IT Infrastructure components
Hassan Raza 018
Asad Zameer 030
What is "IT Infrastructure"
• Computing Platforms
• Data and Voice Telecom Networks
• Application Software
• Physical Facilities
• IT Management
• IT Policies
• IT Education Services
IT's Impacts on Productivity
• Easier for managers to oversee larger numbers
of workers
• IT can substitute for some labor
▫ Hardware is getting cheaper, while labor costs are increasing
• Networks decrease transaction costs
▫ easier to outsource
▫ improved supply chain management
• Flatter Organization
IT Flattens Organizations
Why?
IT for Competitive Advantage
• Product Differentiation
• Market Niche
• Customer Intimacy
• Core Competency Enhancement
▫ via Internal information sharing
• Easier to Create Synergies
▫ via External information sharing
Hardware Components of IT Infrastructure
Hardware components are fundamental building blocks of IT infrastructure, providing
the physical resources necessary for information processing and storage. Here are
some key hardware components commonly found in modern IT infrastructures:
• Servers
• These powerful computers manage and distribute network resources, such
as applications, data, and services, to other devices in the network.
• Computers
• End-user devices, including desktops, laptops, tablets, and smartphones,
allow individuals to interact with the IT infrastructure and access
applications and data.
• Network Devices
• Routers, switches, and access points facilitate network connectivity,
enabling data transmission between devices and networks.
• Storage Systems
• Hardware components such as hard disk drives (HDDs), solid-state drives
(SSDs), and storage area networks (SANs) provide data storage and
retrieval capabilities for the infrastructure.
IT Ecosystem
1. Computer Hardware Platforms
Computer hardware platforms include client machine and server machine, as
well as modern mainframes produced by IBM. Us firms spent about $145
billion on computer hardware.
2. Operating system Platforms
Operating system platforms include platforms for client computers,
dominated by windows operating systems, and servers, dominated by the
various forms of the UNIX operating system or LINUX. Operating systems are
software that mange the resources and activities of the computer and act as an
interface for the user.
3. Enterprise software applications
Enterprise software applications include SAP, Oracle and PeopleSoft, and
middleware software that are used to link a firm’s existing application
systems.
4.Data management and storage
Data management and storage is handled by database management software
and storage devices include traditional storage methods, such as disk arrays
and tape libraries, and newer network-based storage technologies such as
storage area networks (SANs). SANs connect multiple storage devices on
dedicated high-speed networks.
5.Networking and telecommunications platforms
Networking and telecommunications platforms include windows server
operating systems, Novell, Linux, and UNIX. Nearly all LAN and many wide
area networks (WANs) use the TCP/IP standards for networking.
6.Internet platforms
Internet platforms overlap with and relate to the firm’s general networking
infrastructure and hardware and software platforms. Internet related
infrastructure includes the hardware, software and services to maintain
corporate web sites, intranets, and extranets, including web hosting services
and web software application development tools.
7.Consulting and system integration services
Consulting and system integration services are relied on for integration a
firm’s legacy systems with new technology and infrastructure and providing
expertise in implementing new infrastructure along with relevant changes in
business processes, training, and software integration.
IT Infrastructure Examples
IT infrastructure can vary significantly depending on the
organization's size, industry, and specific requirements. Here are
some examples of IT infrastructure components in different
contexts.
1.Enterprise IT Infrastructure
Large organizations often have complex IT infrastructures comprising multiple
data centers, networks, servers, storage systems, and extensive software
applications. They may also leverage cloud services and virtualization
technologies to optimize resource utilization.
2.Small Business IT Infrastructure
Smaller businesses may have a simplified infrastructure, combining on-
premises servers, computers, basic networking equipment, and cloud-based
services for specific needs such as email or customer relationship
management (CRM).
3.E-commerce Infrastructure
Online retailers require robust and highly available IT infrastructures to
handle large volumes of transactions, secure customer data, and support
online shopping platforms, payment gateways, and inventory management
systems.
Standards
Microsoft Windows v.
The World
Evolution of IT
Enterprise Computing
• Mainframes
• Minicomputers
• PCs (microcomputers)
• PCs + Networks
Why the Evolution?
1. Moore's Law
2. Declining Communication Costs
3. Costs of Storage
4. Standards
Storage Cost
1 GB in 1995 ($15,000) and 1GB Today
Future Infrastructure Trends
Cloud Computing
Software as a Service = subscription to a
cloud-based application
Server Virtualization
Autonomic Computing
self repairing computers
more Grid Computing
supercomputers on the cheap
Thank you
