Infrastructure in Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) refers to all the technologies that interfere and manage the information and communication processes of people. It encompasses the hardware, software, telecommunications, automation and business communication and IT services markets.

The term IT Infrastructure is defined in ITIL v3 as the set of hardware, software, networks, installations, etc. (including all equipment related to technological information) used to develop, test, deliver, monitor, control and support IT services. Associates, processes and documentation are not part of the IT Infrastructure. Then, all the elements that make it up:

Switching

A network switch is the device that provides connectivity between computers on the network in a LAN (Local Area Network). A switch contains several ports that physically connect to other devices, including other switches, routers and servers. Older networks used bridges, in which each device "saw" the traffic of everyone else on the network. The switches allow two of them to communicate on it without having to send traffic to others.

Routers

Routers move data packets. These allow devices on different LANs to be able to communicate by determining the next "jump" that will let the packet reach its destination. If the IP address of a workstation was manually configured, the value of the gateway entered was the router address.

Firewalls

Firewalls are security devices on the edge of the network. You can think of her as a kind of guardian. A set of rules define what types of traffic may pass through it and which will be blocked. In its simplest versions, the configuration allows you to specify a port or protocol for traffic from one device to device or to a group of these.

Servers

A network server is another larger computer in terms of resources. This allows users to access and share information.

Physical plant

The physical plant is the network wiring in the building and the room where the servers are. This is usually a neglected part of the IT Infrastructure, since its weakening is allowed, which results in network failures. The wiring is usually of two types: -CAT 5/6/7 and fiber optic. Each has other types that depend on the speed and distance to connect devices.

Personal

By strict definition of ITIL, people are not considered part of the IT Infrastructure. In any case, without qualified personnel to maintain it, the capabilities of the organization are greatly limited.

Data center

The Data Center is the core of the network. This is the location where the servers are, the center of the network.

Infrastructure Software

The operating systems of the servers and directory services can also be considered as part of the IT Infrastructure. Without these multi-user systems, the hardware cannot carry out its functions.