. With everything done digitally these days, it may feel like if your organization doesn’t evolve with technology, you will sink. When your business is in a constant state of change, having an IT Support Specialist can really help guide you and make the transition more manageable.
With technology feeling increasingly complicated, there is value in having someone available who is a step ahead and can get things done for your organization. The reason your computer wasn’t connecting to the printer to print those important documents from before? It may be an issue that neither you, nor the makeshift computer co-worker, would have ever known to even look for in the first place. It is for this very reason an IT support specialist is so helpful.
By the Numbers
IT support specialists are in-demand and are becoming something of a staple in offices across the United States. As of 2022, there are around 1 million IT support specialists in the United States, and are projected to grow by 5% by 2032, which is higher than the average for all occupations. In other words, yes, we can expect IT support specialists to play a significant role in the modern office.
Another area related to this, too, is how your IT support specialist can play a part in general IT services, and one fantastic addition to managed IT service is proactive cybersecurity. Cybersecurity is a major risk today, as a Deloitte Center for Controllership poll found that in 12 months, 34.5% of polled executives report their organizations being targeted by cyber adversaries, and 48.8% of executives expect the size and number of cyber events to increase. Cybersecurity is a risk to be taken seriously, and with the help of an IT support specialist and IT services, steps can be taken to protect your organization.
Find IT Support Specialists and IT Services with QualityDOS
The next time you run into a printing problem, contact your IT support specialist! They are there to help you get everything you need to be successful.
At QualityDOS, our IT support specialist can work on a day-to-day basis to help your office run as smoothly as possible. Through set-up and troubleshooting to copier and software installation, our experts have your back. Contact us today to improve your IT or to learn more!