NATIONAL UNIVERSITY OF MODERN LANGUAGES

ISLAMABAD

MANAGEMENT INFORMATION SYSTEMS (MIS)

Assignment N0 2
Submitted to
Ms. Qurat Raja

Submitted By
Sana Khalid
(BSAF-1625)

Submission Date: September 24th October 2023

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 Assignment # 02:
Q1: Define Information Technology (IT) infrastructure and its significance in
supporting Information Management Systems.
Ans: Information Technology Infrastructure:
It includes the components that operate and manage IT operations collectively. Organizations
use IT infrastructure to manage, process and store information. These components act as main
elements of IT and are therefore called its infrastructure. So, IT is the backbone of Management
Information Systems and plays a significant role in entity’s performance.

Components:
Following are the components of IT infrastructure and act as its main elements:
 Hardware: This aspect of IT infrastructure consists of physical devices which are used
or with the help of which an IT infrastructure works. It includes both input\output devices
and equipment such as computers, servers, data cables, routers, wires, switches, data
centers etc. Hardware is used to transmit and store data.
 Software: This aspect of IT infrastructure consists of the programs and applications that
run on hardware. Their function is to manage and secure data. It includes Operating
Systems (OS), Customer Relationship Management (CRM) etc.
 Networking: it acts as the backbone of IT infrastructure and is crucial for data
communication. It also connects all the devices within an organization. It comprises of
servers, hubs and routers, Content Management Systems (CMS) etc.
 Data Storage: An organization keeps vast amounts of data including both relevant and
irrelevant data, businesses need to arrange proper data storage that is essential for
preserving, managing, security and retaining information when required.
 Server rooms: an entity needs to keep multiple servers in a room called server room or
data center. Servers are essential computers that allow multiple computers to store and
share their data and resources.
 Meatware: It refers to “human resources” which means the IT professionals, skilled and
experienced employees. They are vital and often overlooked as without them no system,
infrastructure or entity can operate. So, they must not be neglected.
All of these are components of a traditional infrastructure. Unlike traditional, cloud infrastructure
is also a type of infrastructure that is publicly used nowadays. Cloud Infrastructure, also referred
to as public cloud, helps the end user to access their required information through the internet,
without considering their geographical location. They can use computing resources or data even
without installation. This infrastructure type has helped people a lot as it is readily available
without processes.

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Significance:
MIS is an integrated system for providing information to carry on operations, management
and decision making for an enterprise. IT infrastructure is as essential as a backbone for
operating businesses. It provides essential information for data communication, availability and
processes. Following points elaborate the efficiency of IT infrastructure in supporting
Management Information Systems:

 Flexibility:
IT infrastructure is easy, reliable, flexible and secure. It is easy to use and understand. A skilled
employee is required for such equipment. If any sort of compromise is made on the training of
employee will harm the productivity of the business. It provides data security, which is a top
priority for businesses. Different software of safety measures is used to make data available to
only those that are relevant and provide safeguard against cyber threats.

 Increase Productivity:
An IT infrastructure provides businesses with increased productivity as it is well structured,
reduces biases, helps in problem solving, information is readily available and equipment that
allows employees to work efficiently with their full. Ultimately, it boosts productivity.

 Goal accomplishment:
It enables an entity to attain its short- and long-term goals. An efficient IT infrastructure can
achieve a competing edge in the market. Initiating from customer satisfaction till long term
trusted relationships with the customers also helps businesses reach their goals, as maintaining
relationships with the customers counts as a goal for many enterprises.

 Overhead Reduction:
Using IT practices for documentation, monitoring and inventory management allows
convenience for IT resources. Such IT practices flatten the way for employees through time
management so that they spend less time arguing and running for factual data. Similarly, it
reduces the cost of more and more labor as few can do stuff yet efficiently. Ultimately, it reduces
overheads.

 Innovation:
IT infrastructure enables businesses to practice new ideas, technologies and services. It makes
different resources and platforms available for research and development, that helps businesses
grow in a rapidly evolving market.

 Decision making:
Accurate and readily available data and speedy equipment makes it easy for an organization to
make informed decision making, find ways to survive in every type of situation and constantly
evolving in the market.

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Q2: What are the primary components of an IT infrastructure, and how do they
interact to deliver IT services?
Answer:
Primary Components of IT infrastructure:
When we talk about Information Technology Infrastructure, we mean an integrated system. This
system consists of different components. These not only include tangible components like
peripheral devices but also comprises of intangible devices as software, applications etc. An IT
infrastructure consists of lot of components, but the primary ones are as follows:

1. Hardware:
Hardware plays a very critical role in IT infrastructure. Other components such as software and
networking cannot operate without hardware, as they are not physical components. It acts like a
bridge as it provides the means for software and networks to run on a PC. It comprises input and
output devices that help businesses enter, store and transmit data. Input devices include mouse,
keyboard, scanner, microphone etc while output devices include printer, monitor, speakers,
headsets, projector etc. The speed and adaptability of your infrastructure depends on your
hardware, that’s why u should keep on updating your hardware components.

