IT infrastructure management is the management of both IT processes and IT components like the software, hardware, data, governed by certain IT policies. IT infrastructure management can further be broken down into system management, network management, and storage management.
Benefits of IT infrastructure management
IT infrastructure management is one of the most rewarding implementations to the IT ecosystem of an organization. The benefits majorly leads to financial savings and optimized operations. It can be summarized as following:
- Agile process develops a culture of proactive measures enhancing response time.
- Automation and improved capacity planning leads to substantial financial cost reduction.
- Optimized work distribution and streamlined employee operations improved work efficiency and overall performance.
- Significant reduction in integration and system downtime enhances overall operational continuity.
Three categories of IT infrastructure management
Enterprise level IT infrastructure can be broken down into three major categories depending upon the specific component and important tasks they deal with. IT infrastructure management is accordingly categorized by the following:
Systems management
Systems management involves overseeing the administration of information technology (IT) systems within an enterprise network or data center. A well-structured systems management plan is instrumental in delivering IT as a service, enabling prompt responses to evolving business needs and system activities.
In a hybrid IT environment, it encompasses the supervision of data center design and day-to-day operations, as well as the seamless integration of third-party cloud services. This holistic approach ensures efficient and effective IT management, facilitating the organization’s overall operations.
Network management
Network management deals with managing security of the network. IT security and operations analysts work in this realm to ensure proper allocation of resources to applications and services. Network management helps IT operators to maintain visibility and transparency in the network and control unauthorized access and data breach.
Storage management
A critical aspect of IT infrastructure management involves looking after the data storage technologies like containerization, storage provisioning, data compression, and data security. Automatic storage provisioning through various containerization and virtualization techniques paired with data compression lead to effective utilization of hardware space. Apart from that, techniques like data replication, mirroring, and security protect against data loss and theft.
In addition to these three main categories IT infrastructure management can be broadly broken down into seven components which are computer hardware platforms, operating systems platforms, software applications, data management and storage, networking platforms, internet, IT consulting and integration services.
IT infrastructure management of cloud services
Today’s enterprises embrace cloud based IT infrastructure keeping up to the demands of IT modernization. Cloud infrastructure management requires special skills and proficiency with modern software and applications. Cloud service providers have changed the way IT infrastructure is managed and it is easier to manage through a cloud consulting service provider than to keep an in-house team dedicated for this purpose. Infrastructure management is provided based on the following models:
Infrastructure-as-a-service (IaaS)
In this model the physical IT infrastructure is outsourced to a provider out of premises. The provider manages hardware, VM, servers, and storage spaces.
Platform-as-a-service (PaaS)
This model in addition to the resources provided by IaaS also provides middleware, development tools, analytics tools, database management systems. PaaS provider manages the server, storage, data center, and networking resources to run the hosted application.
Software-as-a-service (SaaS)
In the SaaS model organizations rents a finished software product. Everything related to the infrastructure is managed by the service provider to make the application accessible. SaaS model takes away the worry of managing anything in-house.
Key features of IT infrastructure management solutions
Modern IT infrastructure management solutions empower organizations to optimize their resources, proactively address issues, and ensure the overall reliability and performance of their IT systems. Some of the key features include:
Capacity Management and Resource Forecasting
The solution provides tools for analyzing resource usage, predicting future needs, and efficiently allocating resources to meet demand. It helps organizations optimize their infrastructure to ensure smooth operations and cost-effectiveness.
Trend Analysis and Dashboards
Leveraging data from various sources within a hybrid cloud environment, the management solution offers trend analysis and real-time dashboards. These tools enable IT teams to gain insights into system performance, identify potential bottlenecks, and make informed decisions for optimizing the infrastructure.
Heterogeneous Environment Support
Today’s IT infrastructure management solutions are designed to support diverse and heterogeneous technology environments. They can manage a mix of on-premises, cloud-based, and hybrid systems, ensuring seamless coordination and control across the entire IT landscape.
Comprehensive Network Monitoring
The solution includes robust network monitoring capabilities, allowing IT administrators to track network performance, identify connectivity issues, and proactively address potential network disruptions. This helps maintain a stable and reliable network infrastructure.
Monitoring and Troubleshooting of Individual Assets
The management solution provides granular visibility into both physical hardware assets and virtual machines. IT teams can monitor the health and performance of individual components, identify potential faults, and troubleshoot issues promptly to minimize downtime and maximize efficiency.
Conclusion
IT infrastructure management enables organizations to effectively oversee their IT resources, aligning them with business objectives and priorities. This synchronization of IT management with the overall business strategy transforms technology into a value-creating asset for the entire organization, rather than a resource drain.
