How Sustainable Cloud Computing Can Maximize Your IT Resources

Cloud computing is a mature industry, and many companies across all sectors have moved resources to the cloud. After all, these platforms are scalable, flexible, and often have stringent security measures. Last year, $1.14 trillion was spent on cloud computing, illustrating how important these solutions are. But as cloud computing grows, there is more emphasis on the environmental impacts of cloud computing.

Cloud computing is synonymous with green cloud computing because cloud computing inherently conserves resources. It allows businesses to use virtual cloud storage, avoiding the need for redundant in-house infrastructure. This action decreases the overall environmental footprint and results in less digital garbage. However, there are other ways in which cloud computing can help you maximize your digital resources, including:

Energy conservation: The cloud infrastructure is virtualized, allowing multiple operating systems on a single server to use system images. This function eliminates redundancy across multiple companies by enabling them to use the same infrastructure. Less equipment is required to manage the same workload. This action means there is less digital waste in the long run. On top of this benefit, less energy needs to be consumed to achieve the same results. Shifting to green cloud computing lowers carbon dioxide emissions and helps your company save money.
Reallocating resources: Cloud computing saves far more money than just energy costs. Up-front capital investments can be reduced for a business, including additional hardware and installation costs. IT departments can run more efficiently. And you can avoid costs related to continuous upgrades. When you can save money on these technological costs, you can make strategic decisions to re-allocate the funds in areas that can help your business expand and grow.
Increasing automation: Cloud computing can enhance the efficiency and productivity of an organization as a standalone upgrade. However, it can also enable other technologies that further enhance productivity. Automation is increasingly relied upon as a way to achieve operational efficiencies. These automation tools can be utilized with cloud services for maximized architectural and operational efficiency. Automation also allows IT professionals to leverage their cloud-based infrastructure investment by increasing consolidation and utilization ratios. Less infrastructure is needed when these ratios are high, maximizing server utilization’s energy and resource efficiencies.

In these areas, green cloud computing can help you optimize your IT resources and financial resources to make the best possible moves for your company. But to take this dedication to the next level, you will want to partner with green cloud computing solutions. When finding the right partners, there are several factors to consider, such as:

Evaluation of the enterprise-wide strategy: Companies can benefit from the overall company investment approach and target solutions that increase efficiency, including efficiencies that enhance environmental performance.
Consider all aspects of the contract: There is a financial benefit to moving to cloud computing but creating the business case means you must have a comprehensive understanding of all costs. Sometimes costs, such as licensing fees or future upgrade fees, may be hidden. Determining the entire cost over the life of use is crucial in identifying the long-term savings potential.
Look for scalability: One of the biggest benefits of cloud computing is flexibility and scalability. Looking for partners that can provide or de-provision services will allow you to scale quickly. This type of on-demand service further increases energy efficiencies.
Identify applications: Even though cloud computing is a great option for many uses, including those with high-security requirements, it may not meet the needs of all applications your company uses. You will want to identify any crucial applications that would not adapt well.
Continue to evolve: As cloud technology and applications evolve, your tools will also continue to evolve. It is crucial to identify new technologies and understand how they will work with your cloud computing service. You need the capacity to progress, and continuing to change can also result in greater environmental and energy savings.

Cloud computing is inherently a green solution. However, green cloud computing offers a new model that integrates new technologies to increase efficiency across all resources. As a result, you can increase energy efficiency, minimize the use of non-renewable resources, lower carbon dioxide emissions, and limit the amount of e-waste. These goals align with any company that prioritizes sustainable business practices. With strong consumer preferences for sustainable business practices, cloud computing solutions can provide an additional way to demonstrate a commitment to conservation.

To learn more about the environmental benefits of cloud computing, contact Sagacent Technologies today.

Sagacent Technologies offers technology management and support, including proactive/preventative maintenance, onsite and offsite data back-ups, network and security audits, mobility solutions, disaster planning, and emergency business resumption services. The company serves clients of 10 to 150 employees within the Silicon Valley region.