You may have heard about information technology infrastructure, especially the importance of infrastructure security. But what does it all really mean?
Most organisations and business operations rely on IT infrastructure to deliver IT solutions and services to their customers and partners. Due to its various functions, it can be optimized to:
- improve communication
- create efficiencies in workflow
- increase productivity
- collect real-time data to make quick decisions
- and more!
Keep on reading to find out why IT infrastructure plays such a vital role in today’s digital world!
Key Components in IT Infrastructure Management
Typically, IT infrastructure refers to network, hardware and software and network. These 3 components of IT infrastructure need to interconnect for managing system resources efficiently.
Hardware
This is the physical part of IT infrastructure, and it refers to the physical resources required to keep the software applications and devices running.
Hardware components include:
- Desktop computers
- Cloud servers
- Data centres
- Hubs
- Routers
- Switches
Software
Software refers to all the applications used for internal purposes and to provide its services to customers.
Software components include:
- enterprise resource planning (ERP)
- customer relationship management (CRM)
- productivity applications such as content management systems
- operating system (OS)
The operating system (OS) is the most important software in IT infrastructure as it’s in charge of managing the hardware and connecting it to the network infrastructure.
Network
The network part includes both hardware and software elements to ensure network enablement, internet connectivity, firewall and cybersecurity.
Networking components usually include:
- web servers
- data centers
- hubs
- routers
- switches
Types of IT Infrastructure
Traditional IT Infrastructure
In traditional IT infrastructure, the components such as data centers, data storage, and other equipment, are all controlled and owned by the company in its own building.
However, traditional IT infrastructure is generally viewed to be costly to maintain since it necessitates a considerable amount of power and physical space for equipment.
Furthermore, to scale up data storage and services to handle more users, businesses employing this IT infrastructure must purchase new gear and upgrades. Traditional IT infrastructure also requires mandatory software upgrades to guarantee fail-safe procedures are in place in the event of a hardware failure.
You would also need an in-house IT department to ensure that your IT infrastructure is properly implemented and can deliver services as intended.
That said, traditional infrastructure is one of the most secure ways to host data. They allow you to keep complete control of your company’s business processes and prevents data theft.
Cloud Computing Infrastructure
Cloud infrastructure describes the components and resources needed for cloud computing. Unlike traditional infrastructure, all servers, software, and networks are hosted in the cloud, rather than being accessible via physical hardware.
Infrastructure management can be accessed by end-users via the internet. Cloud infrastructure provides you with the ability to use IT resources remotely through virtualization.
It’s a real-time virtual environment shared by multiple servers at the same time. Instead of spending money on actual servers, you can rent data storage space from cloud computing companies on a pay-per-use basis.
Choosing the Right IT Infrastructure
IT infrastructure configurations differ depending on the demands and goals of your company, although some objectives are universal. For example, business high-performance storage, low-latency network, security, efficient wide area network (WAN), virtualization, and zero downtime should all be part of an ideal infrastructure.
Let’s compare the IT infrastructure types so you can make a better decision.
| Traditional Infrastructure | Cloud infrastructure | |
|---|---|---|
| IT infrastructure | You are in charge of procuring all the IT infrastructure components required | Data is hosted on third-party infrastructure components owned by an external service provider. |
| Security | Only authorised users can access data. the protection and security of your information are down to you and your team to manage. | Data can be accessed anywhere at any time by multiple users. Anyone with access to the server can view and use the stored data and applications in the public cloud |
| Accessibility | You need a dedicated IT team to ensure that your owned facilities meet operational requirements | Anyone can use cloud infrastructure as long as you have personal computers and internet connectivity |
| Connectivity | It does not require any internet connection | It requires a fast, reliable and stable internet connection to access network services and your data. |
| Cost | You have to constantly upgrade your equipment to operate and maintain the physical servers | It provides more storage space, servers and computing power so that applications and software run must faster and effectively. |
| Scalability | It does not provide any scalability or flexibility. | You can increase or decrease storage capacity, server resources, etc., according to business needs. |
| Disaster recovery | Your team needs to regularly install security updates and ensure backup and recovery systems are in place. | There are multiple measures in place that manage data recovery quickly and efficiently. |
The Bottom Line
If you’re just starting out, it may be better to opt for cloud-based IT infrastructure to offset costs.
However, if you can afford it, we definitely recommend going the way of traditional IT infrastructure. It’s a dedicated system that’s customised to your businesses, and it’s especially recommended for those that focus on IT-enabled operations.
Need help figuring out what’s best for your business?
I-Weblogic provides an array of personalised IT services, such as system integration, consultancy services and more!
Contact us today so we can figure out the best solution for your needs.
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