May 1, 2024
Updated June 2, 2025
23 minute read
Navigating the World of IT Infrastructure
IT Infrastructure refers to the composite hardware, software, network resources, and services required for the existence, operation, and management of an enterprise IT environment. It allows an organization to deliver IT solutions and services to its employees, customers, and partners. Think of it as the digital foundation of any modern business; without it, most companies simply couldn't function in today's interconnected world. For those intrigued by how technology powers businesses and enables innovation, a journey into understanding IT Infrastructure can be both fascinating and rewarding.
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Reading list
We've selected 33 books
that we think will supplement your
learning. Use these to
develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a
deeper understanding of the topics covered in
IT Infrastructure.
Considered a classic and a must-read for system and network administrators, this book provides practical guidance on managing IT infrastructure. It covers a wide range of topics essential for day-to-day operations and valuable reference tool for both new and experienced professionals. It helps solidify understanding of core administrative practices.
Following up on 'The Phoenix Project', this handbook provides actionable guidance on implementing DevOps practices. It's essential for improving IT infrastructure management, fostering collaboration, and achieving higher levels of agility and reliability. It's a must-read for professionals in contemporary IT environments.
Kubernetes leading platform for container orchestration, a key technology in modern IT infrastructure and cloud-native applications. provides an introduction to Kubernetes and its concepts, essential for understanding contemporary infrastructure trends. It's suitable for those looking to dive into containerization.
Originating from Google, this book provides invaluable insights into the practices and principles of Site Reliability Engineering (SRE), which is crucial for managing large-scale, highly available IT infrastructure. It's essential for those looking to deepen their understanding of operating robust systems and is highly relevant to contemporary infrastructure topics.
A key contemporary topic in IT infrastructure is Infrastructure as Code (IaC). provides practical guidance on using IaC principles and tools to manage servers and cloud resources. It's valuable for professionals looking to adopt modern infrastructure management practices.
Offers a comprehensive and vendor-neutral treatment of cloud computing concepts, technology, and architecture. It's valuable for deepening understanding of cloud as a significant part of contemporary IT infrastructure and can serve as a reference for architectural considerations.
This handbook offers a comprehensive guide to planning, designing, building, and operating data centers, which are the backbone of much of IT infrastructure. It's a detailed reference for professionals involved in data center management and provides in-depth knowledge of physical infrastructure components.
While not solely focused on infrastructure, this book is crucial for anyone involved in building and managing systems that handle large amounts of data. It delves into the challenges of distributed systems, data models, and consistency, which are highly relevant to modern data center infrastructure. It's excellent for deepening understanding of the complexities of data infrastructure.
Provides a clear and concise introduction to operating systems, covering topics such as process management, memory management, and file systems. It valuable resource for understanding the software foundation of IT infrastructure.
Provides a broad and coherent picture of IT infrastructure, covering essential building blocks like datacenters, servers, networks, storage, virtualization, operating systems, and end-user devices. It's an excellent starting point for gaining a broad understanding and is well-suited for explaining the complexity of the field. It can serve as an introductory text or a refresher.
This practical book focuses on real-world networking scenarios, particularly in Cisco environments. It's highly recommended for gaining practical knowledge in network administration and troubleshooting. It complements theoretical networking books and is valuable for professionals working directly with network infrastructure.
Focuses on data infrastructure, a critical part of modern IT infrastructure. Beyond an overview of data storage and processing, this book discusses topics such as how to model data, creating fault-tolerant and scalable applications, and managing data in a global environment.
Provides a clear and thorough understanding of the key aspects of cloud computing, including architecture, deployment models, and service types. It's intended for both beginners and experienced practitioners looking to learn more about cloud computing as a core part of modern IT infrastructure. It includes case studies and examples.
Provides a practical guide to virtualization, a technology that has revolutionized IT infrastructure. It covers topics such as virtualization benefits, challenges, and best practices.
Provides a comprehensive overview of computer architecture and organization, covering topics such as processor design, memory hierarchy, and I/O systems. It valuable resource for understanding the hardware foundation of IT infrastructure.
A widely used textbook in undergraduate networking courses, this book provides a comprehensive introduction to computer networking concepts from an application perspective down to the physical layer. It's fundamental for understanding the networking component of IT infrastructure and is suitable for those seeking a broad understanding.
Is essential for understanding how IT infrastructure aligns with business strategy. It provides a framework for creating a robust foundation for business execution through effective enterprise architecture. It's particularly relevant for professionals at the undergraduate level and beyond looking at the strategic importance of IT.
Provides a comprehensive guide to managing IT infrastructure using Microsoft System Center, a suite of tools for managing servers, desktops, and applications.
Uses illustrations to explain complex networking concepts, making it accessible for those who prefer a visual approach. It focuses on how TCP/IP works in modern networks, which is foundational for understanding network infrastructure. It can help solidify understanding of networking principles.
This is the first book in a series focused on the practical aspects of planning, designing, building, and migrating data centers. It provides a deep dive into defining the requirements for a data center site. It's a useful resource for professionals involved in data center projects and offers practical, real-world insights into a core component of IT infrastructure.
Virtualization key component of modern IT infrastructure. introduces the fundamental concepts and technologies behind virtualization, which is essential for understanding cloud computing and efficient resource utilization. It's suitable for those new to the topic.
Security fundamental aspect of IT infrastructure. provides a comprehensive overview of computer security principles and practices, covering network security, access control, and cryptography. It's a valuable reference for understanding how to secure IT infrastructure components.
Provides a historical and economic perspective on the shift from localized computing to cloud computing, drawing parallels to the advent of electricity. It helps contextualize the evolution of IT infrastructure and the move towards utility computing. It's a good read for understanding the historical trajectory and broader implications of infrastructure changes.
Provides a basic introduction to computer networks, covering topics such as network topologies, network protocols, and network security. It valuable resource for beginners who are new to IT infrastructure.
For more information about how these books relate to this course, visit:
OpenCourser.com/topic/lctyau/it
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