Infrastructure

9 Key excerpts on "Infrastructure"

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  eBook - ePub

  Practical Guide to Clinical Computing Systems

  Design, Operations, and Infrastructure

  • Thomas Payne(Author)
  • 2014(Publication Date)
  • Academic Press

    (Publisher)

  Chapter 4

  Infrastructure

  David Chou    Chief Technology Officer, Information Technology Services, UW Medicine; Professor, Laboratory Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA USA

  Abstract

  Infrastructure refers to those resources and items required to successfully support and operate information systems. These items include, but are not limited to, security, networks, computers and closely associated hardware, their operation and management, data centers, and desktop computers. In many cases, these items may be purchased as services from a vendor, or are a part of services supported by groups within an organization. Infrastructure items often require large capital and operational expenditures, lengthy lead times, and highly technical skills. The internal versus the acquisition of these services from commercial suppliers is usually decided by economic tradeoffs and availability of local skills. Infrastructure also refers to hardware and software for the use and management of information systems. These include software to manage identity management (users and their passwords), logins (such as single sign-on or SSO), anti-virus software, firewalls, and software for remote access. Infrastructure plays a large role in supporting the security of information systems to protect data against accidental or inappropriate destruction, alteration, or access.

  Keywords anti-virus software firewalls security data center power usage effectiveness HIPAA virtualization thin-clients help desk single-sign on (SSO)

  Contents

  1.  Introduction   39

  2.  Data centers   40

  2.1  Electrical power   42

  2.2  Power distribution and backup power   44

  2.3  Cooling   45

  2.4  Data center reliability   46

  2.5  Environmental protection and data center security   47

  2.6  Data center management and remote data centers   48

  2.7  Future of data centers   49

  3.  Servers, operating systems, and databases   50

  4.  Managing the desktop and other clients   52

  4.1  Standardizing desktop configurations   54

  4.2  Patching, updating, cloning, and inventory

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  eBook - ePub

  Saving The Planet By Design

  Reinventing Our World Through Ecomimesis

  • Ken Yeang(Author)
  • 2019(Publication Date)
  • Routledge

    (Publisher)

  internal utilities, such as within buildings and usually hidden within the walls and ducts in the built structures above ground. The urban technological Infrastructures are as follows:

  External technological Infrastructures

  These include all networks of engineered utilities that are installed largely outside buildings. Examples include:

  • Road and routing systems, both above ground and underground, such as rail lines, and the vehicles that utilise them (cars, trains, buses, trucks, etc.).

  • Miscellaneous structures that are part of the urban realm such as bridges and tunnels.

  Underground transport systems; Docking areas, parts, airports, wharfs; Underground and undersea cables; Overhead power and telecommunication pylons and lines; Vacuum waste collections systems.

  • Sewerage lines and treatment systems.
  • Water reticulation systems.
  • Energy generation systems and electricity power lines.
  • Telecommunication and IT systems.
  • Urban gas systems.
  • Other urban utilities.

  For the sake of completeness, the conceptually mapped and regularly used routes for movement of people and goods by sea, air or space must be included, along with the vessels, aircraft and spacecraft that follow them. It may seem strange in a way to think of these amorphous media as ‘Infrastructure’. But in fact, we use many routes so often that our use leaves chemical and other ‘footprints’ such as the vapour trails of aircraft that have a significant effect on weather and climate.

  Internal Infrastructures in enclosures

  These are the engineering systems that are installed within buildings and built structures to enable humans and human-made machinery to function effectively and efficiently within the enclosures – that is to say, within any architecturally enclosed systems, building envelopes or other structures. These are often buildings massed laterally or vertically as super-enclosures. Within them, human society takes shelter from the elements to live, reproduce, work, manufacture and recreate. These are the mechanical and electrical systems/services, of which there are a bewildering array in the modern building. They include:

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  eBook - ePub

  RAPID Value Management for the Business Cost of Ownership

  Readiness, Architecture, Process, Integration, Deployment

  • Andrew Wigodsky(Author)
  • 2003(Publication Date)
  • Digital Press

    (Publisher)

