IT infrastructure is a crucial component of any modern business or organization. It is built up using various IT resources that help facilitate the flow of information and support business operations. Broadly speaking, IT infrastructure is built up on three basic elements: information, services, and network. In this article, we will explore each of these elements in detail.
Element 1: Information
Information is the most important element of IT infrastructure. It is a set of facts that reduces uncertainty and provides knowledge about a subject or environment. Information can be defined in many ways, but essentially, it is facts placed within a context.
The procurement of information is evolutionary, and it needs to be developed and shared for better utilization. To exploit this resource, other elements in the IT infrastructure are developed, and therefore, it constitutes the core of IT infrastructure.
Element 2: Services
Information services are facilities for the generation of information. Since the business environment is dynamic, the generation of information must go on continuously. Thus, IT infrastructure must have services for the generation of information on a regular basis. These services would require the commitment of resources for their establishment and maintenance, and these resources may be called data processing resources.
Element 3: Network
In addition to the stock of information and services for the generation of new information, we require a physical system for linking the users of information with the stock of information, as well as the process of generating information. This is where networks come into play.
The networks not only link the users with various services and stock of information but also link the services themselves and different elements of the stock of information. Networks are essential for the smooth flow of information and the efficient operation of the IT infrastructure.
| Element | Definition | Importance |
|---|---|---|
| Information | A set of facts that reduces uncertainty and provides knowledge about a subject or environment. | The most important element of IT infrastructure and constitutes the core of IT infrastructure. |
| Services | Facilities for the generation of information that require the commitment of resources for their establishment and maintenance. | Necessary for the continuous generation of information in a dynamic business environment. |
| Network | A physical system for linking users with the stock of information and the process of generating information. | Essential for the smooth flow of information and the efficient operation of the IT infrastructure. |