Are you interested in enterprise IT? Well, this is a good place to start learning about it.
In premise, enterprise IT consists of a variety of sub-services and aspects that make up the entire infrastructure of technology for any given company. But more on this later.
In this article, we will cover what it is, as well as take a closer look at the major categories of enterprise IT services.
So if that’s something you would like to learn about, keep reading.
What Is Enterprise IT?
Enterprise IT as a whole consists of technology services, staff, and support that is pertinent to the enterprise’s systems. As well as their budgets, strategy, management, and policy.
Enterprise IT includes many of the systems that universities and colleges make use of to manage and store data. As well as execute processes, regardless of them being hosted on the cloud, on-premises, or through shared providers.
It has an administrative focus rather than one of the academics. Because it deals with the core business activities, enterprise IT is critical to the success of any growth-oriented enterprise.
The management of these core services goes beyond ensuring technology is up to date. For instance, as many entities move their services to the cloud, the obligation for managing services remains the obligation of the enterprise IT staff.
The transition from local to cloud causes IT to avert their focus on contract management. As well as collaborations with functional units, vendor relations, and data integration.
To define enterprise IT is complicated. The fact of the matter is that it is always different for each entity. Learning management systems and analytics are two examples. Each shows how enterprise IT can vary based on management.
The end-user support might fall under different circumstances than resource management for the platform. For instance, if the learning management system is maintained on-premises, servicing of the resource is probably an enterprise IT concern. While the maintenance of use support might belong to a different function outside of IT at a decentralized level.
In a similar fashion, resource management for analytics might be an enterprise IT concern. But, user support for decision making might be shared across academic areas. As well as business operations, institutional research, and other functional entities.
Enterprise IT Extended
Enterprise IT also consists of resources that are provisioned by central IT. This enables decentralized functional units to run their own IT services. This might include access services and authentication, policy development, contract management, etc.
Enterprise IT is at an evolutionary state. Mostly due to the adoption and improved viability of cloud services. A shift is occurring that focuses on managing services rather than technologies.
There is also a redevelopment of how IT is completed. Thus methodologies such as ITSM, Lean, and DevOps are of paramount use.
In any case, enterprise IT management can get quite difficult. Hence why you should outsource these services to specialists who are able to upscale and maintain your systems for the long-term.
Let’s take a look at the main categories of enterprise IT.
Infrastructure O&M
In this subset, enterprise IT is responsible for the entire infrastructure architecture. As well as management, installation, and support for continual uptime services.
For instance, data center managed services might include:
- Environmental monitoring and load balancing
- Interactive servicing catalogs.
As well as cloud strategies and transformation, or multi-tenant housing and hosting.
For server administration:
- Virtualization
- Messaging
- Patch management
- Directory and file services
For storage administration, network-attached storage and storage area networks are appropriate. As well as system administration through database organization
For asset management, configuration control, technology updates, and inventory/logistics support are critical.
Not to mention, operations planning and disaster recovery is also an important faculty of this category.
Unified Communications
For this subset, secure video, voice, and data networks are supported on a highly scalable and reliable telecommunications backend.
For instance, in network design and administration, considerations such as:
- wired/wireless
- unclassified/classified
- non-secured/secured
Are critically important to the entire structure of the category.
Telephony switch systems and VoIP technology support the use of tactical data link transmission. As well as inside/outside cable plant maintenance and installation.
For communication systems:
- The use of personal wireless systems
- Public address systems
- Satellite comms
- 911 emergency services
- Space launch communications
- Video teleconferencing systems
- Ground-based mobile radio systems
All of these are possible with unified communications.
End-User Support
The management of 24/7 response support (hands-on or remote) for the optimization of user productivity is also critical.
It consists of tiered service desk support, account management, data archiving/restoration. As well as desk-side support. Such as system applications management, network connectivity, HW/SW configuration, and maintenance.
Cyber Security
The importance of monitoring networks and imprinting safeguards for support systems is invaluable. As it contributes to preventing unauthorized access, as well as other threats.
This is done via information assurance. Such as compliance auditing, qualitative/quantitive risk analysis. As well as ensuring secure communications via data encryption or cryptographic support.
An enterprise will also need an incident response and remediation. In addition to accreditation and authorization of certification.
For network defense:
- Boundary protection
- Penetration and intrusion testing
- Firewall management
- Vulnerability countermeasures
Cybersecurity is quite personable, so don’t expect each of these to apply to you.
Software & Systems Engineering
For this subset, the entire range of integrated services for the delivery of interoperable optimize software and system solutions is implemented.
This includes life cycle management, such as fielding and sustainment, capacity planning, requirements analysis, data management, IV/V testing.
Some other parts of this are:
- COTS customization
- System integration
- Agile Scrum
- Kanban
- DevOps
- SW development
- application security and PKI
- Technology insertion through performance engineering
But that’s not all. The services available depend on the provider.
No Way to Avoid Enterprise IT
Now that you know what enterprise IT is. As well as how it actually looks on the premise of categorized analysis, you are well on your way to determine whether or not it’s important you.
If you’re looking to run an enterprise that holds its weight and grows, there is no way to avoid enterprise IT. You either make use of it, or you get drowned by it.
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