1.1 Software development
Everything required to today’s software development / programming world - from various languages to best-practices
1. Information Technology (IT)
IT connects millions of devices and manages their data flows
2 minute read
IT is the hardware and software to connect thousands of devices in a network and manage their exchange of information. The purpose is to enable data storage and its usage for business and operations. Tasks range from connecting simple telephones to managing complex global networks.
As you can see, the field of IT spans a wide range of topics, ranging from data and device management, over security and scalability concerns to development and maintenance.
This chapter is also available on YouTube:
Typical responsibilities:
- Setting up phones, PCs, printers and other office hardware
- Monitoring devices and networks for security breaches
- Maintaining local servers
- Configuration of business systems e.g. ERP/SAP
- Updating devices to ensure IT security
- Setting up local networks and Wi-Fi
- Implementing business solutions like automation
- And many more…
Typical vendors:
What is important in IT?
Nobody wants to build an app for years just so that the end-user removes it within 30 seconds
We will see the exact same chart later in the next chapter related to Operational Technology(OT).
High importance
| Category | Description |
|---|---|
| Quick development cycles, e.g., agile | Good user experience is more important than a perfectly designed app |
| Scalability | Apps need to handle millions of users at the same time (e.g., Google, Netflix) |
| User experience | If something is unintuitive, people tend not to use it |
Of lesser importance:
| Category | Description |
|---|---|
| Reliability & Safety | Hardware is redundant, if one fails another can take over; Consequences of hardware failures are smaller |
| Maintainability & standards | Standards are usually best-practices and might change over time. No hard-written norms. |
| Certifications | Therefore, certifications are not legally required |
What next?
Take a look at the following subchapters if you want to learn more about these topics (as they will become relevant in chapter 3: Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT)).
If you know them, you can skip them and go directly into the next chapter: Operational Technology (OT)
1.2 System administration
Understand traditional IT setups including hypervisors, firewalls, networks, demilitarized zones, operating systems and basic troubleshooting.
1.3 Software architecture
Everything about the fundamental structures of complex software systems
1.4 Databases
The tools & technologies that store your data
1.5 Cloud
The term cloud refers to servers and the software running on them.
Last modified February 17, 2023: update (#208) (ea731fc)