What is IT infrastructure?
When we talk about IT infrastructure, we mean the combination of hardware, software, networks, and operations that make the company's digital environment work. Everything from servers, storage, and networks to operating systems, databases, applications, and security solutions is included. But as companies grow and digitization accelerates, it is not enough for the systems to “just work”.
Hardware components in your IT infrastructure
The hardware is the very foundation of the IT infrastructure. This includes everything from servers and routers to storage solutions and network equipment that keeps communication running. Added to this are the devices used in everyday life, such as computers and mobiles, which enable employees to share information, work together, and access the resources they need to do their job.
Software components in your IT infrastructure
The software is what gives the infrastructure life. Operating systems and various software make it possible to store, process, and share information, and to run the applications that the business depends on.
This can include systems that manage documents and content, applications that support finance and logistics, or solutions for managing customer relationships. Together, they create an ecosystem of tools that make your workplace function in everyday life.
Stora IT-projekt överskrider budgeten med 45%.
Stora IT-projekt levererar 56% mindre värde än planerat.
Take your IT infrastructure seriously
Research clearly shows that the costs of errors in requirements or architecture increase exponentially the later they are discovered. Large IT projects exceed the budget by 45% and deliver 56% less value than planned. A central reason is precisely unclear requirements and a lack of coordinated infrastructure. In other words: the cost of not taking the infrastructure seriously is enormous.
- According to Standish Group's CHAOS Report, only about 30% of IT projects are considered completely successful, while the rest are delayed, over budget, or fail completely. A couple of the most common reasons are, as mentioned, lack of requirements gathering and fragmented infrastructure.
- McKinsey estimates that the world needs to invest approximately $6.7 trillion in data center infrastructure by 2030 to meet the demand from both traditional IT workloads and AI-related systems. 70% of the capacity requirement is then expected to come from AI workloads.
- In another analysis, McKinsey highlights that the disruption within IT infrastructure affects all parts: servers, storage, security, software development, and operations. Organizations must relate to cloud services, hybrid solutions, and edge computing in order not to fall behind.
- Forrester emphasizes that companies that have a flexible infrastructure with modularity, open integration, and continuous improvement are twice as likely to achieve high growth compared to those with a rigid technical environment.
- Gartner shows that 72% of IT leaders plan to increase their investments in IT infrastructure in the coming years, mainly driven by cloud migration and the need for greater agility in application delivery.
- At the same time, another Gartner study points out that the biggest obstacles to succeeding with IT initiatives are budget constraints (56%), internal resistance to change (51%), and lack of competence (44%).
5 major challenges and how they can be overcome
- Competence
Rapid technological development makes it difficult to have all the competence internally. Companies need to invest in education, mentorship, and strategic collaborations with external experts. - Scalability
An infrastructure that cannot grow in pace with the business leads to downtime, bottlenecks, and performance problems. The solution is data-driven forecasts, cloud and hybrid solutions, and virtualization to optimize resources. - Security
Insufficient security measures risk leading to data breaches and lost trust. Zero Trust, encryption, regular audits, and a security-conscious culture are crucial. - Integrations
When systems do not talk to each other, duplication of work and inefficiency arise. By using open APIs, standard protocols, and conducting comprehensive tests, seamless flows can be created. - Budget constraints
Without long-term planning, the infrastructure becomes a cost trap. Thorough cost analysis, prioritization of business-critical components, and utilization of open source or no-code/low-code platforms can keep costs under control.
Future-proof your IT infrastructure
A robust infrastructure is not created overnight. It requires a step-by-step work:
- Review the current situation and identify risks, bottlenecks, and technical debt
- Create a strategy that is directly linked to the business goals
- Build modularity and flexibility into the design
- Budget not only for operation but also for change
- Secure the competence supply through education and partnership
- Measure, monitor, and improve continuously
A robust IT infrastructure is more than technology. It is a strategic foundation for growth and change. Companies that invest in scalability, security, integration, and competence while managing costs proactively are the ones that will lead the development.
A shortcut to succeeding in getting a good IT infrastructure
Creating space in the budget is always difficult and the same applies to change management, but finding a partner who can quickly (5–20 times faster) deliver a tailored solution is not difficult. Worth mentioning is that Multisoft's customer satisfaction is 4.7 out of 5 after completed implementation project.
Building robust IT infrastructure, on the other hand, is a complex task that requires both technical and organizational competence. It is therefore both about the IT department and about your business, as the infrastructure should support the business to the greatest extent possible.
External consultants can play a crucial role. They can contribute with strategic advice, design solutions, lead projects, fill specialist roles, and ensure that change management works.
One advantage of external consultants is their impartial perspective. They can identify blind spots and challenge internal assumptions. The combination of internal anchoring and external expertise is often what makes infrastructure projects succeed.
