Information Technology Infrastructure Engineers

Information technology infrastructure consists of the “combined components needed for the operation and management of enterprise IT services and IT environments,” according to IBM. It consist of hardware, software, networks (switches, routers, hubs, and servers), and the facilities that house these components. Traditional infrastructure is located on-site for an individual or an organization to use, while cloud infrastructure can be accessed by users whether or not they are at the physical facility where the cloud technology is located.

During a typical week on the job, an infrastructure engineer might design network infrastructure; assess existing hardware and software to determine if updates/upgrades are needed (and make them, if necessary); conduct virtualization of cloud infrastructure (i.e., connect physical servers, then make them accessible to any approved user with an Internet connection); assess their company’s IT security readiness, implement changes to improve security, and respond to security breaches; configure a virtual private network; conduct site reliability testing for their organization’s Web sites; oversee the migration of data to a new cloud server or manage existing cloud solutions; evaluate all IT infrastructure to determine where money and time can be saved by implementing process automation strategies; create a plan for their employer’s long-term IT infrastructure needs; and train or provide support to employees or clients.

Infrastructure engineers don’t perform all of these tasks alone. They work closely with a wide range of in-house and freelance IT workers, including programmers, software developers, security specialists, network architects and administrators, computer technicians, database architects and administrators, cloud engineers, computer systems analysts, quality assurance testers, and web developers. They also serve as the liaison between these workers and upper management. They meet with chief information technology officers and other executives to discuss ongoing issues, plan infrastructure upgrades, and work on other IT-related topics.