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Infrastructure

Plain English

The foundation that everything runs on.

Definition

Infrastructure refers to the underlying and resources that support applications and .

In practice

Includes servers, networks, databases, and .

In context

It is invisible when it works and is the entire conversation when it does not. Its cost is also the one most likely to grow without anyone deciding to grow it.

The reality

Infrastructure is often overlooked until something breaks or scales poorly.

Compared with

Infrastructure vs Platform

Infrastructure is the raw : compute, storage, network. A packages it into something teams can on without managing the underlying pieces.

FAQ

Common questions

A few practical answers to the questions that usually come up around this term.

What is infrastructure in tech?

It is the that support applications.

What does infrastructure include?

Servers, networks, and databases.

Why is infrastructure important?

It ensures run reliably.

What happens with poor infrastructure?

become slow or unreliable.

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Previous feedback

I had a fantastic experience working with Andy. One of his most impressive achievements during our time at NHS HEE was masterminding a deeply complex information architecture for a new platform that brought together a large number of legacy websites.

Will Parkhouse

Senior Content Designer