  7

  Integration: Coherent Infrastructure

  7.1 Introduction

  Integration is what happens when you bring architecture and processes together with your resources. Your model for integrating your IT enterprise must focus on the needs of the most integrated technologies. Infrastructure is the parts of a solution used by more than half of an organization. These components are so important that without them, you have no solution. The network, directories, email, and other Internet operations are often of such great importance to customers that the organization itself must agree to accept the standard definitions—often called Infrastructure. Maintain your Infrastructure consistently; these components are your heart and lungs. This chapter can help you learn to model integration of technology components, by discovering how the relationship between architecture and process affects the day-to-day operational components of IT. The section on operations Infrastructure explains how the Infrastructure supports core services and the integration needs of all IT systems and processes. The section on operations management can help you manage the day-to-day operations of your IT environment, and the section on operations support addresses the needs of incident- and problem-based support for stakeholders.

  What are operations?

  Operations are the day-to-day processes; the ways most IT support staff spend their workday. It is important to continually improve these Infrastructures and remove complexity. What does it mean to reduce complexity of your Infrastructure? Why is it important in the first place? One HP presenter explained some of the most common customer concerns: (See Table 7.1 )

  Table 7.1 Challenges to IT operations

  How do you manage operations?

  Operations are systems—they are one in the same. Operations are when you integrate architecture and process with the actual components; putting resources to work on activities under known constraints and well-communicated expectations. The answer to effective operations is having the right resources make the right decisions at the right time, just in time. Too often, we consider that the only way to manage operations is to have a single person or vendor responsible for a number of computer “boxes” that happen to be running software. IT departments change focus, almost cyclically, between architecture and process—without maintaining the investment between cycles. In fact, the only method of managing IT operations that has proved effective over time is the balanced application of Infrastructure and software management.

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  eBook - ePub

  The Remote Work Handbook

  The Definitive Guide for Operationalizing Remote Work as a Competitive Business Strategy

  • Mari Anne Snow(Author)
  • 2022(Publication Date)
  • Productivity Press

    (Publisher)

  A quick disclaimer, there is no one way to accomplish remote work Infrastructure and I don’t intend to do a deep dive into today’s specific Infrastructure technology choices as the choices are endless and changing by the minute. Nor do I have specific technical or product recommendations. If I do reference a product, it’s to highlight a concept. It’s not an endorsement. I’m not a network administrator, cloud computing, cybersecurity, or a technology expert and don’t claim to be. My goal is to elevate your awareness of the important part technology plays in remote work. Technical Infrastructure is a necessary component and I’m starting with it because remote work can’t exist without it. I want to provide you with enough background so you can ask the right questions of the experts you consult as part of your planning process. Most businesses will leverage third-party solutions for some or all their remote work Infrastructure. Finding reputable options is vital. To do this, you need to know some of the basics.

  Every remote work organization these days leverages internet service providers (ISPs) and the cloud in some way. But there is no single configuration. Your Infrastructure must complement your business objectives. You will need help building it, testing it, deploying it, keeping it secure, and maintaining it. There are lots of ways to do this. Some companies invest in a capable internal team. This team will look quite different than previous network administration teams that supported a traditional hardwired on-premises local area network (LAN). Today’s IT (Information Technology) teams are much smaller and more reliant on technical versatility, and critical thinking skills. They must be good problem solvers and keep learning new, emerging technology trends to stay ahead of new technology to maintain their relevance. Some companies outsource everything through strategic partnerships with third party IT Service Management (ITSM) technology vendors. Most companies have a cobbled together solution that combines the two.

