Guest blog: Leveraging the Cloud to Drive Sustainability within Businesses

As sustainability moves from a non-essential application for organisations, towards a necessity, so must a business’s attitude towards it. The use of cloud technology enables businesses to make this transition and global organisations already using this technology, are experiencing the benefits.

The augmentation of the cloud in recent years couldn’t have been timed any better given the current state of the world, and as a result, companies worldwide now require a solution which addresses every level of their businesses. With environmental experts in agreement that governments, individuals, and everyone in between, should take more action in response to their impact on the environment, the call for a more sustainable approach has never been clearer.

The cloud has not only ensured an increase in flexibility, accessibility and security to its users, but it has also provided significant sustainable value. The cloud reduces carbon emissions, energy waste, and costs, altogether redirecting businesses to move towards a greener future. Cloud computing can therefore act as a pioneer in achieving net-zero carbon emissions.

Using fossil fuels has become a thing of the past for cloud users as now, they are more ecologically responsible. Businesses are increasingly migrating to cloud technology which has provided a unique opportunity to allow companies worldwide to become more environmentally conscious.

Naturally, less money is required for maintenance as cloud users share the same data centres, meaning businesses are not required to individually self-power their own centres. As resources are shared, and cloud vendors work on behalf of various businesses, cloud computing reduces the total number of data centres needed, thereby lowering the overall waste production.

Previously, corporations needed to plan their capacity in advance and purchase appropriate hardware in order to scale up their business. However, the cloud has granted organisations the opportunity to increase their capacity at any time, without the need for significant changes to the internal infrastructures, allowing for a seamless scaling experience.

For the world to achieve a sustainable, greener future renewable energy is the necessary resource that businesses worldwide need. Cloud vendors, having made commitments to achieve net-zero across operations through the increase of renewable energy sources, acknowledge this. This has resulted in the IDC estimating that cloud computing could in fact eradicate up to 1 billion metric tons of carbon dioxide by 2024. Businesses that operate using cloud technology are not only helping to improve short-term sustainability but are also committing to long-term sustainable approaches.

The pandemic has transformed the way in which organisations work, enabling cloud technology to assist the adopted hybrid working environment. This altered way of working means fewer employees are now driving to work, which reduces global waste. As a result, the cloud has increased efficiency, scalability, mobility, and control, within the technology sector, all whilst being cost-effective and environmentally friendly.

The cloud removes the negative externalities associated with traditional data centres and introduces a range of internal benefits to global businesses through renewable sources. It, therefore, solves the environmental challenges faced today and consequently steers businesses in the right direction as their sustainable ventures continue.