Managing E-Business Infrastructure | CIM

Introduction :

E-business infrastructure refers to the combination of hardware such as servers and client

PCs in an organization, the network used to link this hardware and the software applications used to deliver services to workers within the e-business and also to its partners and customers.

Infrastructure also includes the architecture of the networks, hardware and software and where it is located.

Finally, infrastructure can also be considered to include the methods for publishing data and documents accessed through e-business applications.

A key decision with managing this infrastructure is which elements are located within the company and which are managed externally as third-party managed applications, data servers and networks.

E-business infrastructure components

A five-layer model of e-business infrastructure

I

E-business services –

applications layer

(CRM, supply chain management, data mining, content management systems )

II

Systems software layer

(CRM, supply chain management, data mining, content management systems )

III

Transport or network layer

(Web browser and server software and standards, networking software and database management systems)

IV

Storage/physical layer

(Physical network and transport standards (transmission TCP/IP)

Permanent magnetic storage on web servers or optical backup or temporary storage in memory (RAM) )

V

Content and data layer

(Web content for intranet, extranet and Internet sites, customers‘ data, transaction data, clickstream data )

Managing e-business infrastructure:

e-business infrastructure comprises the hardware, software, content and data used to deliver e-business services to employees, customers and partners.

1) Managing hardware and systems software infrastructure

-Management of the technology infrastructure requires decisions on Layers II, III and IV .

This refers mainly to the hardware and network infrastructure. It includes the provision of

clients, servers, network services and also systems software such as operating systems and

browsers

2) Managing employee access to the Internet and e-mail

Security is a prime concern of e-business managers. The principal concern is the security of

information: both about customers and internal company data about finance, logistics, marketing

and employees.

Information used within e-business systems must be safeguarded from a range of hazards.

The information management strategy will mandate that there is an information security

policy

It requires the following areas of information security management to be defined:

Security policy

Organizational security

Asset classification and control.

Personnel security

Physical and environmental security

Communications and operations management

Access control

System development and maintenance

Business continuity management

Compliance.

3) Managing computer viruses

Computer viruses are a significant threat to company and personal information since it is

estimated that there are now over 100,000 of them.  

All organizations and individuals require a policy to combat the potential impact of viruses

given the frequency with which new, damaging viruses are released.

4) Controlling information service usage

Issues in controlling information service typically involve one of two problems from the

employer‘s perspective. First, hardware and software resources provided for work purposes are used for personal purposes, thus reducing productivity. Secondly, monitoring the use of

information introduces legal issues of surveillance

5) Monitoring of electronic communications

Employee communications monitoring or surveillance is used by organizations to reduce

productivity losses through time wasting. Time can be wasted when a member of staff

spends time when they are paid to work checking personal e-mail messages or accessing the

Internet for personal interests.

6) E-mail management

E-mail is now an essential business communication tool and is also widely used for personal

use. The popularity of e-mail as a communication tool has resulted in billions of messages

being sent each day.

7) Managing e-business applications infrastructure

Management of the e-business applications infrastructure concerns delivering the right

applications to all users of e-business services.