Understanding IT Infrastructure

What Is IT Infrastructure? 

Infrastructure is the foundation that holds a system or organization together. Information technology infrastructure, or IT infrastructure, is a set of physical and virtual resources that are used to store, process and analyze data. These resources can be found within a specific data center, but they could also be decentralized and found across different data centers that an organization has access to (like the cloud). 

In today’s world, technology powers pretty much every aspect of our lives, and business is no exception. From individual work to high-level operations to the selling of goods and services, technology can be used and improved to help streamline communications, heighten efficiency and increase productivity. 

Some of the benefits your company can reap from an IT infrastructure include being able to provide your customers with an enhanced experience online thanks to uninterrupted access to information and services, collecting data in real time when you need to make quick decisions, and improving security and productivity in general. Essentially, making sure that your company has a solid infrastructure that’s properly implemented can make or break your business. 

IT Infrastructure Components

Let’s take a look at some of the basic components of IT infrastructure. The two main groups of components are hardware and software, and these include different elements. 

• Hardware elements can include things like desktop computers, routers, servers, data centers, etc. Hardware contains software, which in turn includes components like content management systems (CMS), customer relationship management (CRM), operating systems, web servers, etc. 

• Facilities or physical spaces provide room for housing physical hardware, servers and data centers, and they also include the actual cabling in buildings that are used to keep components of an IT infrastructure connected. 

• Networks include switches, routers, hubs and servers. Switches are used to connect devices on local area networks (LAN) like routers, servers and other switches, Routers, in turn, let devices connected to different LANs to communicate and transfer data between networks. Hubs keep multiple devices connected and help them act as a single component. 

• Servers are basically computers that let different users access and share resources. It’s one of the main components needed for an IT infrastructure. 

• Server rooms or data centers are at the core of most networks because organizations typically house multiple servers and need areas to store them in. 

Infrastructure typically includes all of the elements needed to support data center hardware and software usage. Like we saw above, this IT infrastructure usually includes multiple components. Another thing that’s important to keep in mind is that a data center infrastructure generally requires security. This could be physical security for the actual building or buildings (like electronic key entries, video and/or human surveillance of the facilities, controlled access to certain areas, etc.) or virtual security measures to avoid breaches like data theft. 

Beyond the physical data center, the internet infrastructure includes things like fiber optic cables, satellites, and general network components that control transmission. These are managed by ISPs or internet service providers, and when an enterprise uses an ISP to access the internet it usually ties back into the data center infrastructure within a specific space that’s generally regulated by at least some of the security measures we mentioned. 

One thing that’s changing the game when it comes to infrastructure is cloud computing. Data centers are typically business-owned and private, and traditional IT infrastructure includes the hardware and software components we outlined above. Cloud computing, though, lets companies access a cloud’s data center infrastructure and services for a fee, which lets users access these resources remotely via the internet. Plus, the cloud’s infrastructure can be adjusted as needed. Cloud infrastructure, as opposed to traditional infrastructure, is generally public which is why it’s often referred to as a public cloud.

The Benefits of Using IT Infrastructure

If properly set up, implemented and regulated, an optimal IT infrastructure will provide your business with high-performance storage, a speedy network, top-notch security, an enhanced wide area network (WAN), virtualization and no downtime at all. What does this mean for your company? Let’s take a look: 

• High-performance storage systems back up data and include recovery systems in case anything goes awry

• Low-latency networks reduce delays in data flows and keep your business running smoothly

• Secure systems control access to information and limit data availability, keeping an organization safe against data breaches or cyberattacks. 

• WANs are useful because they help prioritize traffic based on needs and distribute bandwidth accordingly. 

• Virtualization speeds up server provisioning, increases uptime, keeps recovery times fast and also saves energy. 

Zero downtime refers to the reduction in business operations disruptions. It keeps system downtime at zero, reducing costs and keeping profits high.

Managing Your IT Infrastructure

Managing an IT infrastructure properly is important because it leads to more efficiency, allows admins to make the most of their resources and helps them understand how to deal with issues if they arise. 

There are different types of infrastructure management. Building management systems (BMS), for example, include tools for reporting on data center parameters like power usage and efficiency, temperatures and security factors. Systems management includes the tool sets used to configure and manage servers, storage and network devices. These management tools are being used more frequently for remote data centers but also for private and public cloud resources. 

Implementing, optimizing and maintaining a proper IT infrastructure is key to keeping your business running smoothly. If you are not sure how to do this or your team doesn’t have the proper resources, Avalith’s team of experts can cover anything you need.

There are several factors you should keep in mind when implementing your IT infrastructure, from components to management. However, one thing is certain: the benefits of a properly implemented and regulated system —from optimizing efficiency to tightening security— could be game-changing for your enterprise.