Hire Systems Administrators

Why Hiring Systems Administrators Requires Real Technical Vetting

Systems administrators are responsible for the infrastructure that every other role in your organization depends on. When a sysadmin misconfigures a Group Policy, it can lock out hundreds of users. When they botch a server migration, critical applications go offline. When they fail to properly maintain patch cycles, your organization becomes vulnerable to exploits that make headlines. The stakes are high, but traditional recruiting processes treat sysadmin hiring as a commodity exercise focused on certifications and years of experience.

The modern sysadmin role has also expanded well beyond its traditional boundaries. Today's systems administrators manage hybrid environments that span on-premises Windows and Linux servers, cloud infrastructure, virtualization platforms, and containerized workloads. They need to automate with PowerShell or Bash, manage identity through Active Directory and Azure AD, implement backup and disaster recovery strategies, and maintain security hardening across diverse operating systems. A candidate who managed a small Windows domain five years ago may not be equipped for this complexity.

Exodata's engineers evaluate systems administrator candidates through hands-on assessments that reflect real production environments. We test Active Directory design decisions, Linux administration depth, automation capabilities, troubleshooting methodology, and the ability to maintain infrastructure that is both secure and available. You get sysadmins who keep your systems running smoothly from day one.

What Our Engineers Assess

Every systems administrator candidate goes through a live technical assessment with our engineering team. Here's what we evaluate:

• Active Directory and identity management — GPO design, OU structure, trust relationships, Azure AD Connect, and hybrid identity architectures
• Windows Server administration — server roles (DNS, DHCP, file services, IIS), clustering, Windows Update management, and performance troubleshooting
• Linux administration — package management, systemd services, filesystem management, SSH hardening, and log analysis across distributions
• Virtualization platforms — VMware vSphere, Hyper-V, or Proxmox — VM lifecycle management, resource allocation, and migration planning
• Automation and scripting — PowerShell, Bash, or Python for automating repetitive tasks, configuration management, and infrastructure provisioning
• Backup and disaster recovery — backup strategy design, retention policies, recovery testing, and business continuity planning

Common Tech Stacks We Vet For

Engagement Options