1. What is Information Technology?

The term information technology was coined by the Harvard Business Review, in

order to make a distinction between purpose-built machines designed to perform a
limited scope of functions and general-purpose computing machines that could be
programmed for various tasks.
Information technology is the study, design, development, implementation,
support or management of computer-based information systems—particularly software
applications and computer hardware. IT workers help ensure that computers work well
for people. In the most basic definition, information technology is the application of
technology to solve business or organizational problems on a broad scale.
Usually, IT is used in the context of enterprise operations as opposed to personal
or entertainment technologies. The commercial use of IT encompasses both computer
technology and telephony.

2. Business Tools
Customer Relationship Management (CRM) software

Successful entrepreneurs make it a priority to get to know their customers and ensure
greater customer satisfaction. One way they do this is by implementing a Customer
Relationship Management or CRM system. It keeps track of customer interactions,
preferences, issues and interests.

Analytical software

Customer-related data is generated in vast quantities, every day. Companies collect

transactional data and non-transactional data from various sources, including mobile
interactions, phone conversations, and website visits. Even small businesses can
benefit greatly from analyzing this data, to gain insights that dictate business-critical
decisions and enable personalizing of service to individual customers.

In recent years, cloud-based services have been bringing a ray of hope to the gloomy
landscape of business expenses. By opting for these services, companies can cut costs
and save on infrastructure-related expenses. Here are two cloud-based tools or
services that can lead to success:

Cloud-based storage and file sharing applications

Dropbox is the most popular among these, but there are alternatives as well. As long as
the application is installed on a device, you can log in and access files stored in the
cloud, anytime, anywhere. You can restrict information access by choosing who you
want to share the files with.

Cloud telephony

Telecom infrastructure in the cloud is in and installing your own expensive EPABX
infrastructure is out. Successful entrepreneurs know the advantages of such a model.
Your business can enjoy a professional communications system with features like
Interactive Voice Response (IVR), call tracking, call recording, click-to-call, and
conferencing, among others. This will help you gain more leads and build your
business, very cost-effectively. Your cloud telephony services provider even carries out
all required maintenance, so you don’t have to.

Social media platforms

Successful entrepreneurs see opportunities to leverage popular social media platforms.

From Facebook to LinkedIn, Twitter or Instagram, you can use social media to promote
your business, update customers about company-related events and activities and
showcase thought leadership. It’s a great way to reach out to thousands of users. You
can also read what customers are saying about you and respond appropriately. For
example, if a customer complains on Twitter, take the matter seriously and resolve the
issue.

Online ratings and reviews websites

Sign up as a business, read the reviews and respond with diplomacy and grace.
Customers tend to talk about their bad experiences with your brand and poor ratings
can negatively impact your business. A successful entrepreneur leverages review sites
to learn from criticism and show annoyed customers that they care. A well-worded
apology is often well received. When customers see that you are willing to admit your
faults, they perceive your company in a more positive light.

Contractor hiring websites

Smart hiring is the key to success, especially for startups where budgets are tight and
staff requirements are high. When you begin doing business, you may need to hire a
skeleton staff and get some of the work done through freelancers and contractors. For
this, you can turn to several popular websites that host profiles of professionals across
skill set, experience, and rates. You can pick and choose the people who best fit your
requirements and negotiate a suitable cost per project, with them.

So there you have it – seven kinds of tools that really rule when you’re an entrepreneur
who takes business success very seriously. Go ahead and implement them to
experience the many advantages each one offers.
 3. Components of Information Technology

Switching
A network switch is the device that provides connectivity between network devices on a
Local Area Network (LAN). A switch contains several ports that physically connect to
other network devices – including other switches, routers and servers. Early networks
used bridges, in which each device “saw” the traffic of all other devices on the network.
Switches allow two devices on the network to talk to each other without having to
forward that traffic to all devices on the network.

Routers
Routers move packets between networks. Routing allows devices separated on
different LANs to talk to each other by determining the next “hop” that will allow the
network packet to eventually get to its destination.If you have ever manually configured
your IP address on a workstation, the default gateway value that you keyed in was the
IP address of your router.

Firewalls
Firewalls are security devices at the edge of the network. The firewall can be thought of
as the guardian or gatekeeper. A set of rules defines what types of network traffic will be
allowed through the firewall and what will be blocked. In the simplest version of a
firewall, rules can be created which allow a specific port and /or protocol for traffic from
one device (or a group of devices) to a device or group of devices. 

Servers
A network server is simply another computer, but usually larger in terms of resources
than what most people think of. A server allows multiple users to access and share its
resources.

Physical Plant
The physical plant is all of the network cabling in your office buildings and server
room/data center. This all too often neglected part of your infrastructure usually is the
weakest link and is the cause of most system outages when not managed properly.
There are two main types of cabling in the infrastructure: CAT 5/6/7 and fiber optic.
Each type of cabling has several different subtypes, depending on the speed and
distance required to connect devices.

People
By the strict ITIL definition, people are not considered part of the network infrastructure.
However, without competent, well-qualified people in charge of running and maintaining
your infrastructure, you will artificially limit the capabilities of your organization. In larger
organizations, there are specialty positions for each of the areas mentioned in this
article. In smaller organizations, you will find that the general systems administrator
handles many of the roles.

Server Rooms / Data Center

The server room, or data center (in large organizations), can be thought of as the
central core of your network. It is the location in which you place all of your servers, and
it usually acts as the center of most networks.

Infrastructure Software
This is perhaps the most “gray” of all infrastructure components. Without multi-user
operating systems, the hardware can’t perform its infrastructure functions.

1. People. The most important part as they make end-users more productive.

2. Procedures. Refer to rules or guidelines people follow when using software,

hardware and data. Documented in manuals written by computer specialists. Provided
by software/hardware manufacturers of the product.

3. Software. Computer software is the term for programmes or sets of computer

instructions. Written in special computer language that enable a computer to accomplish
a given task. It consists of step-by-step instructions, which the computer can use to
convert data into information.
4. Hardware. Computer components that are physical, touchable pieces or equipment.
It consists of the system unit, input/output, secondary storage and communication
devices.

4 types of computers:

1. Supercomputers – the most powerful type of computers.

2. Mainframe – occupy specially wired, air-conditioned rooms.

3. Minicomputers – desk-sized machines used for specific purposes.

4. Microcomputers – include the desktop, notebook and personal digital assistant.