Top 12 Infrastructure Analyst Skills to Put on Your Resume

Crafting an impressive resume as an Infrastructure Analyst demands a showcase of specialized skills that highlight your expertise and readiness to tackle complex IT systems. This article will guide you through the top 12 skills essential for standing out in the competitive field of infrastructure analysis, ensuring your resume captures the attention of potential employers.

Infrastructure Analyst Skills

1. AWS
2. Azure
3. VMware
4. PowerShell
5. Python
6. Cisco Networking
7. Active Directory
8. Linux
9. Windows Server
10. Docker
11. Kubernetes
12. SQL

1. AWS

AWS (Amazon Web Services) is a comprehensive, evolving cloud computing platform provided by Amazon that includes a mixture of infrastructure as a service (IaaS), platform as a service (PaaS), and packaged software as a service (SaaS) offerings. It enables businesses to access virtualized computing resources over the internet for building, managing, and deploying applications and services.

Why It's Important

AWS is important for an Infrastructure Analyst because it provides a highly scalable, flexible, and cost-effective cloud computing platform, enabling the deployment, management, and scaling of infrastructure resources efficiently and securely.

How to Improve AWS Skills

Improving AWS infrastructure involves optimizing for performance, cost, security, and reliability. Here's a concise guide:

1. Optimize Performance: Use Amazon CloudWatch to monitor performance in real-time. Implement Amazon ElastiCache for caching to reduce load times.

2. Cost Management: Utilize AWS Cost Explorer to analyze and identify cost-saving opportunities. Implement auto-scaling and purchase Reserved Instances for predictable workloads.

3. Enhance Security: Implement AWS Identity and Access Management (IAM) to control access to AWS services. Use Amazon VPC to isolate network environments. Regularly audit your environment with AWS Trusted Advisor.

4. Ensure Reliability: Design for failure by utilizing Amazon S3 for durable storage and Amazon RDS for database services. Employ AWS Backup for automated backup solutions.

5. Use Infrastructure as Code (IaC): Implement AWS CloudFormation to automate and manage your infrastructure in a documented and controlled way.

6. Stay Informed and Educated: Regularly visit the AWS What's New page and consider AWS Training and Certification programs to stay up-to-date with the latest features and best practices.

By applying these strategies, an Infrastructure Analyst can significantly improve the efficiency, security, and cost-effectiveness of their AWS environment.

How to Display AWS Skills on Your Resume

2. Azure

Azure is Microsoft's cloud computing platform, offering a wide range of services including Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS), Platform as a Service (PaaS), and Software as a Service (SaaS) to build, deploy, and manage applications and services through Microsoft-managed data centers. For an Infrastructure Analyst, Azure provides scalable computing resources, storage solutions, and networking capabilities to support and optimize infrastructure operations and management.

Why It's Important

Azure is important for an Infrastructure Analyst because it offers a scalable and flexible cloud computing platform that enables the efficient management and deployment of IT resources, supports a wide range of operating systems, programming languages, frameworks, databases, and devices, and facilitates the secure and seamless integration of cloud environments with existing on-premises infrastructure.

How to Improve Azure Skills

Improving Azure infrastructure involves optimizing resources, ensuring security, and enhancing performance. Here are concise strategies tailored for an Infrastructure Analyst:

1. Optimize Costs: Understand and manage your Azure resources efficiently to reduce unnecessary expenses. Utilize Azure Cost Management and Billing tools to monitor and control your spending. Azure Cost Management.

2. Implement Security Best Practices: Secure your Azure environment by following the Azure security best practices. Use Azure Security Center for unified security management and threat protection. Azure Security Center.

3. Automate Deployments: Use Azure DevOps for automating deployments and managing your development lifecycle, which can increase the efficiency and reliability of your infrastructure. Azure DevOps.

4. Leverage Azure Advisor: Azure Advisor provides personalized recommendations to help you optimize your Azure resources for high availability, security, performance, and cost. Azure Advisor.

5. Monitor and Analyze: Implement Azure Monitor to collect, analyze, and act on telemetry data from your Azure and on-premises environments. This helps ensure performance and availability. Azure Monitor.

6. Adopt Azure Policies: Enforce organizational standards and assess compliance at scale with Azure Policy. It helps you manage and prevent IT issues with its policy-driven governance. Azure Policy.

