IT Fundamentals

Infrastructure is comprised of all the technologies that support an organization’s IT activities. It can include hardware, software, servers, networks and data centers. These technologies can be housed on-premises, the cloud, or a combination of both. This article will cover the basic technologies used by many organizations.

Computing Services

Computing services is the foundation for making computing services work and can include servers, networking, databases, storage and software.

Multitiered Architecture

Multitiered architecture? is the separation of functions into modules. The most common approach is the 3-tier architecture, which includes the presentation tier, processing tier and the data tier. The presentation tier’s primary functions are to collect and display the information that the user needs to interface with the system. The application tier is where the collected information is processed. The data tier is where the processed information is stored. By separating functionality into modules, maintenance can be done in segments, allowing an organization to function with little disturbance.

Networking and Connectivity

A computer network allows users to share and exchange data and services via cables or wireless communication. There are 2 main devices used in networking: routers and switches. In general, wired networks are more quick and secure, whereas, wireless networks are more mobile and flexible.

Two of the most common network configurations are local area networks (LAN) and wide area networks (WAN). A LAN is used in a specific location, whereas a WAN can be used in much larger areas.

Storage

Primary storage is the type of storage that a computer uses to operate and can also be referred to as internal memory. Memory is used to temporarily store instructions or results. There are two types of memory: Random Access Memory (RAM) and Read-Only Memory (ROM).

Computers use RAM for short-term, temporary storage, to run applications and data processing. RAM is volatile meaning that information is lost when the computer shuts down or loses power.

ROM is used mostly for firmware updates and is nonvolatile.

Secondary storage is also referred to as external memory and is nonvolatile. Many networks utilize secondary storage as a Network Attached Storage (NAS) or Storage Area Network (SAN).?

NAS refers to the software that resides on a dedicated hardware. It has two primary functions: data storage and file sharing requests. A NAS provides a company with a centralized location for data access and sharing, which users can access at the same time. Usually, a NAS solution is inexpensive to deploy.?

The primary function for SAN storage is data reliability. Databases are usually found in a SAN, and can be accessed over a large area. A SAN solution provides fast access, is scalable, but are oftentimes a multimillion-dollar project.

Data Warehouse

Data warehouses are systems that collect, organize, centralize, and manage large amounts of data. Organization allows the data to be quickly analyzed by users.

Cloud Models

Cloud computing allows organizations to utilize IT resources on-demand. Cloud infrastructure consists of two layers: the physical layer and the abstraction layer. The physical layer consists of the hardware resources needed to support cloud operations, and the abstraction layer consists of software used to enable cloud functionality.

Resource pooling is when a cloud provider uses the same resources to serve multiple cloud customers by using a multitenant model, which reserves and secures a portion of computing power for each tenant.

Rapid elasticity refers to a cloud provider's ability to provide IT resources on-demand. This means the provider must be able to delegate enough computing power on-demand, but also shrink resources as needed.

IT resources are either controlled by the user or the cloud provider depending on the model.

Cloud Deployment Models

Private Clouds are used by single organizations. Usually, private clouds in a single organization are utilized by their employees or associates that have a legal relationship with them.

Community clouds are used by a community of customers that share similar needs. It’s a form of a private cloud, but involves more than one organization.

Public clouds are offered by third-parties and can be used by anyone.

Hybrid clouds use a combination of private, community and public clouds, and use proprietary technology that enables the exchange of data between different models.

Software

Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems help organizations manage “back-office” activities such as accounting, procurement and HR. Many ERP solutions are self-contained to provide seamless data utilization across system application features. Some ERP solutions are modular to allow efficient and customizable options for each organization’s unique needs. There are two primary functions in an ERP solution: managing an organization’s finances, and HR.

Customer Relationship Management (CRM) systems help an organization manage current and future customers. The data can help Sales Teams forecast and help utilize areas of most importance by creating dashboards and reports.

Databases consist of two different types of data: structured data and unstructured data. Structured data is organized in a meaningful way. It has a process and best practices, so that data can easily be retrieved, understood and analyzed by users. Unstructured data, on the other hand, follows no data model and requires a significant amount of storage space.

A Relational Database (RDBMS) is a collection of related, structured information. Rows represent the record, columns represent data attributes.

Electronic Document and Record Management System (EDRMS) is a solution that tracks and monitors electric documents, records, and data throughout their lifecycles.

Content Management System (CMS) solutions make website creation and management simplified by eliminating the need to learn programming. There are two components to a CMS: content management application and content delivery application.

Financial systems are used to manage accounting and budgeting needs for an organization and can be part of an ERP.