Information technology (IT) is the branch of engineering that involves computer development and security, as well as the storage, receiving, and sending of data. The global IT industry therefore refers to the worldwide industry that develops and optimizes online programs and telecommunications. This industry is thought by many to be the largest industry in the world, for it encompasses a large number of jobs and opportunities. Nearly every business and organization in the world that uses some kind of computer system depends on services provided by the global IT industry.
This industry provides a number of different services for organizations across the globe. A common service provided by the global IT industry is systems architecture. This refers to the design and development of operating systems. An operating system is responsible for controlling the execution of computer programs and services. Some common operating systems are Windows® and LINUX®.
Another important service provided by the global IT industry is networking. A network is a connection between a number of computers and their components. This term may be used to describe a wireless Internet connection. It may also be used to describe the connection between a number of computers that access the same server. A server is a primary computer database that allows a number of computers on the network to share information and programs.
Security is another commonly used service provided by the global IT industry. An IT professional might secure a network by restricting the access of those who are not permitted to join the network. It is also used on the Internet in order to protect information that is sent and received online.
Many IT professionals concentrate on maintenance and troubleshooting. These professionals are often hired by companies and organizations that need specialists to ensure the optimized performance of networks and software. These same specialists will often perform network development that improves the performance of the network and its various components.
Much work in the global IT industry is performed online or through other telecommunication methods, so many professionals in this field have the opportunity to work from a number of different locations. Nevertheless, many IT specialists are considered to be in-house, which means that they are kept on the premises of a particular business. Larger corporations with a number of different locations will often have an IT center that controls the company-wide networks and databases used by its different entities.
Global IT companies sell a number of different products and services to businesses and other organizations all over the world. Products tend to be software, such as computer programs, and hardware, which refers to a computer's physical components. Successful vendors in the global IT sector are thought by many economic and financial specialists to be some of the most lucrative businesses in the world.