7. Utilize Azure Site Recovery: Ensure business continuity by protecting your major IT systems with Azure Site Recovery, providing easy replication, failover, and recovery. Azure Site Recovery.

8. Stay Updated: Continuously learn about Azure updates and new features to leverage the latest improvements in your infrastructure. Azure Updates.

Each of these steps contributes to a more efficient, secure, and cost-effective Azure infrastructure, aligning with the role and responsibilities of an Infrastructure Analyst.

How to Display Azure Skills on Your Resume

3. VMware

VMware is a leading provider of virtualization software and services, enabling organizations to create and manage virtual machines and infrastructure for computing, networking, and storage across data centers, cloud environments, and on mobile devices. For an Infrastructure Analyst, VMware offers tools to optimize, monitor, and manage IT resources and environments efficiently.

Why It's Important

VMware is essential for an Infrastructure Analyst as it provides powerful virtualization technology that enables efficient management, scalability, and consolidation of physical hardware resources, enhancing system reliability, flexibility, and cost-effectiveness in an IT infrastructure.

How to Improve VMware Skills

Improving VMware for an Infrastructure Analyst involves several key steps focused on optimizing performance, enhancing security, and ensuring high availability. Here’s a concise guide:

1. Performance Optimization:

   • Upgrade VMware Tools: Ensure the latest version of VMware Tools is installed on guest operating systems for improved performance and stability.
   • Allocate Resources Wisely: Properly allocate CPU and memory resources based on workload demands. Over-provisioning can lead to resource contention.
   • Storage I/O Control: Utilize VMware's Storage I/O Control (SIOC) to prioritize I/O requests for critical VMs during congestion. VMware Storage I/O Control

2. Security Enhancements:

   • Harden VMware Infrastructure: Follow VMware's hardening guides to secure your environment against vulnerabilities.
   • Network Segmentation: Use network segmentation and firewalls to limit traffic between VMs, reducing the attack surface.
   • Regular Patching: Stay up-to-date with VMware and guest OS patches to mitigate security risks. VMware Security Advisories

3. High Availability and Disaster Recovery:

   • VMware High Availability (HA): Configure HA to minimize downtime by automatically restarting VMs on available hosts in case of server failure.
   • VMware Site Recovery Manager (SRM): Implement SRM for disaster recovery planning and automation. It simplifies the process of moving and recovering VMs between sites. VMware Site Recovery Manager

4. Monitoring and Management:

   • vRealize Operations Manager: Use this tool for proactive monitoring, alerting, and capacity planning to ensure optimal performance and availability.
   • Automation with vRealize Automation: Automate the deployment of VMs and application services to reduce manual tasks and errors. vRealize Automation

5. Training and Certification:

   • Investing in VMware training and certifications for your team can enhance their skills, leading to better management and troubleshooting of the VMware infrastructure. VMware Education

By focusing on these areas, an Infrastructure Analyst can significantly improve VMware's efficiency, security, and reliability in their organization.

How to Display VMware Skills on Your Resume

4. PowerShell

PowerShell is a task automation and configuration management framework from Microsoft, consisting of a command-line shell and scripting language designed for system administration, including tasks related to infrastructure analysis, management, and automation across Windows, Linux, and macOS environments.

Why It's Important

PowerShell is crucial for an Infrastructure Analyst as it enables automation, efficient system management, and configuration of both local and remote systems, significantly enhancing productivity and operational accuracy.

How to Improve PowerShell Skills

Improving your PowerShell skills as an Infrastructure Analyst involves enhancing both your command-line proficiency and scripting capabilities to automate and manage your systems more effectively. Here are concise steps to elevate your PowerShell expertise:

1. Learn the Basics: Start with understanding the core concepts and basic commands. Microsoft's PowerShell documentation is a great starting point.

2. Master Scripting: Focus on creating, running, and debugging scripts. The PowerShell Scripting Guide provides a solid base.

3. Use PowerShell ISE: Familiarize yourself with the Integrated Scripting Environment for an enhanced scripting experience. Learn PowerShell ISE.

4. Explore Advanced Topics: Dive into remote management, Desired State Configuration (DSC), and custom modules. The Advanced Tools & Scripting with PowerShell 3.0 Jump Start course is an excellent resource.

