What kind of environment do I work in? NOC? MSP?

endlessapps

I've been applying to jobs and they ask if I work in a NOC or MSP and I never know how to answer because its never been defined. I work for a used cisco hardware reseller.

My current role I'm the "Network Admin/Engineer" in a SMB with 125 users spread over 2 sites. I designed and implemented the network core cisco routers/switches/wlc/cucm a year ago and now I just provide support/maintain/upgrade the infrastructure. I also provide design/config assistance to any customers who purchase hardware through us. I set up the network/voip/wireless in a community center to support up to 100 users and I monitor and support there network I'm their "MSP".

I also provide I'm the only I.T. resource here I work in a freezing room where all the hardware is. I monitor the network hardware/bw on PRTG use Solwarinds helpdesk to priortize employee issues.

I'm looking for work since I feel like the funs over and I"m just babysitting these networks. I'm in the process of applying for jobs and the recruiters ask do I work in a MSP or NOC environment and I never know how to answer that question. From the information that I gave what does it sound like I work in? Please don't say "you work there you should know", because this is the only I.t. job i worked at so I'm not sure how operations are in other places.

Ideally I would like my company to venture off to the direction of becoming a MSP overtime but thats not a direction that they want to take so I have to keep it moving.

Sorry for the long post but thanks for reading!

TheFORCE

You work in an MSP but you should tell recruiters that were you work should not really matter. It's your hob functions that matter. You have been maintaining an entire network from its design stages and doing infrastructure network engineering type work all in one as you are the sole IT personnel.

techfiend

It seems to me like you are a network engineer for an SMB that happens to be an MSP. If you aren't dealing with multiple environments regularly I don't see how it can be MSP work. I'd present it as a network engineer for an IT SMB. If they ask in what field then explain it's an MSP but you only handle their LAN. It's not necessarily a negative, a lot of MSP's I've seen are looking for sonicwall/watchguard + unmanaged switch experience. I think most MSP's have the knowledge to design their own LAN as a managed redundant network.

I've noticed companies that don't have much IT knowledge (MSP customers) want to have the cheapest solution that works hence the unmanaged switches and UTM's. If they are aware of the unusual risk, there's nothing wrong with it from a business perspective although it doesn't do us IT professionals much good.

endlessapps

Thanks guys for replying this far.

-Techfiend, To expand on the community center. I have a S2S vpn to our main site sending SNMP traffic and I added their devices to PRTG. Since we sell used cisco hardware we get and give great pricing. So within their budget I set up a 4500e chassis, 2960poe switches, WLC, 10 AP'S, 2800 router/cme and cue running over sip trunks and a ASA firewall.

-TheForce, thats some good wording you've mentioned sounds firm and to the point. I think I have to word what i say better because after the recruiters ask if I work in a MSP or NOC, I respond I don't work in either I explain my responsibilities and they say " Oh Ok..". I'm starting to think that none of them know anything about I.T. that they just look for what I say and match it up to whats on the clients requirements.

Dealing with recruiters drives me nuts and makes it difficult since my company size is not considered a "Enterprise", even though we have enterprise level technology defines our network. I've got plenty of replies saying "sorry my client is looking for someone who worked in an enterprise setting with over 1000 users".

TheFORCE

Even though the users you are supporting are not within your own company, you can say something like

"i support an environment with the following technologies (give examples as you stated above) and the environment consists of xxxx number of users in various geographical locations. I'm on call these many days and also responsible for BCP/DRP functions that fall under IT responsibilities."
You don't have to explain to them who your clients are or what an MSP is, if you have 2 clients and each have 1000 users, just say you support 2000 users as described above since they really don't have their own IT and you manage their network then you are their IT.

endlessapps

-Theforce, what are the acronyms for BCP/DRP?

TheFORCE

endlessapps wrote: »

-Theforce, what are the acronyms for BCP/DRP?

Businesses continuity planning / disaster recovery planning. Look up their definition and you will find that you probably are already doing some of the functions required to support bcp/drp

endlessapps

Ah ok thanks!

Anyone else can add there two cents? I always like getting multiple perspectives.