Analysis of IT Infrastructure: Components, Cloud, Security Challenges

This report provides an overview of IT infrastructure components, including hardware platforms, operating systems, enterprise software, data management, networking, and internet platforms. It discusses virtualization and cloud computing, highlighting security issues such as DDoS attacks, system vulnerabilities, data loss, phishing, and shared cloud services. The report also covers scaling web applications in the cloud and the roles and responsibilities of an IT infrastructure manager, including vendor management, defining procedures, IT strategy, monitoring, and ensuring the right software and tools are in place. The report references resources on bullet text study guides and cloud computing security issues.

IT INFRASTRUCTURE
COMPONENTS OF IT INFRASTRUCTURE
 Hardware platforms: Client and server machines are included in this.
 Operating system platforms: Platforms that was used for client computers are either Windows
or UNIX based platforms.
 Enterprise and other software application: Comprises of PeopleSoft, SAP, middle-
ware software and Oracle.
 Data management and storage: It includes traditional storage techniques such as disk arrays
libraries and newer network-based storage techniques such as storage area networks (SANs).
 Networking and telecommunication platform: Linux, Novell, UNIX, Windows server operat-
ing systems, and it utilises TCP/IP protocol for data transmission.
 Internet platforms: Internet infrastructure comprises of intranets, and extranets, Web software
application development tools, hardware and software to manage corporate Web sites and
Web hosting services.
 Consulting and system integration services: It comprises of legacy system with new technolo-
gy and infrastructure. It helps in making changes in business processes, training, and software
integration .
Virtualisation and Cloud Computing based IT Infrastructure
Scaling Web Applications in a cloud
Security issues in using cloud as an IT infrastructure
 Distributed-Denial-of-Service Attacks.
 System Vulnerabilities
 Data Loss and Inadequate Data Backups
 Phishing and Social Engineering Attacks
 Shared Cloud Computing Services.
 Employee related faults can give easy access to at-
tackers.
Roles and responsibilities of IT infrastructure manager
 IT manager must be able to do physical cabling, server management and networking.
 Vendor management is his responsibility where he makes strong relationship with
them.
 Defining procedures and standards for working and managing the IT services.
 They have the responsibility of making strategy for IT.
 Monitoring and reporting of IT infrastructure so as to overcome challenges.
 Ensuring that right software and IT tools are placed to manage the infrastructure.
REFERENCES
Paginas, 2019. Section 5.2: Bullet Text Study Guide . [Online] Available: https://
paginas.fe.up.pt/~als/mis10e/ch5/chpt5-2bullettext.htm . [Accessed on 11th May
2019]
Zissis, D. and Lekkas, D., 2012. Addressing cloud computing security is-
sues. Future Generation computer systems, 28(3), pp.583-592.