How To Manage Your Business IT Infrastructure

The rapidly expanding use of today’s technology poses particular and significant business challenges for organisations of any scale, whether private or public. 

Information technology (IT) infrastructure management involves the administration and management of crucial operational elements, which is distinct from the wide responsibilities of IT management. This allows for the effective, efficient, and proactive use of technology, information, and data storage.

IT infrastructure can be summed up as the collection of tools, network management, software, and hardware needed to run and maintain an enterprise’s IT environment. It is typically a part of an organisation’s internal operations and allows it to offer hassle-free IT services and solutions to its partners, clients, and staff. Installing servers is a key component to maintaining a business in 2024, and you don’t have to do it yourself.

Many small businesses are now choosing to outsource infrastructure management to lighten the load on their team and increase their businesses’ productivity.

Our experts have written this guide to help you understand how to manage IT infrastructure and all the components that makeup what IT infrastructure actually is.

What are the 3 primary components of IT infrastructure?

1. Hardware

Personal computers, data centres, switches, servers, routers, and all other tools necessary to support the operation of machines and devices within the IT infrastructure are examples of hardware. Hardware also refers to the physical parts of an IT infrastructure. 

A data centre’s housing, power, and cooling facilities may also be regarded as a component of the IT infrastructure. 

2. Software

Software includes all programmes a company uses to run internally and to provide services to clients. Web servers, operating systems (OS), content management programs, business resource planning software, productivity programs, and more are all part of it. 

The OS, which controls hardware and links physical resources to the network ecosystem, is the most important component of software.

3. Network

All the devices and components of an IT system must be able to communicate both internally and externally, which requires interconnected network components. In other words, the network contains every piece of hardware and software necessary to allow firewall, internet connectivity, security, and other network-related functions. 

By ensuring that only authorised personnel can access transferred and stored data from strictly regulated pre-defined entry points, it considerably lowers the risk of data theft.

What is IT infrastructure management?

The administration of the operational and technical elements of the IT infrastructure, such as data, software, hardware, procedures, policies, equipment, and facilities, used to support business effectiveness, is referred to as IT infrastructure management. 

IT infrastructure management is further divided into storage management, network management, and systems management due to its intricacy.

5 infrastructure management solutions for your business

You undoubtedly have a great idea of how you share information and backup your data as a business owner. However, you might be losing money and reducing your output if you’re neglecting other components of your company’s IT infrastructure management processes. 

Here is some of the best advice for managing your IT systems business strategy to avoid this.

Disaster recovery

For a variety of reasons, disaster recovery becomes essential. Your components might break down. Malware attacks or unfavourable weather conditions could also have an effect on your business.

In the end, you must have a plan—hoping that you never have to use it. Preventative measures and a recovery plan should be included in your company’ IT infrastructure. 

By using cloud services, for instance, you can reduce the impact of a big disaster and protect your business from hardware failure. You can also make a strategy for working remotely in case your company’s internet connection is lost.

Use a secure network system

A network security system is one of the most crucial components of any business IT infrastructure because it protects your company’s data from cybercriminals. Without a strong and secure network in place, hackers could access confidential data such as employee and customer information.

Utilising a firewall is crucial because it will track data entering and leaving your network and allow malicious threats to be halted or blocked before they can harm the IT infrastructure or systems of your company.

39% of UK businesses reported suffering a cyber attack in 2022.

On a larger stage, it protects the company’s business value. The maintain integrity and foster confidence among all of its partners. To manage all of your data, you must allocate a decent budget for data security and management. Information is the greatest power in the world today, and no business would want any of its crucial information to be leaked to competitors.

Update regularly

A simple infrastructure management solution is to keep all the software on your devices up to date, and upgrade your systems at regular intervals.

This aids in stopping the entry of harmful software such as malware into your system. You should make sure to manually install security updates as soon as they become available if you’re using outdated software because it’s possible that they won’t be installed automatically.

In the same industry, there are a variety of goods available. So, weigh the benefits and cons before making a purchase. Check the services and products before making any judgements based on price. Go for it if it fits your company’s character and can promote business expansion.

Check your internet speed

Having a dependable internet connection is one of the most crucial components of an effective IT infrastructure and business productivity. Every employee who uses the internet for work will be less productive if your internet connection is slow or unreliable. 

It will also have an impact on their morale, so it is important to assess the speed you are presently receiving and determine whether it could be increased by routinely looking around for better offers.

Using an infrastructure management team is the ideal solution as they will access to the best IT tech tools and can advise on ways to increase your internet speed.

Set goals for proper infrastructure management

Make sure you have a long-term strategy for both your organisation’s IT and your IT department. You can then decide how your IT can best meet the requirements of each department. All hardware and software networking processes are part of the overall management system.

IT is not just for routine hard drive formatting, malware scanning, and cable replacement. It is not the full scope of IT systems. 

It resolves many connected issues, including the most difficult one involving data privacy. The main objective should be to reduce system downtime and contribute to rising company productivity through your own IT systems.

Looking for managed IT services?

One of the elements of business management that is perhaps most misunderstood is IT management. However, it’s a field in which you can significantly impact your bottom line if you have the right information and a competent IT Management Solutions professional.

The experts on our team at Binary Blue can help you with all of your infrastructure and software updating requirements. So that you can focus on managing your business, we’ll make sure your systems are current and functioning effectively.

Our wide variety of business IT services, which includes system upgrades, can greatly simplify your daily operations.

To learn more about our managed IT services, contact us today.

IT infrastructure management FAQs

What is the role of IT infrastructure management?

IT infrastructure management is responsible for the proactive administration and control of technological tools. This entails being able to keep an eye out for problems and errors, track fixes, and track every mistake back to its original cause.

What is the most important part of IT infrastructure?

Any IT infrastructure must have network access as a basic component. Every day, you and your staff will rely on a range of services. These range from communicating with clients via email, using project management tools, and participating in video conferences with co-workers around the globe.

What are typical IT infrastructure services?

Communication services, networking, data processing and storage, platforms for corporate content and media sharing, knowledge management, systems, applications, Internet of Things, user devices, and resilience are all examples of infrastructure services.