New gig!  I.T. Manager

davemartinez · 2015-03-20T07:55:58.000Z

Hi guys,

So i figured why not hit y’all up and see what you think. I’m starting a new job tomorrow taking over as the IT manager for a small electrical parts distribution company. They have about 20 users. The business seems geared towards sales as which most distributors do I assume.

They weren’t able to tell me very much about the current infrastructure since the current IT doesn’t know tomorrow is his last day (F’rig, I really hope you’re not reading this).

It’s a Windows shop, should be 2008. I believe they are or are wanting to have Exchange on prem but are totally open to going hosted which was my suggestion. They need an inventory management software installed and deployed (Fishbowl Inventory) which I posted a question regarding that here:

http://community.spiceworks.com/topic/850783-fishbowl-inventory-software-first-time-deployment

They have a SonicWall vpn that needs to be installed (Couldn’t tell me what kind at all). And they need a wireless system.

It’s a small company with lots of inventory, maybe thirty to forty thousand items.

Otherwise it looks like most everything else will be pretty much by the numbers. File server, printer server, AV, servers for the inventory software, backup, DR, etc.

Oh! And of course get SpiceWorks installed, whoot whoot - what what!!

I’ll be the only IT person with the assistance of an MSP but i’ll be boots on the ground and working on the VPN and software deployment right away. But my basic plan for the first couple of days is take an inventory of physical equipment throughout the company including all servers, workstations and peripherals. Start documentation on EVERYTHING. Get a layout of the network. Get an understanding of what network security is in place, aduc, dc’s, dhcp and reconfigure administrator account for myself. That’s a good start, eh?

I’m pretty excited since i’ll be on my own once again but this time i’ll have the budget to stay current with the tech and also get the best tech out there to help the sales and all other departments. I humbly and gladly appreciate any advice or information you can give.

Thank you,

DTM

maxsec · 2015-03-20T08:36:15.000Z

Good luck

As you say, start with the SANS top 2

Know what you have
Know whats running on what you have

anbd work out from there

eddievboxtel7733 · 2015-03-20T09:08:18.000Z

Good luck!

jason6087 · 2015-03-20T11:16:18.000Z

Congrats.

Curious if the MSP (think you’re saying Managed Service Provider) is new. If they’ve been around, do they have docs on the place? Why not if not? You’d think the company and MSP would be smart enough to work with the current person to get things sorted before they fire them. Unless he really f’ed up that’s kinda dirty and just a really poor decision from an operational stand point. Much better to part on good terms so there is continuity and the ability for current staff to reference back. Also has to make you wonder if they’d do the same to you.

Anyway, I think you’re on track. Only thing I’d add should be obvious, you’ve got a potentially hostile/angry former admin, so step 1, change the passwords! Then I’d run nmap, scan all the devices, chase down anything odd, start the docs but maybe keep em to myself until I felt comfortable with the people in charge.

Good luck

Mike400 · 2015-03-20T12:26:44.000Z

Congrats. I started my new job back in January and there is a lot to do in a new job. I’m still looking for an inventory management system other than Spiceworks.

georgejurcan · 2015-03-20T14:31:08.000Z

Not to be the Debbie Downer here but a better title for you would have been Sys Admin…IT Manager implies your a department head with reports…

matt-quorum · 2015-03-20T14:34:47.000Z

Congratulations! Best of luck with your new gig. I hope you enjoy it!

trentonchance · 2015-03-20T15:52:38.000Z

Good luck and enjoy!

mink · 2015-03-20T17:23:45.000Z

Congrats!!

davemartinez · 2015-03-20T20:23:32.000Z

Thank you so much everyone for the well wishes!

So things ended on good terms with the other IT manager so shouldn’t be too bad. I’m here now just to get an overview of things. They said the other IT manager will get them a list of all passwords and what not by Monday. So for now i’m just looking things over and starting my documentation.

The MSP i’m going to use is my MSP i’ve been using for years but they’ve never worked with this company so they don’t have any documentation on nmaps.

Thanks again!!!