Facilities
Facilities, or physical plants, provide the space needed for networking hardware, servers, and data centers.
They also include the network cabling within office buildings that connect the various components of an IT
infrastructure.
Network
Networks consist of switches, routers, hubs, and servers. Switches connect network devices like routers and
servers within local area networks (LANs). Routers enable communication and data transfer between different
LANs. Hubs connect multiple networking devices, functioning as a single unit.
Server
Servers are essential hardware components in an enterprise IT infrastructure. They are specialized computers
that allow multiple users to access and share resources.
Server Room/Data Center
Organizations store multiple servers in designated rooms known as server rooms or data centers. These data
centers serve as the central hubs of most networks.
Types of Infrastructure
The two main types of IT infrastructure are traditional and cloud infrastructure.
Traditional Infrastructure
Traditional IT infrastructure includes standard hardware and software components: facilities, data centers,
servers, networking hardware, desktop computers, and enterprise application software solutions. This setup
generally requires more power, physical space, and investment compared to other infrastructure types and is
typically installed on-premises for exclusive company or private use.
Cloud Infrastructure
Cloud computing infrastructure is similar to traditional infrastructure but is accessed over the internet. It
allows users to utilize computing resources through virtualization without needing on-premises installations.
Virtualization connects physical servers managed by a service provider across various locations, abstracting
resources like storage to be accessible from virtually anywhere with an internet connection. Cloud
infrastructure is often public, hence commonly referred to as public cloud.
An Optimal IT Infrastructure
IT infrastructure setups vary according to business needs and objectives, but certain goals are universally
important. An optimal IT infrastructure offers high-performance storage, low-latency networks, security, an
optimized wide area network (WAN), virtualization, and aims for zero downtime.
High-performance storage systems store and back up data, including disaster recovery capabilities.
Low-latency networks use advanced infrastructure components to minimize data flow delays.
Secure infrastructures include systems that manage information access and data protection, safeguarding against
breaches and cyberattacks.
WANs control network traffic, allocating bandwidth to applications based on priority.
Virtualization enhances server provisioning speed, increases uptime, improves disaster recovery, and saves
energy.
Zero downtime focuses on minimizing disruptions and eliminating system downtime to maintain operational
efficiency and profitability.