Today’s companies run on information technology (IT), and it is the IT infrastructure that forms the backbone of modern business operations. IT infrastructure encompasses all the digital tools and resources that support an organization’s IT services. And as today’s organizations adapt to the demands of digital transformation, IT infrastructure must also evolve—integrating automation, innovation, and scalability to meet changing business needs. As such, IT infrastructure has progressed from mainframes and on-premises servers to cloud environments, edge computing, hybrid systems, and AI solutions.
Whether physical hardware or virtual cloud instances, these elements and their configurations should be recorded in a configuration management system (such as the ServiceNow CMDB) populated via best-in-class IT Operations Management Visibility Tools. These discovery tools can be based on increasingly sophisticated discovery patterns or agent-based collectors installed on each client.
Because IT infrastructure is such an extensive category of assets, it encompasses a wide range of elements. Important components of IT infrastructure include the following:
Software are any programs, applications, or other forms of operating information used by a business. This may include content management systems (CMS), enterprise resource planning (ERP), customer relationship management (CRM), web applications, operating systems, and more.
Hardware describes the physical components of IT, such as computers, data centers, switches, routers, hubs, servers, and mobile devices. Hardware may also be defined as including the facilities that house and secure physical data centers.
Overlapping slightly with ‘hardware,’ facilities (also called physical plants) are the physical locations, buildings, and offices, that provide space for necessary hardware components.
Networks also overlap with hardware, and are made up of various components, including servers, switches, hubs, and routers. Networks infrastructure allows computers to easily interact and share resources using common communications protocols.
Servers are a type of computer hardware that may be accessed by multiple users at once, allowing them to share essential resources.
When multiple servers are housed at the same location, it is called a ‘data center.’ Data centers are vital elements around which most modern networks are built.
Sometimes humorously referred to as ‘meatware,’ the people who contribute to and are involved in enterprise IT are also considered part of IT infrastructure. This may refer to teams or departments (such as DevOps or IT), as well as individuals (such as developers, designers, network administrators, IT decision makers, and any IT-service end user.
IT infrastructure can be further categorized based on ownership, resources availability, and management capabilities. The three major kinds of IT infrastructure are as follows:
Before the advent of cloud computing and related technologies, all IT infrastructure was managed in-house—businesses owned all the relevant hardware components, enjoying unrestricted freedom in how their IT infrastructure was managed. This traditional approach to IT infrastructure offers some benefits in terms of control and visibility but is often considered very cost and resource intensive; organizations must purchase, manage, and maintain their own servers and related hardware, as well as the physical space in which the hardware is housed.
In cloud-based IT infrastructure, most hardware components are located off-site, owned by third-party providers, and rented or leased by companies on an as-needed basis. Organizations can take advantage of these resources on demand, or purchase ‘subscriptions’ which allow them to employ third-party infrastructure for a predetermined duration of time. Types of cloud-based services include platform-as-a-service (PaaS), software-as-a-service (SaaS), contact-center-as-a-service (CCaaS), and even infrastructure-as-a-service (IaaS).
A hyperconverged IT infrastructure brings management and control of all relevant IT resources into a single, centralized computing interface. As a form of IT infrastructure, hyperconverged infrastructure provides a range of user-centric computing and data-storage solutions designed for scalability and accessibility.
As previously addressed, cloud IT infrastructure is an off-premises approach to IT, where hardware is maintained off-site and software is managed by external providers. In this model, businesses rely on third-party services for storage, computing power, and applications—all accessible via the internet. Cloud IT infrastructure cuts down physical components kept on-site, typically reducing the need for company-managed maintenance and repair and ensuring that local outages or disruptions won’t have as great of an impact on business continuity. It also enhances accessibility; authorized users can access cloud resources from anywhere in the world.
In contrast, traditional IT infrastructure is generally housed on-premises, with physical servers and networking equipment located within a company’s own facilities. It requires large upfront investments in hardware and IT expertise, and places the responsibility for IT maintenance and upkeep on the organization itself. While this approach to digital infrastructure offers direct control over data and systems, cloud infrastructure typically provides greater flexibility, scalability, and cost-efficiency by outsourcing many IT-related tasks to external providers.
Given the umbrella-like nature of the term IT infrastructure, it’s not difficult to find examples within most modern organizations. Anywhere digital systems operate in conjunction with hardware, software, or networking components to deliver IT services—whether in data centers, cloud environments, or edge devices—IT infrastructure is at play.
Some of the most common examples of IT infrastructure include:
- Server networks
These are centralized systems that provide processing power, storage, and data management for applications and services across the organization. These can be on-premises or hosted in the cloud.
- Storage devices
This includes hardware systems (such as hard drives) that store and manage data within an IT environment. These devices hold critical business information, backups, and application data.
- Routers and switches
Routers and switches are essential networking devices that direct traffic across internal and external networks. These play a central role in facilitating communication between digital systems.
- Networked devices
Endpoint devices (such as computers, printers, and IoT devices) connect to the network to access shared resources and IT services.
- Virtual machines (VMs)
VMs are software-based systems that emulate physical computers, allowing organizations to run multiple operating systems and applications on a single server or cloud instance.
- Firewalls and security appliances
These are some of the tools that make up infrastructure security. They protect the organization by monitoring and controlling incoming and outgoing traffic based on predefined security rules.
Naturally, every business has different IT objectives and needs; there is no single approach to IT infrastructure that is universally agreed-upon as the paragon solution. That said, there are several common factors that tend to define successful IT infrastructure across essentially every industry:
IT runs on data, which must itself be responsibly managed and applied to facilitate successful IT infrastructure. IT infrastructure solutions must be capable of automatically storing, backing up, and recovering data from across all IT resources. Additionally, built-in reporting and analytics programs can help ensure that IT decision makers have the insights they need to make correct business decisions.
