Cloud computing has been around for a few decades now, but has become even more prevalent in recent years. In fact, the term ‘cloud computing’ has become a technology buzzword, but it essentially means that you’re able to use remote servers to store your data and files, and access them from any location, as well as everything from applications and services to storage and extra processing power.
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What are the benefits?
The amount of businesses that have switched to cloud computing is a clear sign that there are benefits to it. For a start, it’s cheaper, more efficient, gives you more flexibility, and it’s also easily scalable. However, one of the biggest benefits that’s rarely talked about is cloud computing’s environmental benefits. That’s right - cloud computing could help your business be more green, and even save you some money. Last year, the International Data Corporation (IDC) stated that businesses taking up cloud computing could help prevent more than one billion metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions from entering the atmosphere between 2021 and 2024.
What makes it environmentally friendly?
In the same way that using public transport is better for the environment than having your own car, utilising cloud technologies is also greener than traditional IT infrastructure. If you have your own car, it’s something you always have to think about - you need to pay for fuel, and maintenance, worry about where to park it, and insure it. This is like having servers on your premises to store your data. Not only do you need to invest in the hardware, you need to consider facilities to store the servers, pay for round-the-clock electricity to keep them running, make repairs and upgrades, and have a team of cyber security professionals to monitor them at all times.
By using the cloud, however, it’s similar to choosing public transport. It’s available to use where and when you need it, or you can pay on a subscription basis (like a season ticket). You don’t need to worry about maintenance, or fuel - the cloud service provider takes care of all that. Just like a bus or a train company would transport thousands of people from place to place every day, a cloud computing company can support the technological needs of hundreds or even thousands of businesses at the same time. In turn, this means your business is using up fewer resources and less energy. Cloud computing data centres have been built to be more efficient and use less power at the same time.
A study by Microsoft showed that cloud computing could be 93% more energy efficient, and deliver 98% lower carbon emissions, when compared to on-premises data centres. A lot of these cloud data servers also use renewable energy sources such as solar, wind, and geothermal. With little to no greenhouse gases from these energy sources, they mean that switching to the cloud can help make your business even more sustainable.
The businesses investing in cloud computing
Amazon, as well as being one of the world’s most recognisable and richest companies, is also the world's biggest cloud company thanks to its subsidiary, AWS (Amazon Web Services). Last year, the global cloud infrastructure market was estimated to be worth more than £135 billion ($178 billion), according to a report by the Synergy Research Group. The report also revealed that Amazon’s market share in the sector was around 33% - more than its closest competitors, Microsoft and Google, combined. It’s also working to make cloud computing the greenest option for its customers. As of last year, Amazon is the world's biggest buyer of renewable energy with 274 sustainable energy projects running worldwide. This is part of the company’s plans to power all of its operations with renewable energy by 2025.
And Amazon isn’t the only cloud provider working to be more green. In 2021, Microsoft announced Microsoft Cloud for Sustainability, which helps organisations to understand their carbon footprint and set themselves sustainability goals. Google Cloud also boasts that all of its cloud regions use 100% renewable energy, and the company is aiming to be completely carbon neutral by 2030.
What we offer
As a market-leading connected cloud solutions provider, we offer a range of cloud services, to help with everything from cyber security to communications. At FluidOne, we provide cloud managed services including cloud hosting, to store your data, as well as hosting and colocation solutions at one of our data centres around the UK. Through us, you can connect to all of the major cloud providers that are out there, including AWS, Microsoft Azure, Google Cloud, IBM Cloud, and enjoy 24/7 technical support.
If your company is striving to become more sustainable and efficient, then cloud computing is certainly an option worth considering. Making the move to the cloud has plenty of advantages, from saving money to helping save the environment.
If you want to find out more about how we can help you and more business, get in touch with us today.
