Best Practices for Building Modern IT Infrastructure: AI, BI, Remote Work, and Security

By Josiah K. Chege

In today's rapidly evolving business landscape, building an agile, scalable, and secure IT infrastructure is critical. As emerging technologies such as AI and BI continue to transform industries, companies must keep pace by adopting robust infrastructure solutions that support these innovations while accommodating the needs of remote workers and securing sensitive data. This article explores best practices for building IT infrastructure, with insights from leading vendors like Servercore, Amazon, Google, Oracle, and Microsoft.

1. Embracing Scalability and Flexibility

Recent Example: Amazon Web Services (AWS) has been a market leader in providing highly scalable and flexible cloud solutions. AWS's success with Netflix is a great example—the streaming giant relies on AWS's scalability to handle massive peaks in user demand, ensuring uninterrupted streaming experiences.

Checklist:

• Choose cloud solutions that offer auto-scaling to accommodate varying workloads.
• Utilize modular infrastructure to add or remove components as business requirements evolve.
• Consider hybrid cloud models to balance data privacy with scalability.

2. Leveraging AI and BI for Competitive Edge

Recent Example: Servercore's locally managed cloud databases make it easy for organizations in Kenya to harness business intelligence without navigating international data compliance hurdles. Additionally, Microsoft's Azure AI services have allowed companies like Carlsberg to develop their "Beer Fingerprinting Project," leveraging AI to optimize the brewing process and achieve consistent quality.

Checklist:

• Adopt AI services to enhance process automation, reduce manual effort, and optimize operations.
• Integrate BI tools for real-time insights into key business metrics.
• Ensure data compliance when handling AI and BI workloads—data privacy laws like GDPR and DPA must be adhered to.

3. Supporting Remote Workers with Robust Infrastructure

Recent Example: Google Cloud has been instrumental in helping Shopify create a collaborative and flexible workspace for remote employees. Leveraging Google Workspace integrated with Google Cloud ensures seamless collaboration between remote teams across the globe.

Checklist:

• Deploy collaboration tools that allow seamless communication across the organization.
• Use VPNs or cloud-based security tools to secure remote access.
• Prioritize the end-user experience by reducing latency and providing stable connections for remote workers.

4. Ensuring the Security of Data and Infrastructure

Recent Example: Oracle's Autonomous Database provides built-in security features like data encryption and automated patching, ensuring that critical data remains secure. Meanwhile, Servercore's compliance with GDPR, PCI, and DSS is an excellent example of ensuring local compliance for businesses in Kenya.

Checklist:

• Encrypt data both at rest and in transit.
• Use automated patching and vulnerability assessments to keep the infrastructure secure.
• Implement a zero-trust model for network access control—only trusted devices and users get access.

5. Using Managed Solutions for Reduced Complexity

Recent Example: Servercore's managed Kubernetes and managed cloud databases reduce the complexity of managing infrastructure for local businesses, enabling them to focus more on their core competencies. Similarly, Microsoft's Azure Arc allows hybrid management of both on-premise and cloud environments with ease.

Checklist:

• Evaluate managed services for core infrastructure components to reduce operational overhead.
• Use a unified management dashboard for all infrastructure components.
• Set up monitoring and alert systems to detect any irregularities early.

Emerging Trends to Keep an Eye On:

• AI for IT Operations (AIOps): Automating infrastructure monitoring and incident resolution using AI tools such as Google's AI-powered Cloud Operations.
• Serverless Computing: Reducing the burden of managing servers with serverless solutions like AWS Lambda.
• Data Residency Compliance: With an increased focus on data sovereignty, Servercore's local data center in Kenya is a game-changer for businesses looking to comply with regional data protection laws.

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