Are You Choosing the Right Infrastructure Provider for Your Needs?

Information technology infrastructure is defined broadly as a set of information technology (IT) components that are the foundation of an IT service; typically physical components (computer and networking hardware and facilities), but also various software and network components.^[1][2]

According to the ITIL Foundation Course Glossary, IT Infrastructure can also be termed as “All of the hardware, software, networks, facilities, etc., that are required to develop, test, deliver, monitor, control or support IT services. The term IT infrastructure includes all of the Information Technology but not the associated People, Processes and documentation.”^[3]

In IT Infrastructure, the above technological components contribute to and drive business functions. Leaders and managers within the IT field are responsible for ensuring that both the physical hardware and software networks and resources are working optimally. IT infrastructure can be looked at as the foundation of an organization's technology systems, thereby playing an integral part in driving its success.^[4] All organizations who rely on technology to do their business can benefit from having a robust, interconnected IT Infrastructure. With the current speed that technology changes and the competitive nature of businesses, IT leaders have to ensure that their IT Infrastructure is designed such that changes can be made quickly and without impacting the business continuity.^[5] While traditionally companies used to typically rely on physical data centers or colocation facilities to support their IT Infrastructure, cloud hosting has become more popular as it is easier to manage and scale. IT Infrastructure can be managed by the company itself or it can be outsourced to another company that has consulting expertise to develop robust infrastructures for an organization.^[6] With advances in online outreach availability, it has become easier for end users to access technology. As a result, IT infrastructures have become more complex and therefore, it is harder for managers to oversee the end to end operations. In order to mitigate this issue, strong IT Infrastructures require employees with varying skill sets. The fields of IT management and IT service management rely on IT infrastructure, and the ITIL framework was developed as a set of best practices with regard to IT infrastructure. The ITIL framework assists companies with the ability to be responsive to technological market demands. Technology can often be thought of as an innovative product which can incur high production costs. However, the ITIL framework helps address these issues and allows the company to be more cost effective which helps IT managers to keep the IT Infrastructure functioning.^[7]

Even though the IT infrastructure has been around for over 60 years, there have been incredible advances in technology in the past 15 years.^[8]

The primary components of an IT Infrastructure are the physical systems such as hardware, storage, any kind of routers/switches and the building itself but also networks and software .^[9] In addition to these components, there is the need for “IT Infrastructure Security”. Security keeps the network and its devices safe in order to maintain the integrity within the overall infrastructure of the organization.^[10]

Specifically, the first three layers are directly involved with IT Infrastructure. The physical layer serves as the fundamental layer for hardware. The second and third layers (Data Link and Network), are essential for communication to and from hardware devices. Without this, networking is not possible. Therefore, in a sense, the internet itself would not be possible.^[11] It's important to emphasize that fiber optics play a crucial role in a network infrastructure. Fiber optics^[12] serve as the primary means for connecting network equipment and establishing connections between buildings.

Different types of technological tasks may require a tailored approach to the infrastructure. These can be achieved through a traditional, cloud or hyper converged IT Infrastructure.^[13]

There are many functioning parts that go into the health of an IT infrastructure. In order to contribute positively to the organization, employees can acquire abilities to benefit the company. These include key technical abilities such as cloud, network, and data administration skills and soft abilities such as collaboration and communication skills.^[14][15]

As data storage and management becomes more digitized, IT Infrastructure is moving towards the cloud. Infrastructure-as-a-service (IaaS) provides the ability to host on a server and is a platform for cloud computing.^[16]

• Converged infrastructure
• Cyber infrastructure
• Dynamic infrastructure
• Hyper-converged infrastructure
• Information infrastructure
• Event management (ITIL)
• Infrastructure as a service
• Infrastructure as code
• Software-defined infrastructure

• Simon, Errol (1996). Distributed information systems: from client/server to distributed multimedia. McGraw-Hill. ISBN 9780077090760.
• Laan, Sjaak (2011). IT Infrastructure Architecture: Infrastructure Building Blocks and Concepts. Lulu Press. ISBN 9781447881285.
• van der Veen, Annelies; van Bon, Jan (2007). Foundations of ITIL V3. Van Haren Publishing. ISBN 978-90-8753-057-0.
• Rouse, Margaret (2017). "A DevOps primer: Start, improve and extend your DevOps teams", "TechTarget Search Data Center". Retrieved 28 September 2019.

