Today, every company is a technology company. This has proven true throughout the era of digital transformation. No matter what industry you’re in, what you’re selling, or who you’re selling it to, technology plays a vital role in how you make, deliver, and market your products/services.
And as a result, IT infrastructure is no longer a set-it-and-forget-it support system underneath more important business processes. Now, IT infrastructure management is a main driver of business success. If it’s not handled properly, your business risks falling behind more agile and efficient competitors.
But for all the innovative technologies that have simplified business operations, IT infrastructure management is more complicated than ever.
For talent development leaders, IT infrastructure management challenges and complexities present an opportunity to build training programs that drive business value.
On a high level, IT infrastructure is the backbone of systems and processes that allow an organization to deliver solutions and services to the workforce and customers. More specifically, IT infrastructure management includes maintenance for:
- Hardware: The servers, data centers, switches, and other on-premises equipment that support IT services.
- Cloud Computing: IT infrastructure management isn’t just about on-premises equipment anymore. IT infrastructure training programs must also cover the various use cases for public, private, and hybrid cloud technology.
- Software: Various applications and services that are deployed throughout the organization—CRM, ERP, communications apps, etc.
- Networking: LAN and WAN connectivity as well as cybersecurity appliances like firewalls.
- Human Processes: All of the administrators, developers, and end users with access to IT systems and the processes required to maintain those systems and services.
In many cases, business leaders can rely on experienced technicians to understand the intricacies of legacy IT infrastructure. However, IT infrastructure management is evolving at a rate that outpaces even the most experienced employees, resulting in critical challenges that learning programs can help overcome.