Utilizing advanced technology in ultramodern datacenters is not enough to reap the green benefits of the cloud. You must also focus on optimization, smart engineering principles and adjust your continuous consumption model to reduce the environmental impact of your cloud-based IT operation.
The functional and operational benefits from turning off legacy systems and switching to the cloud have been supplemented by sustainability parameters. With advanced cooling techniques, energy-efficient hardware, automation tools and the utilization of renewable energy sources hyperscalers have succeeded in making the cloud journey green.
At least on paper.
To actually realize the green potential in the cloud requires substantial organizational efforts. A 2024 report states that 27% of the cloud spend is wasted. Companies are spinning up cloud servers that no one is using. Or they are overspending cloud resources. A company can, for example, build a new application based on cloud technology and run it in a hyperscaler’s certified green datacenter. But if the company does not decommission their old application at the same time, they end up with double functionality, additional cost, and a larger environmental footprint than before.
From both a financial and an environmental perspective wasted and overspend cloud resources are something we need to address.
Next step on the cloud journey
With hyperscalers doing an excellent job at offering cost-efficient, scalable and environmental-friendly IT resources, I believe the next step on the cloud journey is about companies applying a green mindset to software development and cloud consumption.
The likes of Head of Development, Head of Platforms, and CIOs must make conscious choices and implement technologies and practices that reduce their company’s environmental impact while maintaining or even enhancing the performance and efficiency of cloud services. To that end, we are seeing a new level of awareness evolving around Modern Engineering and emerging tech disciplines.
We can call it the four levers of green cloud strategy:
Strategy #1: Companies can use a green sourcing lens when they focus on key requirements and select which hyperscaler should run their cloud computing services and systems. Which hyperscaler has the greenest profile? Begin there.
Strategy #2: Companies can focus on ongoing optimization and reduction of virtual or real servers needed to run their technology landscape. On top of that, they can make use of serverless computing and autoscaling features to ensure that resources are used only when needed. These efforts can be supported by automation, tools and analytics to help users optimize their cloud resource usage dynamically including FinOps.
Strategy #3: Companies can focus on sunsetting legacy systems, platforms and infrastructure because double capability means double footprint – and not least double cost.
Strategy #4: Companies can use frameworks and guidelines that prioritize sustainability in software development and IT operations. This is also known as Green Software Engineering. In general, the aim of Green Software Engineering is to optimize new and existing applications and data storage to use less energy and resources. Several tools can be utilized to scan and analyze the code for determining how to optimize an application resulting in reduced computational load and consequently both less power and cloud consumption. Likewise, if an application has different settings ranging from basic to super advanced, and the company only has a need for basic capabilities, software specialists should adjust accordingly.
The cloud is omnicolour. It can be green, but it can just as easily take on darker nuances if a company who uses cloud resources does not put in the needed effort to reduce the environmental impact of their IT operation. It requires scrutiny and smart engineering to keep track of consumption and a do-more-with-less-mindset to apply a sustainable cloud practice.
My advice for this next step? Just get started, gain experience and course correct.