2. Software:
It is a set of instructions used to operate computer and perform specific tasks. It consists of the
programs and applications that run on hardware. Without software, hardware is useless. Their
function is to manage and secure data. Two main categories of software are application software
and system software, the others are programming software, driver software and middleware etc.
All these types of software tell or lead the computer about what to do and how to do. Software
acts as a bridge between enabling computer and hardware, telling how to perform functions.
Software plays critical role in IT:
 It makes decision making easier through manipulation, storage and retrieval etc.
 Acts as a source of communication internally and globally.
 It reduces human error by providing automation.
 Saves time spent on repetitive tasks
3. Data centers:
A data center is a facility that centralizes an organization’s IT operations and equipment for the
purposes of storing and processing data. They house an organization’s most critical data, that’s
why they are essential for the continuity of daily operations. Every business needs equipment to
run applications, advertise and sell their products to customers and keep operations management.
To keep an eye on all these activities, data centers are made as they are cost effective and
convenient. Following is the role of data centers in IT infrastructure:

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  Plays a role in data management including retrieving, storing, managing, processing and
storing.
 Improves resource utilization
 Increases productivity and efficiency
 Provides data security through biometric, surveillance cameras etc.
 Provides high speed network connectivity and ensures that all devices are connected.
4. Networking:
Networking is a combination of hardware and software and allows communication between
them. For example, your printers are connected to a computer via wires or wireless connection.
This connection is called networking and wires are network infrastructure. Acts as an exchange
of information and data between different devices and locations. It includes switches, routers,
cables and LAN’s etc. Networking plays an important role in IT infrastructure as follows:
 Allows efficient communication among employees.
 Reduces time and effort in completing tasks.
 Results in enhanced productivity and efficiency.
 Provides a secure environment, protecting against cyber security.
 Enables sharing data despite location.

Q3: Explain the concept of cloud computing and its impact on IT infrastructure.
Ans: Cloud Computing:
Simply defined, cloud computing the delivery of computer services over internet. As we know
that internet has a huge scope as it has made world a global villagge. Every single detail is put
their and the user can enjoy the fastest and convenient source of information. thesee are all
cloud services that we are available with, with lower operating costs. It invludes data storages,
servers, software, networking and data analysis. It has replaced the old traditional infrastructure
of physical effoprt and equipment.

Types of Cloud Computing:

It comsists of many types, as all types are not suitable for everyone and no single is harmful for
anyone. In order to serve evry type of customer, it has been classified into many types as
follows:

 Public cloud:
They are owned and operated by third parties such as internet service provders. Usong a public
cloud, all hardware and softeware is manged and owned by the cloud provider. And is made
available to induividuals, nusimesses and organizations. It is available to everyone with an
internet connection. It is highly available to everyone, emerging itself as cost effective.

 Private cloud:

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It is the one in which the data is maintained by a private network over the internet. Some
business maintain their own cloud and act as their service providers. They may be located inside
the data center. It is made for a single organuzation, is nott shared woth anyone else and is made
for the user of that specific organization. This type of network provides high levek of securioty
room other users and tailor according to their customers’ requirements. Organizations such as
finance or government may use it whose requirements are to make data strictly private.

 Hybrid Cloud:
It involves the properties of both public and private clouds. It provides technology that helps
bound the data of both public and private cloud, so that data may be shared between them. Due
to this the efficiency of the business increases leading it to the accomplishment of its long- and
short-term goals. Thus, businesses become much more flexible, and the number of users are
enhanced.

Role of Cloud Computing in IT infrastructure:

Cloud computing infrastructure comprises of two layers, physical and abstract layer. The
physical layer consists of servers, network devices and storage data while abstraction layer works
on the physical layer and includes various software. In the following is explained the role of
cloud computing in IT infrastructure:
 They have data centers located around the world.
 Data is highly protected from cyber threats, with the help of different security software.
 Allows users to access resources and collaborate from anywhere with the internet. This
has given rise to remote work.
 Allows organizations to store and manage large amounts of data.
 It is cost effective as it has reduced the cost of investing in hardware. It is cost effective
as it has reduced the cost of investing in hardware.
Hence, cloud computing is a source for individuals, businesses and organizations to adopt better
decision making, efficient work, enhanced production, skilled employee, attaining of goals,
availability of data and information and to bring novelty in businesses products and services.
Q4: Discuss the benefits and challenges of adopting mobile and edge computing technologies in
businesses.
Ans: Adopting mobile and other technologies: