What is IT infrastructure management services?

Infrastructure management is a method of monitoring and maintaining critical information technology (IT) infrastructure to ensure the best use of resources, protect against data loss, and monitor key aspects of local and cloud-based service utilization. Infrastructure management services ensure that complex IT infrastructure functions are operating appropriately and meeting business operational needs. A modern approach to IT infrastructure management typically covers a hybrid model that includes local and cloud-based assets.

Infrastructure management adds structure and visibility for IT assets. Maintaining an infrastructure that includes multiple complex systems across locales without a clear view of all assets can result in duplication of services as well as human efforts to maintain them. An organization’s IT infrastructure can be divided into three main groups (systems, network, storage management) and may include the following:

Hardware: Desktop computers, laptops, mobile devices, servers, and mainframes
Software: Critical enterprise software, such as Software-as-a-Service (SaaS), IBM Cognos Analytics, and Microsoft Azure
Operating Systems: MacOS, Linux, Unix, Windows
Data storage and management: Data servers and the software applications used to manage them
Telecom and networking: Virtual network servers, Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) servers, physical telephony equipment, routers, and more
Internet: Website and web hosting services equipment, as well as cloud-based development services/tools
Consulting and integration: Legacy systems require integration with or migration into modern systems or applications

A robust infrastructure management plan includes the development of standards and adherence to them. Documentation is essential to ensure regular knowledge transfer to the IT teams responsible for equipment and services. Maintaining consistency is an important goal of infrastructure management services.

What are the benefits of using a managed service provider (MSP)?

While companies should consider the use of a managed service provider (MSP) for IT infrastructure management, businesses leaders can benefit from even cursorily understanding IT infrastructure management services. By enhancing operations surrounding the three major components of IT infrastructure management — hardware, software, and networking — enterprises can leverage the potential of service offerings, increase reliability, bolster disaster recovery, and mitigate losses related to downtime.

Additionally, an IT infrastructure management service provider can provide companies with valuable expertise and, ultimately, peace of mind. A managed service provider (MSP) will might offer technical support to in-house staff, implement robust security processes, and set up and monitor user access. Before beginning work in earnest, the service provider will meet with company leaders to discuss service options and an infrastructure management roadmap.

IT infrastructure management services are particularly helpful for companies that employ cloud-based services (e.g., AWS Lambda, Amazon EC2, Microsoft Azure, and IBM Cloud).

In deciding what to look for in an IT infrastructure management firm, companies should consider the service provider’s reputation and customization abilities, assess their compliance procedures, and examine their disaster recovery processes. Further research might include talking to other clients and examining service offerings from competitors.

In some industries — healthcare, for example — IT problems demand immediate attention. In an emergency, proper IT infrastructure management becomes critical, and foresight rewarded. For this reason, IT infrastructure management best practices include proper disaster recovery planning, proactive thought, and frequent audits. In general, companies that have a service desk, or a single point of contact for IT services, benefit from greater operational efficiency and faster time to resolution (TTR).

What are the benefits of applying IT infrastructure management?

Ensure business continuity. A primary goal for IT infrastructure management is to ensure business continuity by preventing downtime and data loss. Infrastructure management allows for quicker response during emergency situations or other operational interruptions.

Ensure proactive maintenance. Infrastructure management services that include intelligent automation give businesses the ability to predict maintenance or replacement windows rather than approaching them as they happen. Proactive maintenance and replacement lessen opportunities for unplanned outages and unproductive downtime.

Increase employee efficiencies. Infrastructure management allows employees to choose a means of production that is more efficient and provides accurate information. Employees have the opportunity to better streamline workflows.

Achieve cost reduction. With IT infrastructure management, businesses can better plan for resource usage, because all assets (hardware, software, and data) are known or easily discoverable. Purchasing and usage costs can be reduced considerably when all aspects of infrastructure are more clearly visible through real-time asset performance management tools.