Service desk analysts are information professionals who help users resolve their issues with computer hardware and software. By responding to user inquiries, they assess problems and issues with IT equipment and applications and help provide the most accessible solutions to resolve user issues. They work closely with other IT department personnel and assist with tasks outside the scope of their knowledge and expertise.
Service desk analysts ask questions to determine the full scope of the user’s issue; whenever possible, they directly resolve technical issues as they arrive. If they cannot resolve the issue independently or with the end-user, they escalate a request to a higher-level IT support specialist. They document inquiries and provide supervisors or specialists with notes regarding the problem, steps they have taken, and their diagnosis of the user’s problem. They maintain detailed records of user issues with software and hardware, which helps diagnose and repair more complex cases and provide IT departments with data regarding recurring issues and problems. Service desk analysts need at least an associate's degree in computer science or information systems.