5. Join the Community: Engage with PowerShell communities on platforms like Reddit and StackOverflow to share knowledge and get help.

6. Practice, Practice, Practice: The more you use PowerShell for real-world tasks, the more proficient you'll become. Set personal projects or find tasks within your work environment to automate.

7. Stay Updated: PowerShell evolves constantly. Follow the PowerShell Team Blog to stay on top of updates and new features.

By systematically following these steps and incorporating PowerShell into your daily work, you'll significantly improve your skills and efficiency as an Infrastructure Analyst.

How to Display PowerShell Skills on Your Resume

5. Python

Python is a high-level, interpreted programming language known for its simplicity and versatility, widely used for automation, data analysis, and scripting in infrastructure management and analysis tasks.

Why It's Important

Python is important for an Infrastructure Analyst because it streamlines automation, data analysis, and system management tasks, enhancing efficiency and accuracy in infrastructure operations.

How to Improve Python Skills

Improving your Python skills as an Infrastructure Analyst involves focusing on areas that enhance automation, data analysis, and system management. Here are concise steps with resources to guide you:

1. Master Core Python: Understand the basics thoroughly. Automate the Boring Stuff with Python is an excellent start for automation.

2. Learn Systems Automation: Focus on libraries like subprocess, os, and paramiko for system and network automation. Real Python offers insights into subprocesses.

3. Understand Data Manipulation: Get comfortable with pandas and numpy for data analysis, critical in infrastructure management for parsing logs and generating reports. Pandas Documentation is a great place to start.

4. Explore DevOps Tools Integration: Use Python to interact with DevOps tools like Ansible, Docker, and Kubernetes. The Ansible Documentation provides good examples.

5. Networking: Learn to use libraries like scapy or socket for network management tasks. The Scapy Documentation is highly recommended.

6. Version Control: Familiarize yourself with Git. Python projects often require collaboration and version control. Git Documentation is essential.

7. Continuous Learning and Practice: Stay updated with the latest Python releases and features. Follow Python.org and engage with projects on platforms like Github.

8. Join Python Communities: Participate in communities such as Stack Overflow or Reddit’s r/Python. They can provide support and insights into complex issues.

By concentrating on these areas, you can significantly improve your Python skills, making your role as an Infrastructure Analyst more effective and efficient.

How to Display Python Skills on Your Resume

6. Cisco Networking

Cisco Networking refers to the suite of hardware, software, and services offered by Cisco Systems, Inc. that facilitates the construction, management, and operation of interconnected networks. For an Infrastructure Analyst, it involves analyzing, designing, implementing, and troubleshooting network infrastructure solutions based on Cisco's technologies and products to ensure efficient and secure data communication within and between organizations.

Why It's Important

Cisco Networking is crucial for an Infrastructure Analyst because it provides the foundational technology and protocols for designing, implementing, and managing secure, scalable, and efficient network infrastructures, essential for supporting organizational IT operations and services.

How to Improve Cisco Networking Skills

Improving Cisco Networking involves enhancing the design, configuration, and management of network infrastructure for optimized performance and security. Here are concise steps tailored for an Infrastructure Analyst:

1. Stay Updated: Regularly update your knowledge on the latest Cisco technologies and protocols. Use the Cisco Learning Network for resources and updates.

2. Certification: Aim for advanced Cisco Certifications (e.g., CCNP, CCIE) to deepen your expertise.

3. Best Practices: Implement Cisco’s recommended network design best practices for robust and scalable networks.

4. Security Focus: Enhance network security by following guidelines on Cisco Security and keeping security firmware and protocols up to date.

5. Automation and Orchestration: Leverage tools like Cisco DNA Center for network automation, simplifying operations and reducing human errors.

6. Performance Monitoring: Use Cisco Network Assurance Engine for proactive network monitoring and optimization.

7. Engage with Community: Participate in forums like the Cisco Community to exchange knowledge and troubleshoot with peers.

8. Hands-on Practice: Utilize Cisco Packet Tracer or build a lab environment for hands-on practice and simulation.

Incorporating these steps will enhance your Cisco networking skills and contribute significantly to your role as an Infrastructure Analyst.

