Cloud computing offers energy-saving advantage
Wednesday, December 07, 2011 5:42:40 PM
Most businesses are well-acquainted with cloud computing benefits like cost-cutting, flexible data storage and disaster recovery, but IT managers may not know cloud-based technology can also save energy and decrease waste.
According to a GreenBiz report, cloud computing is providing businesses with an easy avenue to achieving an environmentally friendly IT solution, as a recent CSC survey revealed 64 percent of cloud adopters decrease their energy use after moving to the cloud. Another recent study found cloud computing could reduce energy costs by as much as $12.3 billion by 2020, the report said.
"We've heard little so far about the efficiency and green attributes of cloud computing. That is starting to change as we hear from cloud or as-a-service providers about the architecture and power sources behind their cloud infrastructure, and as we all start to analyze customer implementations of cloud resources vs. on-premises alternatives," said Forrester Research vice president Chris Mines in a recent GreenBiz column. "Cloud infrastructure addresses two critical elements of a green IT approach: energy efficiency and resource efficiency."
Energy saving is just one advantage of cloud adoption, along with greater IT efficiency, scalability, remote access for employees and less burden on IT managers.
According to Modis, an IT staffing firm, 62 percent of IT mangers believe saving on costs is the top priority of their department.
-McAfee Cloud Security
