Information technology (IT) is the application of computers and telecommunications equipment to store, retrieve, transmit and manipulate data, often in the context of a business or other enterprise.
IT is considered to be a subset of information and communications technology (ICT). An information technology system (IT system) is generally an information system, a communications system or, more specifically speaking, a computer system – including all hardware, software, and peripheral equipment – which processes, stores, retrieves and outputs information.
The term is commonly used as a synonym for computers and computer networks, but it also encompasses other information distribution technologies such as television and telephones. Several industries are associated with information technology, including computer hardware, software, electronics, semiconductors, internet, telecom equipment, and e-commerce.
In a business context, IT infrastructure refers to the composite hardware, software, network resources and services required to support the full range of an organization’s electronic data processing, information systems and computer-based processes. A common misperception is that IT infrastructure includes only the physical components of a computer system, but it actually encompasses much more.
In addition to the physical components, IT infrastructure includes the policies, procedures, processes and people that support the technology. It is important to note that the term IT infrastructure is often used to describe the underlying foundation upon which an organization’s information technology architecture is built.
The goal of IT infrastructure is to provide a platform that is stable, scalable and secure enough to support the ever-changing needs of a business. In order to achieve this, IT infrastructure must be designed, built and managed in a way that minimizes risk and maximizes the efficiency of the organization’s IT systems.
One of the biggest challenges facing IT infrastructure today is the need to support ever-growing amounts of data. As businesses increasingly rely on electronic data for everything from customer relationship management (CRM) to enterprise resource planning (ERP), the volume of data being generated and stored is growing at an exponential rate.
To keep up with this demand, IT infrastructure must be designed for scalability, which means that it must be able to easily accommodate increases in data storage and processing requirements.
Another challenge facing IT infrastructure is the need to support a variety of different devices and applications. With the proliferation of smartphones, tablets and other mobile devices, businesses must be able to provide their employees with access to the data and applications they need, regardless of where they are or what type of device they are using.
In order to meet these challenges, IT infrastructure must be designed and managed in a way that maximizes efficiency and minimizes risk. One way to do this is to use a centralized management platform, such as Microsoft System Center, to manage both the physical and virtual components of your IT infrastructure.
System Center provides a unified platform for managing all aspects of your IT infrastructure, from server and desktop virtualization to private and public clouds. By using a centralized management platform, you can reduce the complexity of your IT infrastructure and make it easier to respond to changes in business demands.