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IT Infrastructure

IT infrastructure refers to the hardware and software that supports the management of an
organization’s information and data. Major components of IT infrastructure include hardware,
software, storage/databases (DBs), and a network. From an organization’s IT standpoint, it is
important to look at the infrastructure as a whole as well as each element as a component. This
section covers some of the in-depth infrastructure topics and offers a high-level overview of the
main components.

Main Components

IT Hardware

Hardware consists of physical servers, mainframe machines, and peripherals, which are usually
housed in enterprise server rooms or data centers. These may be housed on premise, off
premise, outsourced to a third party, in the cloud, or a combination of these. IT hardware also
includes end-user devices (e.g., laptops and desktops) used to access enterprise information and
data, printers, network components, and storage devices, among others. An organization’s
hardware is usually connected to an IT network.

Operating Systems (OS)
An operating system (OS) is a collection of programs (source code) that manage the computer’s
components and computing operations to deliver a result for the user. Operating system software
provides a means to manage and access IT hardware resources and acts as an interface or
platform between the end-user and the IT hardware on the network. Some types include:

 Server operating systems, which are designed to process the requests of multiple end-user
computers on the enterprise’s IT network. Examples include IBM AS/400, Windows Server,
or Red Hat Linux.

 Client operating systems, which generally support a single user and are designed for end-
user devices. Examples include Windows and Mac OS, but also include portable or mobile
operating systems.
 Firmware, unlike standard operating systems, has the code embedded into the hardware. It is
common to see firmware in devices and such as household appliances, medical devices, or
open-source routers and firewalls.
Enterprise and Application Software
Enterprise software, sometimes called enterprise resource planning (ERP) software, allows an
organization to capture and connect the information and content of its various business
processes and promotes efficient management decisions by the organization. Enterprise-level
software includes SAP, Oracle ERP, Microsoft Dynamics, JD Edwards ERP, and others.

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