  Everything I discuss in this chapter has distinct pros and cons for your business. It’s not for me to say which one is best for you. I’m highlighting the components to ensure you include them in your plan and ensure you have what you need to do your due diligence during your implementation. I’ve defined Infrastructure as one big technology component that encompasses internet connectivity, hardware, software, strategy, support, system/business processes, and security. This is because interoperability – the seamless knitting of many systems so they work effectively as one integrated system supports your remote work business operation. In preparation for this chapter, I reached out to several trusted chief information officer (CIO) colleagues and expert technology partners to get their perspective on remote work Infrastructure today, and I’ve synthesized their feedback into the following categories:

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  System of Systems Engineering

  Innovations for the 21st Century

  • Mohammad Jamshidi, Andrew P. Sage(Authors)
  • 2011(Publication Date)
  • Wiley

    (Publisher)

  Chapter 11 System of Systems Perspectives on Infrastructures WIL A.H. THISSEN and PAULIEN M. HERDER Delft University of Technology, The Netherlands 11.1 INTRODUCTION

  The functioning of modern society to a large degree depends on the quality of the infrastructural facilities available. Physical Infrastructures such as networks for transport, water and energy provision, waste removal, and telecommunications provide the basic conditions for the functioning of individuals and businesses. Technological progress and the shift to a predominantly service–oriented economy have brought the information, telecommunication, and knowledge Infrastructures to the forefront.

  Over time, Infrastructures have become increasingly critical to the functioning of society, as economic and social processes to a large extent rely on the services provided by such systems. Failure of these Infrastructures is one of the most important vulnerabilities of modern society as has been demonstrated by the detrimental effects of interrupted water provision, electricity blackouts, or failing telecommunications in the past.

  Historically, Infrastructures have been physically and logically separated systems. Advances in technology, and especially in information technology, however, have led to an integration and interlinking of the various Infrastructures. Many of the critical Infrastructures depend upon a stable and reliable electricity supply. Failure in the electricity Infrastructure consequently harms many aspects of society. Similarly, information and communication technology (ICT) systems have become crucial for the functioning of most if not all other Infrastructure systems (and for many other sectors as well).

  In addition to the inherent vulnerability of the interconnected Infrastructures, many of them are or have been in institutional change processes, such as privatization and liberalization processes. This seriously complicates the matter of reliable and safe design and operation of the Infrastructures, because many more actors are involved in the system, each with their own goals and objectives. Especially the interplay between technological, behavioural, and institutional factors and sometimes the rapid expansion of the number of public and private parties involved increase the complexity of the infrasystem. Further, the increasing transboundary dependencies require analysis and design at the international level for technological and institutional innovations. Finally, the tensions between market concerns addressing (short term) economic gains and quality of service, issues of equity and fairness, and long–term sustainability requirements complicate the design and operation of infrasystems.

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  eBook - ePub

  Solution Architecture Foundations

  • Mark Lovatt(Author)
  • 2021(Publication Date)
  • BCS, The Chartered Institute for IT

    (Publisher)

  Map SBBs to Infrastructure services , itemising Infrastructure services and components that meet the solution requirements.
• Define networking Infrastructure , modelling the connectivity required to fulfil the needs of the interfaces between solution and Infrastructure components.
• Iteratively refine to meet functional requirements and NFRs , testing the target Infrastructure architecture against the solution requirements and making modifications where necessary.
• Assure end-to-end security , assessing the solution and Infrastructure architectures against security standards and removing or mitigating vulnerabilities.
• Identify gaps in Infrastructure services , itemising any gaps in provision or capacity and reporting on the costs and other implications for change.
• Validate the solution technology definition , reviewing with senior stakeholders and obtaining sign-off from the business.
7.2 PRECURSORS, REQUIREMENTS AND CONTEXT
The starting point for solution technology definition is the solution design. This contains the components and interfaces that make up the solution and define its scope.
Any technology needed for the solution must be within this scope. For both solution and Infrastructure architecture, however, impacts may extend beyond the scope of the solution. For example, a change to an existing system could impact other users even though they are out of scope for the solution.
Other models, artefacts and documents can provide additional detail to support the process of solution technology definition. The solution architecture team is responsible for making all necessary information available for use by the Infrastructure architecture function and any other roles involved. This can include: