Digital Infrastructure: Definition and Why It’s Important to Protect Your Company’s Digital Infrastructure

With over 5.3 billion people on Earth accessing the internet for interconnectivity and communication, businesses and companies have had to upgrade their digital infrastructure to stay competitive and reliable.

Digital infrastructure is the cornerstone of today’s enterprise, from communication networks to data storage facilities. However, this over-reliance on technology has led to modern threats, such as computer hacks that have led to the must-protect policy of digital infrastructure equipment.

In this article, we delve into the definition of digital infrastructure, explore its role in digital business operations, highlight its significance, and explain the connection between digital infrastructure and Cybersecurity.

What Is Digital Infrastructure?

Digital infrastructure refers to the designated physical and software-based components working together to relay information and digital products and services from one point to another. Some of the types used in the digital infrastructure industry include:

• Data centers

• Networks and digital communication suits

• Data infrastructure

• Virtualization and software

• Mobile telecom and broadband.

Its main objective is to ensure data sharing through the data infrastructure is seamless for sharing and consumption.

In addition, the data infrastructure definition relates to the various hardware and software components that work in tandem to enable data sharing, storage, and consumption. Some of the data infrastructure technologies used include:

• Storage equipment

• Processing hardware and software

• Networks

• Business applications

• Virtualization software

The ecosystem around the data infrastructure includes data infrastructure examples such as data integration, computer networks, cloud computing, database, data warehouse, etc.

Role of Digital Business Infrastructure

Your digital business infrastructure is the core engine that drives your business’s communication and data system. Additionally, it encompasses an array of software applications and technologies used for communication among your employees and customers. Here are some of the core roles:

Enabling Seamless Communication

• Its role in facilitating internal and external communication

• Collaboration tools and platforms for efficient teamwork

Streamlining Business Processes

• Automating workflows and optimizing operations

• Leveraging it for increased productivity

Enhancing Customer Experience

• Providing seamless online experiences and personalized services

• Leveraging data insights to improve customer satisfaction

Why Is Digital Infrastructure Important, and Why Should It Be Protected?

Consider our daily lives; would you rather lose your phone or wallet? If your phone represents your digital infrastructure and your wallet represents your physical infrastructure, it is better to lose your wallet than your phone. Your phone contains a lot of personal information that can be used to launch several attacks. Also, if someone gains access to your phone, they can infiltrate your bank account, email, social media, and other accounts, leading to a multi-layered attack.

Similarly, your company’s digital infrastructure is vulnerable to attack. If hackers gain access to an employee’s email, they can install malware and spyware to navigate through your company’s network and find multiple layers of attack to harm your business. Therefore, protecting it is crucial to prevent these attacks from happening.

How Does Digital Infrastructure Relate to Cybersecurity?

While digital infrastructure encompasses a software and hardware ecosystem that supports communication and data transfer, there is a need to protect it from digital attacks like hacks, viruses, and data theft while data is being relayed on the data infrastructure.

And that is where Cybersecurity comes in.