THE CLOUD CONTROL! 

Cloud services are a preferred business option because it makes for a cleaner and efficient establishment. Migrating business data to a cloud environment offers diverse advantages, including security, improved productivity, and intelligent insights. But there is a current perspective shift, and organizations are frequently posing queries on how cloud technologies, aside from improving the finances and efficiency, can aid with the environmental and sustainability fronts. Focusing on sustainable and effective cloud operations, and reduced carbon footprints is the call to action for a viable future. 

 CLOUD AND CLEAR! GREEN CLOUD COMPUTING 

More and more organizations are opting for a cloud-based system today. Start-ups, especially, opt for this because it offers them the freedom to get started on their ideas without worrying about the investment costs involved in hardware, software, and licensing. Remote operations, and a global team significantly reduces the infrastructural costs, while effectively driving outputs.  

• To achieve more from the cloud, the first steps include detailed analysis the cloud infrastructure with cloud analytics and reporting, data-driven insights, knowledge of vendor capabilities, and an awareness of the computing architecture. 
• To improve operational efficiency, which is the next step, an upgrade of current applications, in terms of power consumed and pay structures for the same is needed. These upgrades enable the organization to stay current, operate swiftly and for a significantly lower cost. An auto-shutdown backup for inactive servers will cut down wastage of power and expenditure as well. 
• Next action-item would be simplifying the infrastructure to eliminate the expendable, unwanted and unused elements. In addition, connecting with enterprises who are involved with green cloud processes is vital. 

 CLOUDS WITH BENEFITS – THE GREEN ADVANTAGE! 

ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) is a collection of corporate performance evaluation criteria for an organization’s governance and the capability to manage the environmental and social consequences, like a company’s carbon emissions, water expenditure, etc. This social responsibility disclosure is observed by investors and board members to correlate the business performance with the risk factors. 

 Driving sustainability in the organization has numerous advantage for the organizations. Increased revenue, lowered operational expenses, and an enhanced brand value, to name a few. 

• Smart energy engagement. By adopting to a IT-as-a-service approach, the company pays for what is utilised, as opposed to purchasing and maintaining a full-blown IT infrastructure. Additionally, there is no need to accommodate a contingency, eliminating the need for idle equipment. 

• Go green with cloud. A cloud server eliminates the need for physical hardware and maintenance, and disposing and recycling issues need not be considered as well.  
• Sustainable energy innovation. Clean energy solutions and renewable energy options to power the cloud set-up will significantly pull down the greenhouse gas emissions, making it a win-win for the organization and the environment. 
• Greener pastures. Every organization needs to explore to eco-friendly initiatives, one agenda at a time. The business gradually stands to become cloud native, with increased efficiency, improved services and promote an environmentally friendly use of technology as a whole. 

 TO CONCLUDE – THE SILVER LINING! 

While the concept of sharing services over a network still speaks of effective and maximized utilization of resources, hyperscalers and smaller cloud data centers alike are still working to reduce the emissions and greener options for energy utilization. The culminating vision of a sustainable and zero emission operation from the organizational front, along with an effective framework paves way for consistently measuring the infrastructure and identifying areas to improve the process, and in turn the business outcome in the long run. Now there is the silver lining to look out for!