Final answer:
The part of the IT environment closest to the external world, housing IT systems that interact with the Internet, is called a perimeter network.
Step-by-step explanation:
The section of the IT environment that is closest to the external world and where we locate IT systems that communicate with the Internet is known as a perimeter network. This network acts as a protective buffer zone between the internal, trusted network of an organization and the untrusted, external network such as the Internet. The perimeter network is often equipped with security measures to protect internal IT systems from external threats.