In the broadest terms, infrastructure refers to the basic, underlying framework or features of a system or organization. In terms of information technology, the equipment, systems, software and services used in common across an organization constitute its infrastructure. Since the technologies and processes supporting a company’s infrastructure enable the flow and processing of information, it is widely recognized as a key strategic area within information technology that merits further consideration.
The Infrastructure Networking Group was created to provide a network for infrastructure professionals within the chemical industry to investigate infrastructure technologies and trends, exchange useful information and share lessons learned with respect to processes, technologies, tools and governance. Coming together every other month via conference call and once a year at the ChemITC Annual Conference, the group has a variety of key focus areas including common practices, tools and technologies spanning the full spectrum of infrastructure that supports the reliability and availability of chemical company networks. Among the specific topics planned for discussion at future networking meetings are:
- Mobile computing
- Convergence
- Cloud computing
- WAN infrastructure
- Global networks
- Data center optimization
- IT organization structure and governance
- Sourcing
- Wireless infrastructure
- Virtualization
- Disaster recovery
Through these discussions, participants will increase their awareness of trends, challenges and solutions related to the use of infrastructure technologies and processes that are relevant to the chemical industry and gain a wealth of information that will help them enhance the solid IT foundation within their own companies.