Understanding IT Operations vs. IT Infrastructure

For any business having robust IT Operations and IT, Infrastructure teams are essential for the smooth delivery of services. However, there may be some confusion about what each of these individual teams does.

In a nutshell, IT Operations (IT Ops) and IT Infrastructure work in conjunction with each other, with IT Ops seeking to control IT Infrastructure to deliver effective services to support the business.

What are IT Operations?

In essence, this is the framework within which IT Infrastructure works. It involves the initial setup and design of the infrastructure, configuration, and ongoing maintenance to support business services.

IT Ops oversees and maintains control of the management systems that support the business in its objectives.

This sector has seen a seismic shift with the advent of cloud storage, and with it, the way systems are designed. While there are some advantages to cloud storage, in that businesses only need to pay for what they use, and the fact that as a storage solution it provides elasticity, scalability, and flexibility, it is not necessarily a cheaper solution.

What is IT Infrastructure?

If IT operations are responsible for overseeing the process, then what is IT infrastructure when it comes to business? IT infrastructure is the nuts and bolts of the system.

It encompasses all the virtual and physical technologies used to network, process, and store data within the system. This can be hardware components such as data centers, servers and computers, or applications to support the needs of the business. 

While IT Ops Teams take a macro view of the process, IT Infrastructure deals with the mechanics of the system. The team is also responsible for recommending upgrades and new systems to support the business’ needs.

I & O Working in Harmony

In some scenarios, there may be two independent teams working on Ops and Infrastructure or just one dividing their time between the two functions. In a perfect world, IT Ops and Infrastructure (I & O) work seamlessly together delivering the desired goal of operational stability.

While this might be easier said than done, it is the responsibility of the Ops Team to plan ahead to allow IT Infrastructure to provide a continuous service. Through strategic planning, resource allocation and execution, IT Ops enables better business outcomes. It’s a challenge in the world of technology where changes happen fast and frequently.

The Future of I & O

It is expected that digital infrastructure will continue to evolve, enhancing customer experience and using intelligence/automation to facilitate business operations.

Artificial intelligence will play a key role in the monitoring, organization, and management of data, and it’s expected that other areas of the business that are currently not IT-driven may adopt the systems and expertise of IT Operations to optimize their efficiency.

AI may also play a larger role in security measures to ensure systems and associated data are kept safe and to alert management if protocols are breached. These developments will ensure a more streamlined, efficient system and that man-hours are spent on activities in line with the development of the business rather than time-consuming menial tasks.