What is information technology?
Information technology, or IT, is the use of computers, software and networks to capture, store, protect, process and share information. Banks, hospitals, shops, schools and games all run on it, which is why IT skills lead to work in so many different fields.
Four building blocks sit under almost everything in IT:
Hardware
The physical side: computers, servers, phones, storage devices and network equipment.
Software
The programs that run on hardware: operating systems, everyday tools and business applications.
Networks
The links that let devices talk to each other: cables, Wi-Fi, routers and switches, up to the internet itself.
Data
How information is organised, stored and kept safe, with databases and storage systems.