7 Components of IT Infrastructure and How They Work Together

7 Major Components of IT Infrastructure and How They Work Together

IT infrastructure, often referred to as infrastructure in IT, is a combination of several components that should be coordinated to ensure your company can have a coherent and working computer infrastructure. These components work together to ensure your systems and the entire company is running seamlessly. If one breaks down, the others are likely to be affected, resulting in downtime, data breaches, or even massive losses. Therefore, robust IT infrastructure management is essential to ensure all infrastructure components are working optimally and can detect and provide fast solutions to any problems. This article will focus on the different components of IT infrastructure and how they work together for the good of the business.

What is an IT Infrastructure?

An IT infrastructure refers to the foundational framework that supports an organization's digital operations. It encompasses a wide range of elements, from physical hardware like servers, computers, and network devices to software applications, data storage solutions, and network protocols. This infrastructure serves as the backbone of an organization's IT environment, enabling seamless communication, data transfer, and overall operational efficiency. As businesses increasingly rely on digital solutions, a robust IT infrastructure becomes crucial in ensuring that all technological components interact harmoniously and support the company's objectives.

What is Infrastructure in IT and the Components of ICT?

When we talk about 'infrastructure in IT', we are referring to the integrated systems and structures that allow for the efficient use and management of data. This includes not only the tangible elements like hardware and networking equipment but also the intangible aspects such as software, applications, and services. On the other hand, ICT, or Information and Communication Technology, is a broader term that encompasses all technologies used to manipulate and communicate information. The components of ICT include traditional IT infrastructure elements and also extend to telecommunications devices like phones, radios, and satellite communications, highlighting the convergence of IT and communication technologies in today's interconnected world.

Components of IT Infrastructure and Examples of Infrastructure Technology

Computer Hardware Platforms

These are computers and server machines in your network. Servers allow users to share information and the necessary files required to keep the company running. Some processors allow limited programmability like most video accelerators while in others, you can program them fully. Some manufacturers of quality computer hardware and servers include IBM, Apple, HP, and DELL, among others.

Enterprise and Software Applications

Enterprise application is a large-scale software that helps solve the problems of the entire organization. They include software such as middleware, Oracle, and Peoplesoft, it is a type of os that allows different parts of a software program to run concurrently with other applications in the companies used to link all the other applications also fall into this category.

Operating System Platforms

Operating System Platforms are a type of OS that allows different parts of a software program to run concurrently. Every computer must have at least one OS in order to function. OS platforms such as Windows, macOS, and servers like Linux are used by the employees and other personnel in the company for communication, storage, and access of data.

Data Storage and Management

Data management is handled by software and stored in storage devices. Storage management comprised of disks that are easy to reformat when needed. The number of disks is added as information increases. Additionally, data is stored in different locations to avoid total loss in case of a breakdown or disaster.

Network and Telecommunication Platforms

Networking platforms include Windows server OS, Linux, Unix, among others. Telecommunication platforms are provided by telecommunication service companies that provide data connectivity, internet access, voice, and wired area network.

Internet Platforms

Major components of the internet relate to and sometimes overlap with network infrastructure and hardware and software platforms. In a company, infrastructure related to the internet includes the hardware, software, and facilities that support web hosting, maintenance of websites, and web application tools together with intranets and extranets. By understanding the core concepts of the components of the internet, companies can ensure their systems are secure and safe from outside intrusions.

Consulting and System Integration Services

These components of information systems are used to integrate the legacy system with modern infrastructure. Software integration is ensuring that new technology works with the old one also called legacy system. Companies continue using their old system since replacing them is very expensive.

How Components of IT Infrastructure Work Together

Without any of the components of technology above, the IT infrastructure is not complete and will not work as expected leaving your company's IT support crippled in how they can help you and your customers. The most basic and obvious is hardware. A company requires computers, routers, and switches, among others to function. Without software, the hardware is useless. You’ll need applications and software like Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) and Business Intelligence (BI) among others. Some are bought from providers while others can be developed by the IT department depending on your business needs. Additionally, the Internet is an essential part of conducting business in this age. Your employees will depend on network connectivity to send and receive emails, web access and even keep the corporate website running. Routers, switches, networking hubs, and computers have to be connected inside of a network. Also, your business data will be stored in hardware like servers or more modern methods where you can access it through a network. However, all of this is not possible without operating systems that function as a user interface.

Conclusion

All the components of IT infrastructure, from computer infrastructure to information technology infrastructure, depend on each other to keep your business running. The software cannot function without hardware which is also almost useless without a network and internet connection. Also important are the people who operate these infrastructures to keep them working. Whether your IT needs are small-scale or large-scale, leave it to us to expertly design, implement and manage your infrastructures 24/7. Our philosophy on IT is to put you, the customer, first.