Throughout the past few months, I have had the opportunity of working as an intern for Compuquip’s Network Operations Center (or the NOC Services, as it’s better known). I started off working on very simple repetitive tasks, and proceeded in taking on more challenging responsibilities. I was trained to use Kaseya, Compuquip’s remote management and monitoring software. Through Kaseya, I had been reviewing simple configurations to make sure the Anti-Viruses (AV) and Windows Updates run smoothly. During this Proactive Maintenance, I look for machines missing an AV and install one if needed and will then check scan schedules to make sure they are current with client specifications. Then I look for machines missing approved patches or patch configurations, such as patch scans and automatic update schedules, and remediate any discrepancies.
Once I became comfortable with Kaseya, I undertook another project that Compuquip has been implementing: AV conversions for all clients. We had been in the process of migrating to Kaspersky Anti-Virus, a more developed and secure AV solution. Sometimes this involved clicking on two icons. Other times, I was not so lucky and would have to remote into a user’s machine after working hours in order to manually uninstall a 3rd party AV or spend a few hours trying to figure out why an installation kept failing. This would have never been possible during business hours. It is at this point that I discovered and began agreeing with Eric Dosal, Compuquip’s COO, that often times one can get more work done after hours and out-of-office.
Soon, I began taking more tickets and helping my colleagues at various client sites when needed. I would quickly jump at the opportunity to get away from the computer screen. Eric also got it right when he stated, “they don’t want to be chained to their desk 8 to 10 hours a day; they want to make a difference,” in regards to the generation entering the workforce today (see blog linked above). I have aided in the setup of new workstations, removed servers that were no longer in use, delivered and installed repaired workstations, and set up computers for a weekend training session.
Now, I must be honest, I had moments where I did not know how to fix some of the issues I have been asked to resolve while onsite. As an “IT guy”, I am supposed to “know everything about computers”, but that is far from the truth. Luckily, my co-workers were more than willing (and patient) to walk me through the various troubleshooting steps I needed. The best part about all this was that I was able to interact with clients and with end-users. I believe that these customer interactions have given me valuable skills that cannot be learned at school, but rather through first-hand experiences, such as learning to maintain a professional composure while fixing and consoling customers’ IT frustrations.
As my internship nears its end, I begin to realize that while the technical expertise I have gained while working for Compuquip has been extensive, it does not match the “real world experiences” I will take with me as I finish up my next three years at the University of Miami and enter the workforce. At Compuquip, I have been able to attend an Info Share session, taken part in weekly internal meetings, seen how Eric projects himself and the company, and simply experienced the day-to-day of an office environment for the first time.
Finally, I would like to thank Danny Arcelo, Ariel Sanchez, Louis Vargas, Hector Alcantara and Jorge Azcuy for all they have taught me and for all the times their patience has been tested while training and helping me perform my duties here at Compuquip, while making it very enjoyable at the same time. I would welcome this opportunity again next summer.
