So you want to be a network manager, Part 2

In So you want to be a network manager, part 1 I discussed some management strategies and skills that can help you in your pursuit of a network manager position.

But it's not just about management and technical skills; understanding how IT supports the business goals of the organization is critical. Here are some business-related tidbits to broaden your skill set to help in your pursuit of becoming a successful network manager.

Understand the business and apply the technology.

Certainly, many aspects of the network manager's position involve learning new skills that have more to do with the business than with the technical details of networking. However, that doesn't mean you should stop your technical growth. On the contrary, not keeping up with the latest trends and technologies in networking can lead to poor decisions -- and career suicide.

Consider this scenario: The CFO returns from a business technology convention where network access control was discussed as a method to implement access policies. She asks you about company NAC plans. You had better not only be ahead of her with an answer but understand the technical benefits and limitations of NAC and how to most effectively use it to further the business's goals.

Become proficient at budgeting.

Chances are, as a network administrator, you would submit a proposal to your boss for a new switch, router, NAC appliance or some other gadget that you felt was needed. You may have included a detailed analysis showing why it would be good for the company and why the company should purchase it. Your boss made a decision, and you either purchased the equipment or you didn't.

Moving up the ladder, it's you who will need to make the buy/no-buy decision. You'll need to understand budgeting, including the future costs of a purchasing decision. It's often these unforeseen future costs, for example, of network equipment support that managers surprise company accountants with, according to Allen Falcon, president of Horizon Information Group.

Not that you need to be an accountant, but you'll need to be able to talk to and understand them. "You should have the equivalent of a high school accounting course," explains Falcon, and understand basic concepts such as the difference between capital expenditures and expenses.

Network equipment, infrastructure, services and support aren't cheap. They usually represent a significant portion of the overall IT budget. Lacking basic budgeting skills could increase network operations costs, and you may find yourself needing to explain to the CIO and/or CFO why networking is consuming an inordinate amount of IT resources.

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Continue your education.

Expanding education beyond networking can lead to new opportunities. Certifications coupled with experience can be a powerful combination, indicating to potential employers that you have passed a common industry measuring stick of knowledge and performance. And while a four-year degree in a related field is probably a necessity for obtaining a network management position, an advanced degree, specifically in a business field, can open additional doors.

You may already hold some technical certifications related to network and server administration, such as an MCSE or a CCIE. Before considering another technical certification in your field, stop: You have already established yourself as a technical guru, so why pour gas on the fire? This is the point in your career to expand beyond the cables, the servers and the routers and learn other aspects of IT.

However, a niche certification, such as for a database, may not help much either. What you're looking for is more of an umbrella certification -- verification that you are proficient in aspects that touch the entire IT organization.

One example of such a certification is in information security, since it involves every facet of IT by definition. There are several such certifications available, including ISC 2's Certified Information Systems Security Professional; I recently wrote an article about my pursuit of the CISSP. I can speak from experience that earning that certification has opened doors.

Another useful certification is in project management. Consider that many IT projects involve multiple technology and corporate departments. Managing all of those resources and necessities can be complex. A project management certification such as the Project Management Institute's Project Management Professional shows that you have key skills.

Pursing an advanced degree, such as an MBA or a master's in computer information systems, may not be necessary for a network manager position. But if you are planning to climb further and are looking at possibly becoming a CIO in the future, it becomes a necessity. If CIO is your eventual goal, start work on that advanced degree now.

Networking brings it all together.

Obviously, some of this advice can apply to other areas of IT, but in many ways, advancing up the networking ladder is unique. As the network manager, you're the interface between the job you once had and the rest of the corporation. Networking literally touches every department, every server and every connection; it's what connects people and resources together.

The primary goal as a network administrator may have seemed simply to get people and resources talking. However, the network manager must merge technology with business goals, available budgets and risk assessment to achieve the desired solution at minimal cost. If you understand that the technology is but a part of being a successful network manager, you're ready to explore the next step.

Keep in mind, though, that management isn't the destination for all, or even most, network administrators. "Some techs are not suited to management and should go the specialist route; others make excellent managers, and yet others will need to go sideways to get ahead," explains Jeff Theunissen, an infrastructure specialist at Data#3. "The best thing to know is what you want to do."

Greg Schaffer is a freelance writer based in Tennessee. He has more than 15 years of experience in networking, primarily in higher education. He can be reached at newtnoise@comcast.net.