Nite Team 4 Network Administrator

[Sandra Grady]

NITETeam 4 is a hacking simulation and strategy game with Alternate Reality Game elements connected to The Black Watchmen universe. You play as a new recruit in the sophisticated hacking cell, Network Intelligence & Technical Evaluation (NITE) Team 4. Engaged in cyberwarfare with black hat groups and hostile states, you will be in a struggle to penetrate highly secure targets. Your job is to use the STINGER hacking platform to infiltrate hardened computer networks and coordinate strike teams on the ground to carry out missions that feature real espionage tradecraft terminology taken from leaked NSA documents.

Players will use system commands in a specially built hacking environment based off real military and industry tools to perform offensive computer operations. Participate in operations that combine tactical hacking with coordinating strike teams on the ground to accomplish field activities including facility raids, surveillance, targeted assassinations and drone strikes. Complete daily Bounties and Open World missions based on real world scenarios for in-game rewards, as well as user-created Hivemind networks for additional content! NITE Team 4 delivers a compelling hacking simulation experience that integrates realistic mission objectives with Alternate Reality Game components including in-universe websites and online research.

The STINGER hacking platform is inspired by actual platforms like Kali Linux. It allows players to control sophisticated modules and use custom intrusion tools to deliver an authentic hacking experience.

From Advanced Persistent Threats to covert malware projects that destroy critical infrastructure, NITE Team 4 is inspired by the real world of cyberwarfare and includes optional Alternate Reality Game elements that enhance the immersion of the universe.

During research for our Alternate Reality Game The Black Watchmen, our development team frequently came across stories related to the world of government hacking groups and intelligence analysis. We realized the world of specialized military hacking units has yet to be fully explored in video games.

Alice & Smith wants to do this important topic justice. Our development team has been making engaging games for over 7 years. We focus on innovative content rooted in the real world to transport our players to an alternate reality. Our games have brought players from over 129 countries together to spend more than 320,000 hours working to solve complex puzzles, research online and perform complex spycraft missions. Alice & Smith seeks to apply all this experience to the world of cyberwarfare in NITE Team 4.

It was within the cold, white walls of the data center, hearing the humming sounds coming from the server cages, with the thick legacy Unix manuals lined up neatly in one of the control rooms, and in the distance, the sysadmins at their workstations working in shifts 24x7. This is how I vividly remember starting as a Linux sysadmin a good 15 years ago.

Yes! I was one of those in hooded jackets, sitting quietly at a desktop workstation with a vendor-proprietary Unix manual on one side and coffee on the other. Quiet nights at work are very conducive for studying shell scripting when all the systems are behaving as they should and there are no changes or activities to implement during your shift. This is how it all began for me.

Many of us ended up in an IT job without that original intent. I studied and got my degree and license in electronics and communications engineering, entered the telecom industry as a cadet engineer, and rotated to different teams. On the intelligent networks team, I was introduced to telco charging and billing apps running on proprietary Unix operating systems.

Many people starting their careers would probably wonder if is it worth shifting to the IT industry. They might think they're wasting some of the expertise and credentials they picked up from their academic studies. I'd say it depends on what drives you.

Back in the day, as a neophyte sysadmin in operations, I worked on mundane and repetitive tasks. In a work shift, there are routines and checklists to follow to ensure the systems are working correctly and in a good state. Most of them are manual, time-consuming, and tedious. I'd say it's what you make of the challenges in front of you that helps shape your direction in your career.

Instead of doing the same old things over and over, I started writing individual scripts to handle them with the support and collaboration of my teammates and seniors. These small automation steps become more valuable as they're assembled into a consolidated terminal user interface, adding logic, error protection, and event notifications.

While developing these simple forms of automation, I also learned more complex Unix commands, techniques, and a deeper knowledge of the systems I manage. These are win-win situations for my team and me. Things become more efficient and less stressful for those who need to run these tasks on a busy work shift with high-severity incidents and pressure on their shoulders. We learn to collaborate and develop deeper working relationships.

Nowadays, the IT landscape has evolved, and there are no shortage of innovative tools available for us to be better sysadmins. Major open source projects and communities are freely accessible for everyone to try, use, and scale to the enterprise level. These help our organizations improve operational efficiency and help us improve our personal lives and advance our IT careers.

Even for those wanting to shift jobs or fields, there are many free sysadmin learning opportunities, formal courses, and certifications that you can invest your time in. I know many people who successfully entered the IT industry and are now enjoying the perks and privileges of being sysadmins and beyond. We shared our real-life experiences and insights on a free eBook for sysadmins, Tales from the field: A system administrator's guide to IT automation. I highly recommend that you have a read to help inspire you with real-life stories from the ground and learn how you can advance your skills and career with automation.

The opinions expressed on this website are those of each author, not of the author's employer or of Red Hat. The content published on this site are community contributions and are for informational purpose only AND ARE NOT, AND ARE NOT INTENDED TO BE, RED HAT DOCUMENTATION, SUPPORT, OR ADVICE.

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Network and computer systems administrators work for a variety of organizations, including computer systems design firms, schools, and financial institutions. Most work full time, and some work more than 40 hours per week. Administrators may work evenings, nights, and weekends to monitor, maintain, or update networks and systems.

About 19,800 openings for network and computer systems administrators are projected each year, on average, over the decade. Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.

Network and computer systems administrators are employed by a variety of organizations and work in a variety of settings. In addition to those shown in the table, top employers also include manufacturing industries, healthcare providers, and government agencies.

Network and computer systems administrators often collaborate with many types of information technology (IT) workers, such as computer support specialists, database administrators, computer network architects, and computer and information systems managers.

Most network and computer systems administrators work full time, and some work more than 40 hours per week. Administrators may need to work evenings, nights, or weekends to monitor, maintain, or update networks and systems.

Some employers require a postsecondary certificate or an associate's degree. However, network and computer systems administrators typically need a bachelor's degree in computer and information technology or a related field, such as engineering. These programs usually include courses in computer programming, networking, and systems design.

Network and computer systems administrators need to keep up with developments in the constantly changing field of information technology (IT). They may continue to take courses throughout their careers and attend IT conferences to keep up with the latest technology.

Employers may require their network and computer systems administrators to be certified in the products they use. Certification programs usually are offered directly from vendors or from vendor-neutral certification providers. Certification validates the knowledge and the use of best practices that are required of network and computer systems administrators.

Demand for network and computer systems administrators should continue, along with firms' investment in newer, faster technology and mobile networks. The continued expansion of cloud computing and the demand for upgraded computer equipment and software will support a need for network and computer systems administrators to maintain these systems.

The Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program produces employment and wage estimates annually for over 800 occupations. These estimates are available for the nation as a whole, for individual states, and for metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas. The link(s) below go to OEWS data maps for employment and wages by state and area.

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