IT infrastructure is all information resources and technologies that ensure the operation and management of the company’s IT environment. The infrastructure can be deployed on the company’s own facilities or on the provider’s resources — this model is called IaaS (Infrastructure as a Service).
What is included in the IT infrastructure?
Infrastructure components are divided into three types:
- hardware: servers, data centers, PCs, routers, switches, server room and any other equipment,
- software: OS, CMS and CRM systems, applications used by businesses, databases and other services,
- network: hardware components (routers, switches, cables) and all necessary software for internal and external network operation, for example, a firewall.
What are the types of IT infrastructure?
There are three models.
Traditional. All components are owned and operated by the company at its own facilities. Traditional infrastructure is expensive to operate, it requires a lot of equipment, physical space to accommodate it, and resources, such as electricity. Most often, such infrastructure is deployed by large companies.
Cloudy. An organization can deploy a private, hybrid, or public cloud. The private cloud model assumes the independent construction of the infrastructure by the company or the rental of data center resources from the provider. Hybrid cloud is usually used when there is a shortage of private cloud computing power — the company rents a public cloud for specific tasks. Several companies use the public cloud at once, and the resources are located at the service provider.
Hybrid. The mixed model assumes simultaneous use of cloud infrastructure and private resources. The hybrid infrastructure allows the organization to evenly distribute capacities, for example, to leave confidential information in its own databases, and scalable loads in the cloud.