While both roles are part of an organization's IT department, a sys admin and a system analyst perform different functions. A sys admin's primary responsibility is maintaining, upgrading, and troubleshooting an organization's IT systems. On the other hand, a system analyst acts as a bridge between business needs and technology. They analyze business processes and design information systems solutions to help the organization operate more efficiently and effectively. Therefore, the sys admin role is more technical and operation-focused, while the system analyst role leans more towards business analysis and solution design. Both roles, however, require a solid understanding of technology and problem-solving skills.