The following outline is provided as an overview of and topical guide to information technology:

Information technology (IT) – microelectronics based combination of computing and telecommunications technology to treat information, including in the acquisition, processing, storage and dissemination of vocal, pictorial, textual and numerical information. It is defined by the Information Technology Association of America (ITAA) as "the study, design, development, implementation, support or management of computer-based information systems, particularly toward software applications and computer hardware."

There are different names for this at different periods or through fields. Some of these names are:

• ICT^[1] – Information and communication technologies
• IT^[2] – Information technology
• DCT^[3] – Data Communication & technology
• CDT^[4] – Creative digital technology
• DT – Design & technology^[5]
• Communication technology
• ^[6] Hacker

• MOSFET (MOS transistor)
  • Semiconductor device fabrication
  • PMOS (p-type MOS)
  • NMOS (n-type MOS)
  • CMOS (complementary MOS)
  • Floating-gate MOSFET (FGMOS)
  • Silicon-gate transistor (SGT)
  • Power MOSFET
  • Multi-gate field-effect transistor (MuGFET)
    • FinFET (fin field-effect transistor)
  • Thin-film transistor (TFT)
• Integrated circuit (IC)
  • Hybrid integrated circuit (HIC)
  • Monolithic integrated circuit (IC) chip
    • Planar process
    • MOS integrated circuit (MOS IC)
    • Silicon-gate technology (SGT) MOS IC
  • Three-dimensional integrated circuit (3D IC)
• Computer memory
  • Semiconductor memory
  • Random-access memory (RAM)
    • Static random-access memory (SRAM)
    • Dynamic random-access memory (DRAM)
    • Synchronous DRAM (SDRAM)
  • Nonvolatile memory (NVM)
    • Read-only memory (ROM)
    • Programmable ROM (PROM)
    • Floating-gate memory
    • EPROM (erasable PROM)
    • EEPROM (electrically erasable PROM)
    • Flash memory
  • Magnetic-core memory
• Microprocessor
  • Central processing unit (CPU)
  • Graphics processing unit (GPU)
  • Digital signal processor (DSP)
  • Image signal processor (ISP)

• History of computing
  • History of computing, by subject
    • History of computing hardware
    • History of computing hardware (1960s–present)
    • History of computer hardware in Eastern Bloc countries
    • History of artificial intelligence
    • History of computer science
    • History of operating systems
    • History of programming languages
    • History of software engineering
    • History of the graphical user interface
    • History of the Internet
    • History of personal computers
    • History of laptops
    • History of video games
    • History of the World Wide Web
  • Timeline of computing
    • Timeline of computing hardware 2400 BC–1949
    • Timeline of computing 1950–1979
    • Timeline of computing 1980–1989
    • Timeline of computing 1990–1999
    • Timeline of computing 2000–2009

• BSIT or B.Sc IT^[7] – Bachelor of Science in Information Technology
• M.Sc. IT, MSc IT or MSIT^[8] – Master of Science in Information Technology
• BCA^[9] – Bachelor of Computer Applications
• MCA^[10] – Master of Computer Applications

• Amazon Web Services has 5 certifications ^[11]
• Apple Inc. – sponsors the Apple certification program^[12]
• Avaya Professional Credential Program
• Cisco Systems – sponsors the Cisco Career Certifications program
• Citrix Systems – sponsors the Citrix Certified Administrator program
• Hewlett-Packard – sponsors the HP-CP certifications related to HP Technologies
• Dell – sponsors the Dell Certified Systems Expert program with Associate and Master levels
• Huawei – sponsors certifications
• IBM – sponsors certifications
• Juniper Networks – sponsors the Juniper Networks Technical Certification Program
• LANDesk – sponsors the Certified LANDesk Administrator and Certified LANDesk Engineer program
• Microsoft Corporation – sponsors the Microsoft Certified Professional program
• MySQL (as part of Oracle Corporation now) – sponsors a certification program
• NetApp – sponsors the NetApp Certification program
• Nortel – sponsors the Nortel Certifications program
• Novell – sponsors a certification program
• Object Management Group – sponsors the Certified Professional program for the Unified Modeling Language
• Oracle Corporation – sponsors the Oracle Certification Program^[13]
• Red Hat – sponsors the Red Hat Certification Program
• SAP – sponsors individual training and certifications
• SolarWinds – sponsors the SolarWinds Certified Professional Program for network management ^[14]
• Sun Microsystems – sponsors the Sun Certified Professional program
• Sybase – sponsors the Certified Sybase Professional program
• VMware – sponsors certification programs (VCP & VCDX)
• Zend Technologies – sponsors the Zend Certified Engineer program

Third-party commercial organizations and vendor neutral interest groups that sponsor certifications include:

• XML Certification Program - XML Master
• Certiport – sponsors the Microsoft Office Specialist and IC3 certification (Internet and Computing Core).
• CompTIA (Computing Technology Industry Association) – offers 12 professional IT Certifications, validating foundation-level IT knowledge and skills.
• European Computer Driving License-Foundation – sponsors the European Computer Driving License (also called International Computer Driving License) (ICDL)
• International Information and Communication Technology Council Certification Program
• (ISC)² – sponsors the CISSP, SSCP and other security certifications
• Linux Professional Institute
• Majinate sponsors the Accredited Symbian Developer scheme for Symbian OS
• NACSE (National Association of Communication Systems Engineers) sponsors 36 Vendor Neutral, knowledge specific, Certifications covering the 5 major IT Disciplines which are: Data Networking, Telecomm, Web Design & Development, Programming & Business Skills for IT Professionals.
• The Open Group – sponsors TOGAF certification and the IT Architect Certification (ITAC) and IT Specialist Certification (ITSC) skills and experience based IT certifications.
• Planet3 Wireless – sponsors the Certified Wireless Network Administrator (CWNA) certification
• SAGE (organization) – sponsors the cSAGE program
• SANS Institute – operates the Global Information Assurance Certification program

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General certification of software practitioners has struggled. The ACM had a professional certification program in the early 1980s, which was discontinued due to lack of interest. Today, the IEEE is certifying software professionals, but only about 500 people have passed the exam by March 2005^[update].

• The IEEE Computer Society – sponsors the Certified Software Development Professional as well as membership designations, "Senior" and "Fellow" which reflect experience and peer review qualification.
• The IET – sponsors the Chartered Engineer and Incorporated Engineer, which can be ratified into the European Engineer
• The BCS – sponsors the Chartered IT Professional (CITP) programme.
• The Institute for Certification of Computing Professionals sponsors the Certified Computing Professional (CCP) and Associate Computing Professional (ACP) certifications
• The BDPA IT Institute – sponsors the BDPA IT Associate (BITA), the BDPA IT Professional (BITP), and the BDPA IT Master (BITM) certifications
• The Canadian Information Processing Society – sponsors the Information Systems Professional certification in Canada.
• The American Institute of Certified Public Accountants – sponsors the Certified Information Technology Professional program.
• APICS – establishes operations management standards and sponsors certification for Logistics

• E democracy
• ^[15]

• British Computer Society
• National Software Testing Laboratories
• American Society for Quality § Certifications
• ISTQB
• CSTE

• Surveillance, Transparency and Democracy: Public Administration in the Information Age. p. 35-57. University of Alabama Press, Tuscaloosa, AL. ISBN 978-0-8173-1877-2