What is IT infrastructure?
Today, every organisation has some form of IT infrastructure. It's just not everyone is aware of it. But basically, it boils down to your company's computers, phones, servers and other hardware, the software installed on them and the network between them.
How (and how well) they all talk to each other is what makes up your IT infrastructure. And just as poor transport infrastructure can mean long journey times, poor IT infrastructure can also mean slow or inefficient work. It's just a little faster and easier on a 4-lane motorway than a small potholed gravel path.
The good IT infrastructure
But how do you get a good IT infrastructure that can run at 130 kilometres per hour instead of just 30? Well, there's no definitive answer to that question. Because no two IT setups are the same. Even though the hardware and software may be the same, user behaviour is just as important in determining how the IT infrastructure should be built.
The hard part is putting together the right computers, servers, phones and other devices in a stable and fast network. But that's not all. A good IT infrastructure is also secure and looks after your organisation's data.
We have helped many companies review their IT infrastructure and optimise it. We call it a 360-degree analysis, and in it we look at your entire IT setup - and how you can optimise it.
3 tips for a secure IT infrastructure
Today, it's no longer a question of if your organisation will be hit by a cyber attack, but when, how often and how hard. That's why you should always build security into your IT infrastructure from the start.
However, this can be a bit of a challenge as more and more things become digitalised and more and more processes become automated. This also means that an IT infrastructure can easily become very large and complex - and therefore more difficult to keep secure.
But according to the IT industry, there are three things you can do to secure your organisation's IT infrastructure:
Make contingency plans and keep track of them.
When disaster strikes, it's crucial that you know what to do. If you have your processes in place, you can contain the danger and limit the damage faster. But creating an emergency response plan isn't something you make and then put in a drawer. It needs to be updated and tested regularly, preferably 1-2 times a year.
Invest in some good detection and response systems.
A simple antivirus and firewall is rarely enough - especially if you only use the free version. Good detection and response systems are money well spent because they can detect attacks quickly and automatically limit their scope. What you invest here will often save you money in the clean-up you would otherwise have to do after an attack.
Make sure you have external expertise you can draw on.
If you have a large and dedicated IT department that's on call 24/7, you can probably solve the problems yourself. But if you only have one or two IT employees, it might be a good idea to ally yourself with external people. Make a fixed agreement so that they know your business and your systems and are ready to step in quickly - or fill in when the IT manager is enjoying a night's sleep or a well-deserved holiday.
