Information technology infrastructure (IT infrastructure) refers to the combined components needed for the operation and management of enterprise IT services and IT environments . It is a set of physical and virtual resources that support the flow, storage, processing, and analysis of data .
The components of IT infrastructure are made up of interdependent elements, and the two core groups of components are hardware and software. Hardware uses softwarelike an operating systemto work. And likewise, an operating system manages system resources and hardware. Operating systems also make connections between software applications and physical resources using networking components .
Hardware components can include desktop computers, servers, data centers, hubs, routers, switches, and facilities. Software components can include content management systems (CMS), customer relationship management (CRM), enterprise resource planning (ERP), operating systems, and web servers .
Facilities or physical plants provide space for networking hardware, servers, and data centers. It also includes the network cabling in office buildings to connect components of an IT infrastructure together .
Networks are comprised of switches, routers, hubs, and servers. Switches connect network devices on local area networks (LAN) like routers, servers, and other switches. Routers allow devices on different LANs to communicate and move packets between networks. Hubs connect multiple networking devices to act as a single component .
In summary, IT infrastructure is a critical component for businesses as it enables them to provide uninterrupted access to their website and online store, develop and launch solutions to market with speed, collect data in real-time to make quick decisions, improve employee productivity, and provide a positive customer experience .