With so much riding on IT infrastructure, it’s only natural that organizations would need to protect their solutions from unauthorized access and malicious attacks. IT infrastructure should include redundant checkpoints for ensuring that data availability is secure and exclusive. IT infrastructure security should likewise be regularly updated to protect against evolving threats and newly discovered weaknesses.
IT infrastructure networks must be capable of delivering data fast and consistently, without noticeable latency. This may depend on many of the involved network components, which must operate in tandem.
The pivot to remote work in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in a much broader need for non-localized IT availability. WANs not only make it possible for company networks to extend over large geographic areas, but also help by prioritizing traffic and assigning increased or decreased bandwidth where appropriate.
Virtual computer systems empower organizations to run multiple operating systems and applications on a reduced number of servers. This means improved server provisioning, as well as enhanced network uptime and recovery.
Downtime is the enemy of any IT solution. Disrupted business operations have the capacity to cost not only revenue, but to also damage brand reputation. The most-effective IT infrastructure solutions eliminate system downtime entirely, so essential IT processes and resources remain working and available.
Understanding IT infrastructure isn’t just important; for any business that relies on digital tools or systems, it is essential. IT infrastructure is the foundation that supports everything from day-to-day tasks to long-term growth. More recently, IT infrastructure has taken on increased significance as it is the architecture that makes it possible for organizations to integrate cloud-computing solutions seamlessly into their operations. This has opened new opportunities for scalability, flexibility, customer service, and cost savings, allowing businesses to expand IT capabilities without the heavy investment in physical hardware or internal resources.
The overall importance of IT infrastructure to modern companies is difficult to deny. More specifically, a well-managed IT infrastructure can provide organizations with the following advantages:
- Streamlined processes
By integrating various IT components, businesses can automate workflows and optimize operations, reducing bottlenecks and inefficiencies throughout the organization.
- Enhanced scalability
A flexible IT infrastructure enables businesses to scale resources up or down based on demand, allowing them to respond quickly to market changes without significant overhauls.
- Improved productivity
Employees can focus on their core responsibilities when IT systems run smoothly, freeing them from dealing with technical issues or disruptions.
- Reduced manual tasks
Automation tools and systems within modern infrastructures eliminate repetitive manual processes, saving time and reducing human error.
- Less downtime A reliable IT infrastructure ensures that critical systems are backed up and can be quickly restored in the event of an outage, minimizing disruptions to business operations.
- Reduced costs By optimizing resource use and minimizing waste, businesses can lower operational expenses while maintaining or improving performance.
- Increased security Effective infrastructures are built around security measures such as firewalls, encryption, and monitoring tools. These help protect sensitive data and reduce the many risks associated with unauthorized access.
Optimizing IT infrastructure is a major aspect of securing scalability, performance, and cost-efficiency in business. Below are some top strategies for optimizing IT infrastructure:
Assess current infrastructure
Begin by evaluating existing systems to identify strengths, weaknesses, and areas for improvement. This helps determine what upgrades or changes are needed to meet business goals.
Implement automation and orchestration tools
Automate routine tasks to reduce manual effort, minimize errors, and increase efficiency. Orchestration tools help ensure that all systems and applications are working together optimally.
Adopt cloud computing
By migrating workloads to the cloud, businesses can easily scale resources on demand while reducing the need for on-premises hardware.
Enhance hardware and software resources
Invest high-performance hardware such as modular servers and scalable storage solutions. Use software that supports load balancing, clustering, and virtualization to optimize resource usage.
Prioritize security and compliance
Implement strong security measures—firewalls, encryption, access controls, etc. Regularly update systems and ensure compliance with industry regulations to safeguard data and maintain customer and employee trust. An effective approach to IT security is necessary, as is a familiarity with cloud security.
Use monitoring tools for continuous optimization
Consistently monitor infrastructure performance metrics such as CPU usage and network bandwidth. Regularly adjust resources and refine settings to ensure optimal performance.
Leverage load balancing and auto-scaling
Distribute network traffic across multiple servers to prevent overloading,and use auto-scaling to adjust resources automatically based on demand. This ensures high availability and efficient resource use.
As technology becomes integrated into every aspect of business, the supporting infrastructures will likewise grow in complexity. Increased business capability can thus mean reduced technology visibility. Documenting today’s dynamic IT infrastructure is becoming a more challenging task than manual processes and traditional discovery probes can handle. The end result? Infrastructure maps that are fragmented, inaccurate, or simply outdated by the time they’re completed. ServiceNow offers a solution to slow-moving tools, with ITOM Visibility.
ITOM Visibility from ServiceNow creates a clear picture of your evolving IT infrastructure. Built-in discovery capabilities map your technology infrastructure by employing the latest, most detailed patterns to quickly create a complete inventory of all physical and logical infrastructure elements, including custom applications— right as they’re being deployed into the environment. Autre capabilities, including digital fingerprinting and one-touch service mapping, link the infrastructure elements into end-to-end maps to show exactly how business functions, services, and infrastructure elements relate to and depend upon each other. Additionally, ITOM Visibility automatically locates and catalogs all TLS/SSL certificates within the infrastructure and provides automated workflows to renew expiring certificates. ServiceNow makes it all work.
Enjoy complete service visibility into your infrastructure that scales along with your needs. Try ITOM Visibility from ServiceNow, and get more out of the infrastructure at the heart of your business.