How to Display Cisco Networking Skills on Your Resume

7. Active Directory

Active Directory (AD) is a directory service developed by Microsoft for Windows domain networks. It provides centralized authentication, authorization, and management for users, computers, and resources within a network, enabling streamlined access control and policy administration.

Why It's Important

Active Directory (AD) is crucial for an Infrastructure Analyst as it centralizes and manages user accounts and resources within a network, ensuring security, access control, and efficient administration of IT environments.

How to Improve Active Directory Skills

Improving Active Directory (AD) involves optimizing its security, performance, and manageability. Here are concise strategies tailored for an Infrastructure Analyst:

1. Enhance Security: Implement Least Privilege Access and Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) to minimize risks. Microsoft's Guide on Secure Privileged Access offers detailed strategies.

2. Regular Auditing and Monitoring: Use tools like AD Audit Plus for real-time monitoring and reporting of AD changes to ensure compliance and detect anomalies early.

3. Optimize Performance: Regularly clean up outdated accounts and unnecessary groups. TechNet provides tips for maintaining an efficient AD environment.

4. Implement a Disaster Recovery Plan: Ensure you have a robust backup and recovery strategy. Microsoft's guidelines on AD backup and recovery are critical.

5. Automate Management Tasks: Leverage PowerShell scripts for routine AD tasks to increase efficiency. The Microsoft Script Center is a valuable resource.

6. Keep AD and Windows Updated: Regularly apply the latest patches and updates to protect against vulnerabilities. Windows Update for Business provides a streamlined approach.

7. Implement Advanced Features: Consider deploying Advanced Threat Analytics (ATA) or Azure AD for enhanced security features. Explore Azure AD capabilities for modern identity and access management solutions.

8. Educate Users: Provide training on phishing, password management, and security best practices to mitigate risks from the human element. The Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) offers valuable resources.

By focusing on these areas, an Infrastructure Analyst can significantly improve the security, performance, and manageability of Active Directory.

How to Display Active Directory Skills on Your Resume

8. Linux

Linux is an open-source, Unix-like operating system kernel used as the foundation for various distributions, providing essential functionality for managing hardware, running applications, and enabling user interactions, widely utilized in server and cloud infrastructures.

Why It's Important

Linux is a highly customizable, secure, and cost-effective operating system that supports a wide range of hardware and software. For an Infrastructure Analyst, its stability and scalability make it ideal for managing and deploying server environments, ensuring efficient and reliable infrastructure operations.

How to Improve Linux Skills

Improving Linux performance as an Infrastructure Analyst involves optimizing system resources, enhancing security, and ensuring system reliability. Here are concise strategies:

1. Kernel Tuning: Use tools like sysctl to adjust kernel parameters for better performance based on your specific workload. Kernel Documentation.

2. Performance Monitoring: Regularly monitor system performance using tools like htop, nmon, or sar. Identify bottlenecks in CPU, memory, or I/O operations. Performance Co-Pilot.

3. Security Hardening: Implement security best practices, including regular updates, using firewalls (ufw or iptables), and system auditing tools (like Lynis). Lynis Security Tool.

4. Network Optimization: Use ethtool for network interface cards (NICs) optimization and tcpdump for traffic analysis. Implement Quality of Service (QoS) using tc to prioritize network traffic. Advanced Networking.

5. File System Optimization: Choose the right file system (e.g., XFS for large files, ext4 for general use) and use tools like tune2fs for ext4 or xfs_admin for XFS to optimize them. Filesystem Comparison.

6. Automate & Script Tasks: Use scripting (bash, Python) and automation tools (Ansible, Puppet) to standardize deployments and configurations, reducing human error and improving efficiency. Ansible Documentation.

7. Backup and Recovery: Ensure a robust backup strategy using tools like rsync, Bacula, or Amanda. Regularly test recovery procedures. Amanda Network Backup.

8. Documentation: Maintain comprehensive documentation of your infrastructure, including configurations, custom scripts, and network topology. Use tools like DokuWiki or MediaWiki for easy access and updates. DokuWiki.

9. Stay Updated: Regularly review Linux distributions' and software vendors' release notes, security advisories, and update systems accordingly. Subscribe to relevant newsletters and RSS feeds for timely information.

