IST 35000 - IT Infrastructure

This course provides an introduction to IT infrastructure issues for students majoring in Information Systems. It covers topics related to both computer and systems architecture and communication networks, with an overall focus on the services and capabilities that IT infrastructure solutions enable in an organizational context. The students will gain the knowledge on designing organizational processes and software solutions that require in-depth understanding of the ITY infrastructure. The course focuses strongly on Internet-based solutions, computer and network security, business continuity, and the role of infrastructure in regulatory compliance.

Preparation for Course
P: IST 26500.

Cr. 3.
Student Learning Outcomes
1.   Learn to understand key principles of data representation and manipulation in computing solutions.
2.   Learn to understand the principles underlying layered systems architectures and their application to both computers and networks.
3.   Learn to understand the differences and similarities between the core elements of an IT infrastructure solution, such as clients, servers, network devices, wired and wireless network links, systems software, and specialized security devices.
4.   Learn to understand how IT infrastructure components are organized into infrastructure solutions in different organizational environments.
5.   Learn to understand the principles underlying service virtualization.
6.   Learn to understand through practical examples how protocols are used to enable communication between computing devices connected to each other.
7.   Learn to configure an IT infrastructure solution for a small organization, including a network based on standard technology components, servers, security devices, and several different types of computing clients.
8.   Learn to apply the core concepts underlying IP networks to solve simple network design problems, including IP sub netting.
9.   Learn to understand the role and structure of the Internet as an IT infrastructure component.
10.   Learn to understand the components and structure of a large-scale organizational IT infrastructure solution at a level that allows them to utilize it effectively and negotiate with vendors providing design and implementation solutions.
11.   Learn to understand the opportunities that virtual computing service provision models, such as cloud computing, create for organizations.
12.   Learn to analyze and understand the security and business continuity implications of IT infrastructure design solutions.
13.   Learn to understand the environmental and resource consumption impacts of IT infrastructure decisions.