The Benefits of Modern IT Infrastructure
IT Infrastructure
Frazer Lloyd-Davies
Information technology (IT) infrastructure underpins nearly every aspect of modern business operations. It includes the physical hardware like computers and servers, the software that runs on them and the supporting components like cabling, storage and internet connections. IT infrastructure can also be used to describe the human resources you have on hand to manage the network, as well as the processes you have in place for system maintenance.
Ideally, your IT infrastructure should evolve with your business. You don’t want to rip it out and install something entirely new every few years, as this is labour-intensive and extremely disruptive, not to mention costly too. Instead, it’s better to have a strategy in place, paired with the right technology, that allows your IT infrastructure to move with the times, as well as with the natural progression of your business.
What is Modern IT Infrastructure?
Modern IT infrastructure refers to the systems and services that support the day-to-day running of a business, but crucially, it’s designed with the future in mind. It encompasses newer, more scalable technologies that move away from fixed, on-premise setups in favour of cloud platforms, virtual networks, automation and remote access solutions.
A recent report found that more than two-thirds (69%) of currently active hardware with a scheduled end-of-support date will no longer be supported by 2027. From our point of view, that’s a technical headache in the making. It means the legacy systems many businesses currently rely on are fast approaching obsolescence, with no security updates or manufacturer assistance once support ends. Without a plan to modernise, your IT environment will be more exposed to vulnerabilities and increasingly misaligned with the way people work today.
Understanding the Different Types of IT Infrastructure
You can break IT infrastructure down into two sub-groups: traditional infrastructure (often referred to as onsite infrastructure) and cloud infrastructure.
Traditional Infrastructure
Traditional infrastructure concerns mostly physical artefacts and comprises all the necessary elements that support the basic function of machines and devices. Traditional infrastructure is often installed on-premises for use by a single company and is maintained internally or by an external IT support company. This setup typically requires more power and physical space and, in most cases, is more expensive to support and scale.
The most common types of traditional infrastructure are:
- Physical servers for file storage, application hosting and domain control
- Desktop computers
- Hard phones connected via internal telephony systems
- Networking equipment such as switches, firewalls, cables and physical connections
Cloud Infrastructure
Cloud infrastructure moves your IT network offsite. It’s hosted across multiple data centres which are owned and managed by a third-party provider, such as Microsoft. They supply the computing power, storage, applications and platforms needed for your business to function day to day, but the hardware is not yours to manage. Instead, access is provided via the internet on a subscription or usage-based model, with upgrades, maintenance and physical security handled on your behalf.
The term “cloud infrastructure” refers to the resources required to support cloud computing. This typically includes:
- Cloud storage, such as Microsoft OneDrive, where files and data are saved and accessed remotely
- Offsite backups, automatically stored in remote locations to protect against local hardware failure or ransomware
- Virtual servers, allowing applications and systems to run in the cloud rather than on physical machines
- Cloud-hosted platforms, such as Microsoft 365, offering email, collaboration tools and productivity apps
Hyper-Converged Infrastructure
The lesser-known type of IT infrastructure, hyper-converged infrastructure (HCI) allows organisations to manage their network, data storage and computer hardware from a single platform. Essentially, this enables any business to bundle together its assets and infrastructure into one easily accessible interface.
What are the Benefits of Modern IT Infrastructure?
Cost-Effective & Flexible
Modern IT infrastructure that utilises cloud technology will often be billed on an ongoing monthly basis, based on usage, as opposed to large one-off payments. Not only does this make it easier to implement in the first instance, but it makes cost forecasting easy to do.
Services such as maintenance are often bundled into these types of services, making it a simple one-off payment. This means it’s possible for you to tell exactly what your IT infrastructure is going to cost, eliminating unexpected and costly surprises.
Scalability
The scalability and flexibility of modern IT infrastructure, which includes cloud computing, enables businesses to upgrade their digital systems quickly. A good example of this is a Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP, pronounced Vooy-p) telephony system that works entirely on a digital network. Easy scalability means adding or removing employees is more straightforward than if a business was relying on traditional copper lines or hardware PBX systems.
Business Continuity
An essential aspect of productivity and growth, business continuity comes from reliable and stable systems that are continually monitored to avoid future problems. Ensuring you have the best and most up-to-date IT infrastructure possible cements the continuity of your business operations and keeps you ahead of the competition.
Reliability
Proactively managing your IT infrastructure improves the reliability of your digital services, improving workflow and productivity. Creating a more reliable system to empower your team allows them to spend more time completing tasks rather than worrying about technical issues.
What’s the Right IT Infrastructure for My Business?
This is hard to answer.
Whilst the components of an IT network are often the same from business to business, the setup can be adjusted slightly to meet specific requirements. To get the most out of your IT infrastructure, it’s best to align it with the long-term goals of the business. What works for one company may not work for your own.
Before making a decision to change or improve your IT infrastructure, have a think about what it is you’d like to achieve company-wide or what problems you’d like to solve or overcome. For example, if you would like employees to have the ability to work from home, then a cloud-based solution may be better set up for this. On the flip side, if you’d like your IT manager to have more control over the network, you may wish to host your infrastructure onsite.
Do I Need In-House or Outsourced Modern IT Infrastructure?
If we’re completely honest, we’d rather not think of it as either/or!
Implementing effective, modern IT infrastructure means looking at what you’ve already got and exploring where you’d like to be in the future. Systems should support a company as it exists now and give it the tools and room to grow and expand.
This blog post details the differences between in-house and outsourced IT support.
Modern IT Infrastructure From Acronyms
Modern IT infrastructure doesn’t mean throwing everything deemed ‘traditional’ out of the metaphorical window. Since 2003, Acronyms has been assisting businesses and organisations across the South West with their digital assets and infrastructures. Our experienced team of technicians, consultants and engineers will be able to guide you towards the right solution, which could be a complete overhaul or a balance between traditional and cloud infrastructure.
Investing time and energy into optimising your IT infrastructure now will benefit you regardless of the size of your business and will ensure continuity and support growth, putting you firmly ahead of the technology curve and the competition.
If you have any questions or would like some advice on your IT infrastructure, then please contact the team for a no-obligation consultation.