10. Community Involvement: Engage with the Linux community through forums, mailing lists, and conferences. Share experiences, ask for advice, and stay informed about new technologies and best practices. Linux Foundation.

Each of these steps should be tailored to the specific needs and scale of your infrastructure, always prioritizing security, reliability, and performance optimization.

How to Display Linux Skills on Your Resume

9. Windows Server

Windows Server is a series of Microsoft operating systems designed to manage network resources, host web services, applications, and data storage, providing a platform for running enterprise-level networks, applications, and services.

Why It's Important

Windows Server is crucial for an Infrastructure Analyst as it provides a stable, scalable, and secure platform for deploying and managing network services, applications, and data storage, enabling efficient infrastructure administration and support for enterprise operations.

How to Improve Windows Server Skills

Improving Windows Server performance and security involves several key strategies tailored for an Infrastructure Analyst. Here's a concise guide:

1. Update Regularly: Ensure Windows Server is always updated to the latest version. Microsoft provides Update Management guide for streamlined processes.

2. Optimize Performance: Utilize Windows Server's built-in features like Performance Monitor and Resource Manager to analyze and optimize server performance. Microsoft's Performance Tuning Guidelines offer in-depth advice.

3. Configure Security Settings: Apply the principle of least privilege and configure user permissions carefully. Microsoft's Security Baselines help in securing the server environment.

4. Enable BitLocker: Encrypt data on your drives to protect against unauthorized access with BitLocker.

5. Regular Backups: Implement a robust backup strategy using Windows Server Backup or other tools. Reference the Backup and Restore documentation for setup and best practices.

6. Network Security: Enhance network security by configuring firewalls and isolating server roles. The Windows Defender Firewall with Advanced Security guide is a resourceful tool.

7. Use PowerShell: Automate tasks and configure server settings efficiently with PowerShell scripts. The PowerShell Documentation provides comprehensive insights.

8. Monitor Server Health: Regularly monitor server health and performance using Windows Admin Center or third-party tools. Explore the Windows Admin Center for insights into your servers' health.

9. Review and Audit Logs: Regularly review security and event logs to detect and mitigate issues early. The Event Viewer documentation explains how to use this feature effectively.

10. Stay Informed: Keep abreast of the latest Windows Server features, best practices, and security threats. The Windows Server Blog is a valuable resource for the latest news and insights.

Implementing these strategies will significantly improve the performance, security, and manageability of your Windows Server environment.

How to Display Windows Server Skills on Your Resume

10. Docker

Docker is a platform that enables developers to package applications into containers—standardized executable components combining application source code with the operating system (OS) libraries and dependencies required to run that code in any environment. For an Infrastructure Analyst, Docker simplifies deployment, scales systems easily, and ensures consistent operating environments, facilitating more efficient infrastructure management.

Why It's Important

Docker simplifies the deployment and management of applications by packaging them into containers. This ensures consistency across environments, improves scalability, and accelerates development cycles. For an Infrastructure Analyst, Docker facilitates efficient resource utilization, easier maintenance, and enhances infrastructure flexibility.

How to Improve Docker Skills

Improving Docker performance and efficiency involves optimizing various aspects of your containers and the host system. Here's a concise guide tailored for an Infrastructure Analyst:

1. Optimize Docker Images: Use smaller base images like Alpine Linux to reduce download time and disk space usage. Utilize multi-stage builds to minimize the final image size. Dockerfile best practices

2. Manage Resources: Limit CPU and memory resources per container to prevent any single application from monopolizing host resources. Resource constraints

3. Use Docker Compose: For multi-container applications, Docker Compose simplifies the management by using a YAML file to configure your application’s services. Docker Compose

4. Persistent Storage Optimization: Use volumes for data persistence to ensure data isn’t lost when a container is destroyed. Volumes are managed by Docker and can be more efficient than bind mounts. Manage data in Docker

5. Network Performance: Utilize Docker’s built-in network drivers optimally. For high-performance requirements, consider using the host network driver. Networking overview

6. Security Practices: Regularly scan your Docker images for vulnerabilities with tools like Docker Bench for Security or Clair. Implement Docker security best practices. Docker security

7. Continuous Monitoring and Logging: Implement monitoring solutions like Prometheus and Grafana for insight into container performance and resource usage. Use centralized logging for better debugging and monitoring. Docker and container monitoring

8. Regular Updates: Keep Docker and containerized applications up to date to benefit from performance improvements, security patches, and new features. Update Docker Engine

9. Docker Contexts: Use Docker contexts to efficiently manage multiple Docker environments and swarms, optimizing operations across different infrastructure. Docker Contexts

By focusing on these areas, an Infrastructure Analyst can significantly improve Docker performance, security, and manageability in their organization.

