Information technology (or IT) refers to the use of computers, storage, networks and devices, infrastructures and processes to create, process, store, secure and exchange all kinds of electronic data.
Information technology is generally used in the context of business operations, as opposed to technology used in personal or entertainment settings. Commercial use of IT includes computing and telephony.
The term “information technology” was first used by the Harvard Business Review to distinguish between machines specifically designed to perform a limited set of functions and general-purpose computing devices that can be programmed to various tasks.
With the evolution of the computer industry from the middle of the 20th century, IT included transistors and integrated circuits. The possibilities of computing have evolved while the cost of materials and energy consumption have fallen. This cycle continues with the emergence of new technologies.
Computer software and hardware IT includes several levels of equipment (hardware), virtualization, management or automation tools, operating systems and applications (software) for the execution of the main functions.
Devices, peripherals and user software, such as laptops, smartphones and even recording devices, can be part of IT. IT can also refer to the architectures, methodologies and rules governing the use and storage of data.
Business applications include databases, transactional systems such as real-time order entry, mail servers, web servers, and customer relationship management (CRM) and enterprise resource planning systems (or ERP for Enterprise Resource Planning).
These applications execute programmed instructions to manipulate, consolidate and disperse data, or to assign it to a business objective. Computer servers run business applications. Servers interact with client users and other servers on one or more corporate networks.
Storage includes all technologies that retain information in the form of data. This information can take different forms: files or telephony data, Web or multimedia data, data from sensors or other formats. Storage includes random access memory (RAM), volatile, and non-volatile memory whether on tape, hard drive or SSD.
IT architectures have evolved and now include virtualization and cloud computing: physical resources are dematerialized and integrated into different configurations to meet application needs.
In the cloud, resources can be distributed across multiple locations and shared with other users (public cloud), or pooled in corporate data centers (private cloud). There are also hybrid configurations (hybrid cloud).
IT training and professional functions A team of administrators and technical collaborators deploys and manages the company’s IT infrastructure and assets. IT teams need a wide range of specialized information and technology skills and knowledge to support devices, applications and operations.
External contractors and support staff from IT vendors can augment the IT team. The information technology sector has a wide variety of professions: IT professionals can specialize in software development, application management, hardware (desktop support, server or storage administrator) and the network architecture.
Many companies are looking for IT professionals with varying or overlapping skills. Current IT positions CIO: Person responsible for IT and IT systems that support business objectives. Technical director: person who defines the technological and strategic orientations of the company.
IT manager: person responsible for the operation of all the company’s technological tools and processes. This role is also called IT manager. System Administrator: A person who configures, manages, maintains and troubleshoots a multi-user computing environment.
In an enterprise, this role may be segmented by technology and require an administrator or team dedicated to server, workstation, network, virtualization, or other co
