Every conversation we have with business and IT leaders now involves sustainability. The most common discussion point is still what is it and how does it relate to my business operations. This is the 1st in a series of blog posts where we will talk about what sustainability means for IT in business, we start with one of favourite topics, Infrastructure and how cost savings can be achieved, as well as efficiency gains for any business, read on to learn more.
Embracing Sustainability with Infrastructure Consolidation
In today's rapidly evolving business landscape, sustainability has become more than just a buzzword – it's a strategic imperative. As the world grapples with environmental challenges, businesses have a unique opportunity to lead the charge toward a greener future. One key area where sustainability can make a substantial impact is within the realm of IT and especially through infrastructure consolidation.
In this blog post, Simoda delve into the significance of sustainability for businesses and explore how infrastructure consolidation in IT can contribute to a more eco-friendly and efficient operational model.
1. Sustainability and Business Success
Sustainability is no longer an option; it's a business necessity. Customers are increasingly demanding environmentally responsible practices from the brands they support, and businesses that align with these values are more likely to attract and retain customers. Sustainable practices can also lead to cost savings, enhanced brand reputation, and improved long-term viability.
2. Efficiency vs. Environmental Impact
Many modern businesses rely heavily on IT infrastructure to drive operations, innovation, and customer engagement. However, this often leads to a proliferation of servers, data centres, and energy consumption. Striking a balance between operational efficiency and environmental impact is crucial.
3. Infrastructure Consolidation
A Sustainable Solution: Infrastructure consolidation involves streamlining and optimising IT resources to reduce redundancy and waste.
Here are some key points to consider for sustainable IT infrastructure:
Server Virtualisation
This technology has been around a long time but we still see businesses operate a non-virtual environment, which to me seems a little crazy because running multiple virtual servers on a single physical machine can significantly reduce the number of servers needed, leading to lower energy consumption and reduced physical space requirements.
Data Centre Optimisation
Sounds simple but the more D/C's you have the more energy you will be using, consolidating data centres or moving to cloud-based solutions can reduce the need for vast physical spaces, cooling systems, and energy consumption. Cloud services often have better resource utilisation and energy efficiency than on-premises setups.
Energy-Efficient Hardware
If you don’t want to move to the public cloud and we are seeing a whole new wave of businesses moving back from the cloud you will need to Invest in energy-efficient hardware, such as low-power processors and more efficient cooling systems, can lead to substantial energy savings over time.
4. Benefits of Infrastructure Consolidation
The advantages of infrastructure consolidation extend beyond environmental gains:
Cost Savings
Fewer physical resources mean reduced maintenance costs, energy bills, and hardware expenses.
Scalability
Consolidation can pave the way for easier scalability, as IT teams can focus on optimising a streamlined infrastructure.
Enhanced Performance
Concentrating resources allows for better resource allocation and improved overall system performance.
Simplified Management
Managing a consolidated infrastructure is less complex, requiring fewer personnel and resources.
5. Steps to Successful Infrastructure Consolidation
To embark on a successful journey towards IT sustainability through infrastructure consolidation, we encourage our customers to follow these steps:
Infrastructure Assessment
Work with Simoda to conduct an assessment of existing IT infrastructure, where we can help identify areas of redundancy and inefficiency. As a company, our ethos is technology first. This means that as part of our commitment to helping businesses achieve their outcomes, we are rolling out our FREE IT Infrastructure Assessments for businesses. We are releasing more on that this week.
Planning
Our infrastructure specialists will work with you and your team to develop a comprehensive consolidation plan which will address different options including virtualisation, cloud migration, hardware upgrades, and software optimisation.
Implementation
Simoda's pro services team will work with you to execute the plan in phases, ensuring minimal disruption to ongoing operations.
Monitoring
Continuously monitor and analyse the performance of the consolidated infrastructure, making adjustments as needed.
Adaptation
As technology evolves, remain flexible and ready to adapt the consolidated infrastructure to new innovations and sustainability practices.
Conclusion
The path to sustainability is not just about fulfilling a moral obligation; it's about future-proofing your business in a world increasingly shaped by environmental concerns. By embracing infrastructure consolidation in IT, businesses can reduce their carbon footprint, achieve operational efficiency, and position themselves as leaders in the global movement toward sustainability. As we strive for a greener tomorrow, integrating eco-friendly practices into every facet of business operations will undoubtedly yield a brighter and more prosperous future for all.
Technologies and Solutions to Consider
Simoda have market-leading solution options for achieving true IT infrastructure sustainability, these include:
HPE GreenLake - Edge to cloud solutions
Public Cloud - AWS, Azure, Google
Simoda Cloud - Dedicated UK hosted private cloud resources (40% cheaper than public cloud)
Energy efficient hardware
Compliant data centre hosting services
What’s next?
The first step to achieving successful outcomes in sustainability is a conversation.
Our Sustainability Expert
We’ve recently appointed Kate Hill who’s our sustainability expert as Head of Customer Engagement & Marketing. As well as working in her role within the business, she is now providing sustainability and Corporate Social Responsibility expertise to our customers, wherever they are on their journey.
Having architected and rolled out a successful sustainability and social impact strategy globally for a large audit and advisory network spanning 114 countries, she is well placed to provide advice and support for a range of industries. She is currently working with a number of technology providers to deliver the right technology solutions in support of industry ESG and sustainability strategy, measurements and targets. You can reach out to her directly: kate.hill@simoda.co.uk
Thanks for reading.
Daniel Bumby
Managing Director
Daniel.bumby@simoda.co.uk