How to Display Docker Skills on Your Resume

11. Kubernetes

Kubernetes is an open-source platform designed to automate deploying, scaling, and operating application containers, enabling easy management of containerized applications across multiple hosts in a cluster. It provides the infrastructure to build a container-centric development environment.

Why It's Important

Kubernetes is crucial for an Infrastructure Analyst as it automates the deployment, scaling, and management of containerized applications, ensuring efficient and reliable infrastructure operations with improved resource utilization and reduced downtime.

How to Improve Kubernetes Skills

To improve Kubernetes from an Infrastructure Analyst perspective, focus on the following areas:

1. Cluster Monitoring and Management: Utilize tools like Prometheus for monitoring and Grafana for visualization. Implement Kubernetes Dashboard for a web-based UI management.

2. Security: Enhance security by applying RBAC (Role-Based Access Control), using Network Policies, and integrating security tools like Aqua Security or Sysdig Secure.

3. Performance Optimization: Use Horizontal Pod Autoscalers for dynamic scaling. Optimize resource usage with Vertical Pod Autoscalers and Kubernetes Resource Quotas.

4. Networking: Implement robust networking solutions like Calico for network policies and Istio for service mesh to enhance service discovery, load balancing, and secure communication.

5. Storage Management: Leverage dynamic provisioning with Persistent Volumes and StorageClasses, and consider using Rook for cloud-native storage orchestration.

6. Automation and CI/CD: Integrate Kubernetes with CI/CD pipelines using Jenkins or GitLab CI for automated deployment and management.

7. Documentation and Best Practices: Regularly consult the Kubernetes Official Documentation and follow the Kubernetes Best Practices for up-to-date guidance and strategies.

By focusing on these areas, you can significantly improve the efficiency, security, and manageability of your Kubernetes infrastructure.

How to Display Kubernetes Skills on Your Resume

12. SQL

SQL (Structured Query Language) is a standardized programming language used for managing and manipulating relational databases, essential for database administration, querying data, and managing database structures in an IT infrastructure.

Why It's Important

SQL is important for an Infrastructure Analyst because it enables efficient data retrieval, management, and analysis from databases, which is crucial for maintaining, optimizing, and securing an organization's data infrastructure.

How to Improve SQL Skills

To improve your SQL skills as an Infrastructure Analyst, focus on understanding database architecture, optimizing queries, and leveraging advanced SQL functions. Here's a concise guide:

1. Grasp Database Fundamentals: Understand how databases work, their architectures (relational vs. non-relational), and indexing mechanisms. This foundational knowledge will enhance your ability to write efficient queries and manage databases effectively.

2. Master SQL Syntax: Focus on mastering the syntax for creating, querying, updating, and deleting data. Practice complex queries involving joins, subqueries, and unions.

3. Learn Query Optimization: Study how to optimize SQL queries for performance. Learn about execution plans, indexing strategies, and query refactoring for efficiency.

4. Understand Transaction Management: Gain knowledge about transactions, isolation levels, and locking mechanisms to manage data integrity and concurrency.

5. Explore Advanced Features: Dive into stored procedures, triggers, and user-defined functions to automate and streamline database operations.

6. Practice Regularly: Apply your skills on real-world datasets or through platforms that offer SQL challenges.

7. Stay Updated: SQL and database technologies evolve. Follow blogs, participate in forums, and attend webinars or workshops to stay current.

Resources:

• SQL Syntax and Basics: W3Schools SQL Tutorial
• Query Optimization: Use The Index, Luke
• Transaction Management: SQL Server Transaction Management
• Advanced SQL Features: PostgreSQL Documentation
• Practice Platforms: HackerRank SQL Practice

By following these steps and utilizing the resources provided, you can significantly improve your SQL skills and enhance your effectiveness as an Infrastructure Analyst.

How to Display SQL Skills on Your Resume