Infrastructure hierarchy typically refers to the layered structure of technologies and systems that support a given service, application, or business function. This concept can be especially useful when considering IT (Information Technology) infrastructure. Here’s a generalized hierarchy of IT infrastructure components, starting from the foundational elements and moving up to more abstract or user-facing components:
Physical Layer:
- Components: Hardware, servers, routers, switches, physical cables, data centers.
- Description: This is the tangible, physical foundation upon which all other infrastructure is built.
Network Layer:
- Components: LAN (Local Area Network), WAN (Wide Area Network), VPN (Virtual Private Network), firewalls, network protocols, IP addresses.
- Description: This layer ensures that data can be transmitted between devices and locations.
Storage Layer:
- Components: Hard drives, SSDs, storage area networks (SAN), network-attached storage (NAS), cloud storage solutions.
- Description: This is where data is stored and retrieved.
Compute Layer:
- Components: Virtual machines, server clusters, CPU, RAM.
- Description: Responsible for processing data and running applications.
Virtualization Layer:
- Components: Hypervisors (like VMware vSphere, Microsoft Hyper-V), virtual networks, virtual storage.
- Description: Allows for the creation of virtual environments on top of physical infrastructure, optimizing resource usage.
Operating System Layer:
- Components: Windows, Linux, macOS, system drivers.
- Description: Provides a platform for applications and users to interact with the underlying hardware.
Middleware Layer:
- Components: Web servers (like Apache, Nginx), database management systems (DBMS), message queues.
- Description: Software that acts as a bridge between the operating system and applications.
Application Layer:
- Components: Enterprise software, customer relationship management (CRM) systems, financial systems, email servers.
- Description: User-facing applications that fulfill specific business functions.
Data Layer:
- Components: Databases, big data systems, data warehouses.
- Description: This is where structured and unstructured data is stored, managed, and retrieved.
User Layer:
- Components: End-user devices like computers, smartphones, tablets, user interfaces of applications.
- Description: The point of interaction between the infrastructure and the end-users.
Understanding the infrastructure hierarchy helps IT professionals design, manage, and troubleshoot systems effectively. It also aids in ensuring that the right investments are made at the appropriate levels to support business objectives.
Key terms in plain language
Open a term for a concise explanation of language used on this page.
VPN
A virtual private network creates an encrypted connection across another network, commonly allowing remote users or offices to access private resources securely.
Cloud Computing
Computing resources—such as applications, servers, storage, or databases—delivered from remote infrastructure and scaled as requirements change.
Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS)
Cloud-based servers, storage, and networking that customers configure and manage without owning the underlying data-center hardware.
Software as a Service (SaaS)
Software accessed as an online service instead of being installed and maintained entirely on the customer’s own computers or servers.
Disaster Recovery (DRaaS)
A plan and service for restoring applications, data, and operations after an outage or disruption. DRaaS provides recovery infrastructure through a managed cloud service.
Identity and Access Management (IAM)
The systems and policies that determine who a user is, what resources they may access, and how that access is authenticated and reviewed.