The IT infrastructure includes components such as (1) computer hardware, (2) operating systems, (3) enterprise software applications, (4) data management and storage, (5) Internet platforms, and others. Pick three components, and discuss the following for each component:
Explain the component help the organization to perform its functions.
Provide at least two examples from your own organization, or an organization you know.
What are some new trends in this infrastructure component?
The Answer
Three components that are used in the IT infrastructure are named and discussed below :-
Computer Hardware - Most of the major companies use information technologies and have implemented their own IT divisions. IT is now essential for the survival of an organisation and so it is necessary for an organization's everyday business routine to use the computer technologies. Choosing the company's computing equipment would increase corporate efficiency and competitiveness by making an effective management decision while reducing unnecessary wastes. Thus, computers must satisfy the requirements of the company and computers must be strong enough to accommodate the growing demand of the potential consumers. Example- Companies such as Apple, Microsoft uses powerfull computers for their new software production, which requires high end computer hardwares. Current trends in hardware include increasingly reduced use of the instruction set computing system, transition to the UNIX operating system, developing major software libraries, the development of smart microprocessor terminals which enable remote data validation, voice recognition and artitechnologies also known as artificial intelegence.
Enterprise Software Applications - Enterprise software is a series of computer programmes that have standard business applications, tools for modelling the way the whole company runs, and tools for developing company-specific applications. The platform provides business activities such as the delivery of order, sourcing, production planning, managing customer records, energy management and accounting. It is usually host on servers and delivers concurrent resources over a computer network to multiple customers. Example - Companies like Microsoft, Oracle together holds around 12.78% share of the enterprise applications useage. excluding them other companies like IBM, Adobe are also on the top list of enterprise software application usage. Current trends includes Customer Relationship Management (CRM), Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP), HR Management, Payment processing, Automated billing systems, Call Center and customer support, Email marketing systems etc.
Data Management and Storage - Data management includes the collection, storage, coordination, protection and verification of, and retrieval of sensitive data. Good management of the data would make the company more profitable. In the other hand, bad data processing leads to a rather dysfunctional company. Good data management facilitates the quest for and understanding of information for IT employees. It also provides the basis for knowledge sharing freely with others and allows for possible reference and fast recovery information to be processed. Examples - Google is the biggest example for data management and storage. Other companies that uses Data management are VMware,Oracle. Current trends includes AI-enabled Data Management, Semantic Data Catalog, NLP and Conversational Analytics and Data Fabric.