A necessary element of IT infrastructure is operating systems. Operating systems (OS) are software that is the basis for managing applications, software, and digital systems within IT infrastructure. An OS is meant to ensure that everything is connected and functional because, without an OS, all applications on a single computer would need to be managed separately, meaning that the IT infrastructure falls apart. Furthermore, operating systems utilize different interfaces, such as an application program interface (API), graphic user interface (GUI), and command-line interface (CLI), not only for applications and people to interact with what’s needed but also for necessary changes and updates to be consistently made.

With operating systems being management-focused, they are utilized in IT infrastructure by managing things like computer resources, multiple programs, and security. Computer resources take the form of CPU, bandwidth, and memory, and an OS is meant to properly allocate these resources and much more at all times based on current priority. Software programs such as browsers, management systems, and collaboration platforms also need to be managed by an OS to not only function but also to be a bridge for anyone who needs to utilize it at any given time. Finally, while operating systems need to manage a significant amount of data, they also are needed to enforce security controls across an IT infrastructure. Controls like firewalls, authentication, encryption, and permission are managed by an OS to keep itself safe, as well as the larger IT infrastructure.