The digital transformation of the workplace has placed IT infrastructure management at the heart of business operations. In 2024, virtual IT infrastructure management is not just a trend—it's a necessity. Below are seven contemporary business ideas for entrepreneurs looking to step into this essential domain.

With AI Assistants and the ability to outsource complex tasks to AI, even these technically demanding ideas are more accessible. Bizway, for instance, offers a suite of AI Assistants that can support various aspects of running a virtual IT infrastructure management business.

1. Cloud Infrastructure Configuration and Optimization

• The Idea: Assist businesses in configuring and continually optimizing their cloud infrastructure for performance and cost savings.
• How it makes money: Service fees for setup and optimization, ongoing monitoring, and consulting services.
• Why now?: More companies are moving to the cloud and require expert help to maximize their investments.
• Technical difficulty: 8/10
• Best for: IT professionals with advanced cloud computing knowledge and cost-management skills.

2. Virtualized Network Solutions

• The Idea: Create a company that specializes in setting up and managing virtualized network environments.
• How it makes money: Charges for network setup, virtualization services, and maintenance contracts.
• Why now?: Virtual networks can be more resilient, scalable, and cost-effective, which is invaluable amidst the growing remote work trend.
• Technical difficulty: 9/10
• Best for: Network engineers with an interest in the latest virtualization technologies.

3. Remote IT Security Monitoring

• The Idea: Provide 24/7 IT security monitoring services for businesses' virtual infrastructures.
• How it makes money: Recurring fees for continuous monitoring services and incident response retainers.
• Why now?: The rise in cyber threats makes constant security monitoring a priority for businesses.
• Technical difficulty: 8/10
• Best for: IT security specialists with experience in threat detection and mitigation.

4. IT Compliance and Governance Consultancy

• The Idea: Advise businesses on complying with IT governance standards and regulations in their virtual infrastructures.
• How it makes money: Consulting fees based on the size and complexity of the infrastructure, and compliance audits.
• Why now?: Increasingly stringent regulations on data protection and privacy demand expert compliance assistance.
• Technical difficulty: 7/10
• Best for: IT professionals with a background in legal aspects of IT infrastructure.

5. Automated DevOps as a Service

• The Idea: Streamline software development and operations processes for clients by providing automated DevOps services.
• How it makes money: Monthly subscription fees for DevOps automation tooling and consulting services.
• Why now?: The need for faster software delivery cycles makes DevOps automation a critical service.
• Technical difficulty: 9/10
• Best for: IT professionals with a profound understanding of CI/CD pipelines and infrastructure as code.

6. Data Center Modernization Firm

• The Idea: Specialize in helping mature businesses transform their conventional data centers into modern, virtualized environments.
• How it makes money: Project-based fees, modernization strategy creation, and implementation services.
• Why now?: With legacy systems becoming obsolete, modernization is key to maintaining competitive advantage.
• Technical difficulty: 9/10
• Best for: Strategists and IT professionals who excel at large-scale infrastructure transformation.

7. Managed IoT Infrastructure Service

• The Idea: Provide comprehensive management solutions for businesses' IoT infrastructure, including device management, data processing, and security.
• How it makes money: Service fees for setup, data management, and ongoing IoT infrastructure maintenance.
• Why now?: The IoT market is expanding rapidly, and businesses need expertise to manage their growing number of devices securely.
• Technical difficulty: 8/10
• Best for: IT experts knowledgeable in IoT ecosystems and keen on emerging technologies.