Small Town Sysadmin
Free CJIS checklist

Learn IT

New to IT? Start here.

Whether you're thinking about a career in IT or you just want to understand the tech in your own house, this is a plain-English path through the basics. Each step builds on the one before it, and every lesson is fact-checked and kept current.

Start with step 1See the whole path

10 lessons · about 80 minutes of reading · free, no sign-up

A small town skyline with a grain elevator, courthouse, and water tower beside a country roadSTSPop. 1

The path

Go in order if you're brand new, or jump to whatever you need.

Foundations

How the machines work, and how to fix them when they don’t.

  1. How computers actually workThe handful of parts inside every computer, what each one does, and what really happens between pressing the power button and seeing your desktop.Step 1 · 7 min read
  2. Operating systems and the command lineWhat Windows, macOS and Linux actually do, the differences that matter for IT, and why the command line is less scary (and more useful) than it looks.Step 2 · 8 min read

Networking

How devices find and talk to each other, from your house to the internet.

  1. Networking basics: how devices find each otherIP addresses, DNS, DHCP, routers, switches and ports, explained in plain English, plus what actually happens when you type a web address.Step 3 · 9 min read
  2. Your home network, done rightThe router settings that actually matter: passwords, Wi-Fi security, updates, guest networks and the features worth turning off. A practical checklist for any home.Step 4 · 8 min read

Security

The handful of habits that stop most real-world attacks.

  1. Security fundamentals that actually matterPassword managers, two-step sign-in, updates, backups and spotting scams: the five habits that stop most real-world attacks, at home and at work.Step 5 · 8 min read

Hands-on

Troubleshoot like a pro, practice safely, and automate the boring parts.

  1. How to troubleshoot anythingThe method, not the fixes: how experienced techs narrow down any problem, from a printer that won't print to a server that won't start. The most valuable skill in IT.Step 6 · 8 min read
  2. Build a home lab (for free, or nearly)Why a home lab is the fastest way to learn IT, what you actually need, and free software to run real servers, networks and test environments on hardware you already own.Step 7 · 8 min read
  3. Scripting basics: automate the boring stuffWhy every IT pro should script, how PowerShell and bash work, and your first useful scripts, explained for people who have never written code.Step 8 · 9 min read

Cloud

What “the cloud” actually is, and the services most offices run on.

  1. The cloud and Microsoft 365, explained simplyWhat "the cloud" really means, the difference between IaaS, PaaS and SaaS, and a tour of Microsoft 365 and Entra ID, the services most offices run on.Step 9 · 8 min read

Career

Turning what you’ve learned into a job.

  1. Breaking into IT: from beginner to your first jobWhat entry-level IT jobs actually look like, which certifications are worth it, how to get experience without experience, and what hiring managers really want to see.Step 10 · 9 min read

Already working in IT?

The rest of the site goes deeper: Active Directory, networks, phone systems, audits, security alerts and real-world field notes.

Browse all topics

Free printable

“We got hacked, now what?” one-page wall sheet

The first steps to take, what not to do, and who to call, on one page you can tape up by the office computer. Enter your email, click the link in the confirmation email, and the download is right there. You'll also get new plain-English guides and scam alerts. No spam, and you can unsubscribe anytime.