Planning for Information Technology Infrastructure

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Photo by Thomas Jensen on Unsplash
Photo by Thomas Jensen on Unsplash

The organization’s IT infrastructure basically integrates technology components to support business needs but the IT infrastructure concept is more complicated.  

IT Infrastructure is defined as set of physical and software components that are connected together to achieve the goal of organizations through IT components.  The infrastructure of the organization provides the benefit of serving the customer efficiently and managing day to day operations of the business. 

IT infrastructure is made up of five components which include: software, hardware,computer network and telecommunication, data management and storage, and internet technologies.

Software Components

These are a set of programs that are integrated. Software is installed in the computers to enhance the smooth operations of machines and to provide the useful output. Software links the firms existing application systems.

According to C Loudon and P Loudon, application software services provides enterprise-wide capabilities such as enterprise resource planning, customer relationship management, supply chain management, operating systems and knowledge management systems that are shared by all business units.

Hardware Components

These are all the tangible equipment, such as the monitor, central processing unit, keyboard, mainframes and mouse. The main body of a computer is computer systems. The system unit’s case houses a number of essential components. These components help to ease communication with software.

Computer Networks and Telecommunication Components

This is a system of computers and peripheral devices that are connected electronically. These connected computers can communicate with each other, which means that they can share information. Each computer has its own network address, so it can be uniquely identified among all the computers in a network.

Computer networks are able to carry different types of data and support different applications. Some communications are face to face, but others use some type of technology. Think of email, phone calls, text messaging, viewing pages on the Internet, downloading files. All of these communications make use of a telecommunications system.

Data Management and Storage

A well planned and designed storage architecture let companies consolidate, protect, manage, access, and recover stored data across cloud computing.

Data management is a critical component of any business operation as companies of all sizes and types manage data growth, data storage costs, data protection and long-term data storage capacity to meet regulatory mandates or other business requirements. Data management includes data recovery and storage.

Internet Technology Components

These components form a group of technologies that allow users to access information and communication over the World Wide Web. This is achieved through software and protocols which include web browsers, ftp, e-mail, associated hardware, Internet service providers.

Included are local-area networks (LANs), wide-area networks (WANs), bridging, switching, routing, voice and data integration, wireless integration, dial-up technology, cable access technology, network security and network management.

Conclusion 

Planning and setting up a good infrastructure means that business process will run smoothly within the business. Poor planning and implementation puts the organization at risk because most of its resources will be vulnerable to outside attack.

Good management of infrastructure makes easy communication and there is availability of information whenever is required within the organization. Let’s make Lesotho the nation of technology.

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