What Is IT Infrastructure And What Are Its Components?

Every company, even a small one, has an IT infrastructure – software, hardware, and networking components for managing the IT environment. Choosing the right IT infrastructure architecture for your project involves analyzing business processes, evaluating existing IT market offerings, considering the operation and maintenance of the necessary technical resources, and correlating these with financial options.

IT infrastructure is the key to business success, revenue generation, and the productivity of your organization. Therefore, the system must be reliable, robust, and secure. 

What are the components of IT infrastructure?

Hardware

Hardware includes all equipment and physical elements that support its operation, as well as a dedicated space for its maintenance:

• servers;
• workstations (computers, printers, scanners); 
• routers;
• power and cooling elements;
• structured cabling systems;
• corporate data centers.

Software

This component includes all the services and applications that a company uses for its operation, for the provision of services to customers, and for the operation of hardware. The software components of the IT infrastructure include:

• web servers;
• operating systems;
• anti-virus software;
• accounting and management software (1C, CMS, ERP, CRM, WMS);
• software for hardware operation and management (operating systems, virtualization systems, remote desktop).

Engineering infrastructure

Systems required for the synchronized operation of all elements in offices, production facilities, and other locations:

• switches;
• hubs;
• routers;
• web servers;
• firewalls;
• proxy servers.

Also, this category includes components that ensure a secure connection to the Internet for preventing viruses, DDoS attacks, etc. 

Types of IT infrastructure

There are two types of IT infrastructure – on-premise, and cloud. 

The traditional infrastructure consists of hardware and software components: computers, servers, data centers, routers, switches, and various kinds of software. It is usually located directly in the company office. An in-house or outsourced system administrator is responsible for configuration and administration. Typically, setting up such infrastructure requires more resources, physical space, and costs compared to other types of infrastructure.

Cloud IT infrastructure means that end users can access the infrastructure via the Internet and use computing resources without installing local components. Virtualization technology connects physical servers regardless of their geographical location. This enables users to access data from anywhere.

With cloud infrastructure (IaaS), customers can instantly turn up the services they need and disconnect those that are no longer required. The capital cost of purchasing and maintaining the equipment is borne by the provider. In this way, you only pay for the capacity needed to run your IT system.

Cloud providers' resources are housed in secure data centers with advanced security. The IT specialists are constantly checking systems for vulnerabilities and ensuring strong information security. Therefore, the cloud is a good choice for companies that cannot afford to hire professional IT staff and install expensive hardware and software.

IT infrastructure requirements

The task of creating an efficient IT infrastructure is essential for every company, irrespective of its size or the specifics of business processes. Ninety percent of the processes are performed using a computer or device under the control of computer technology. Therefore, IT infrastructure needs to be built and maintained to meet the following requirements:

Optimality – matching the size and objectives of the organization, with no missing or redundant elements.

Scalability – that is, the ability to grow and change the organization without rebuilding the information System from scratch. Since business changes dynamically, the ability to adapt the IT infrastructure should also be quickly, and adding or changing functionality should be smooth and painless for both the business and the people involved.

Reliability – achieved through high-quality components, proper configuration, and efficient maintenance. Reliability is ensured by backup systems, uninterruptible power supply, and redundant communication channels.

Security – confidentiality of organizational information is ensured through special software and equipment. 

Availability – the ability to access information and services (e-mail, network printer, remote access to information) from any location.

Thus, not only does an organization’s IT infrastructure consist of a large number of components, but also requires a systematic approach to management. Whoever is responsible for the IT infrastructure (an in-house system administrator, cloud provider, or an outsourced company) takes responsibility for managing all of its components and maintaining overall uptime.

Cloud server is suitable for all organizations – educational, government, entrepreneurial, and others. Their use increases the flexibility, speed, and efficiency and hence the competitiveness of any business.