IT Infrastructure and Emerging Technologies

1. Challenges and Management Issues

1.1. Scalability and flexibility

1.2. Centralized vs. decentralized IT governance

1.3. Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) model

1.4. Competitive forces model for IT investments

2. Components of IT Infrastructure

2.1. omputer Hardware Platforms

2.2. Operating System Platforms

2.3. Enterprise Software Applications

2.4. Data Management and Storage

2.5. Networking/Telecommunications

2.6. Internet Platforms

2.7. Consulting and System Integration

3. Contemporary Trends

3.1. Cloud computing (IaaS, PaaS, SaaS)

3.2. Virtualization

3.3. BYOD (Bring Your Own Device)

3.4. Green computing (eco-friendly practices)

3.5. Open-source software

3.6. Mobile digital platforms

4. Definition and Components of IT Infrastructure

4.1. Physical devices and software

4.2. Firm-wide services

4.2.1. Computing platforms

4.2.2. Telecommunications

4.2.3. Data management

4.2.4. Application software

4.2.5. IT management and education

5. Evolution of IT Infrastructure

5.1. Mainframe and Minicomputer Era (1959–present)

5.2. Personal Computer Era (1981–present)

5.3. Client/Server Era (1983–present)

5.4. Enterprise Computing Era (1992–present)

5.5. Cloud and Mobile Computing Era (2000–present)

6. Technology Drivers of Infrastructure Evolution

6.1. Moore’s Law (processing power doubles every 18 months)

6.2. Declining costs of digital storage

6.3. Metcalfe’s Law (network value grows with the number of users)

6.4. Declining communication costs (explosion in Internet use)

6.5. Technology standards (compatibility, economies of scale)