Week Three

Question 1

What is IT infrastructure

Answer 1

• Set of physical devices and software required to operate an enterprise
• Set of firm-wide services including:
   Computing platforms providing computing services
   Physical facilities & management services
   IT management, education, and other services

Question 2

Technology Drivers of Infrastructure Evolution

Answer 2

• Declining communication costs and the Internet
• Standards and network effects: Technology standards
   Specifications that establish the compatibility of products and the
  ability to communicate in a network
   Unleash powerful economies of scale and result in price declines

Question 3

What Are the Components of IT Infrastructure

Answer 3

1. Computer hardware platforms
2. Operating system platforms
3. Enterprise software applications
4. Data management and storage
5. Networking/telecommunications platforms
6. Internet platforms
7. Consulting system integration services

Question 4

Scalability

Answer 4

Ability to expand to serve larger number of users

Question 5

Centralized

Answer 5

Central IT department makes decisions

Question 6

Decentralized

Answer 6

Business unit IT departments make own decisions

Question 7

Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) Model

Answer 7

• Analyzes direct and indirect costs
• Hardware, software account for only about 20% of TCO

Other costs
 Installation, training, support, maintenance, infrastructure, downtime,
space, and energy

• TCO can be reduced
   Use of cloud services, greater centralization and standardization of
  hardware and software resources

Question 8

Cloud computing – Definition

Answer 8

1. On demand service
2. Ubiquitous network access
3. Location-independent resource pooling
4. Rapid elasticity
5. Measured service (pay for use)