CloudOps blog (AWS & Azure)

How Sustainability and ESG Investing are Accelerating Cloud Adoption for AWS & Azure

Written by Chris Fennell (Chief Operating Officer) | 18-Nov-2024 13:43:47

In recent years, sustainability has become a key focus for many organizations, as businesses strive to reduce their carbon footprint and meet their environmental, social, and governance (ESG) goals. One area where sustainability has had a significant impact is in the world of cloud computing.

In this article, we'll explore how sustainability and ESG investing are accelerating cloud adoption for two of the largest cloud providers, AWS and Azure.

Before we dive into the specifics, let's first take a closer look at what ESG investing is and why it matters. ESG investing is a strategy that takes into account a company's performance in the areas of environmental, social, and governance. Investors use this information to make decisions about which companies they want to invest in, and it can have a significant impact on a company's stock price and overall success.

As companies have started to recognize the importance of ESG investing, they've also begun to prioritize sustainability in their business practices. One area where this has had a significant impact is in the adoption of cloud computing. Cloud computing has many benefits, including scalability, flexibility, and cost-effectiveness. However, it also has the potential to be energy-intensive, which can be a concern for companies that are focused on reducing their carbon footprint.

“There must be a better way to make the things we want, a way that doesn’t spoil the sky, or the rain or the land.” - Paul McCartney

That's where sustainability comes in. By adopting sustainable cloud computing practices, companies can reduce their energy consumption and minimize their environmental impact. This is where AWS and Azure come in.

AWS (Amazon Web Services) has been a leader in sustainable cloud computing for many years. In 2014, AWS announced a goal to achieve 100% renewable energy usage for its global infrastructure. Since then, the company has made significant progress towards this goal, and in 2020, AWS announced that 50% of its energy came from renewable sources.

Additionally, AWS has developed a range of tools and services to help customers reduce their energy consumption and carbon footprint, such as Amazon EC2 Spot Instances, which allow customers to save money by using spare AWS capacity when it's available.

You can read the latest updates from AWS here: https://sustainability.aboutamazon.co.uk/

Microsoft Azure has also made sustainability a priority in its cloud computing offerings. In 2016, Microsoft announced that it would aim to power its data centres with 50% renewable energy by 2018, and by 2020, the company had achieved its goal. Additionally, Microsoft has committed to being carbon negative by 2030, and it plans to use its cloud services to help other companies reduce their carbon footprint as well.

For example, Microsoft has developed a range of sustainability tools, such as the Azure Sustainability Calculator, which allows customers to estimate the carbon footprint of their Azure workloads.

You can read the latest updates from Microsoft here: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/corporate-responsibility/sustainability 

So, how are sustainability and ESG investing accelerating cloud adoption for AWS and Azure? There are a few key ways:

  1. Increased demand for sustainable cloud computing: As companies prioritize sustainability and ESG investing, they're looking for cloud providers that can meet their needs. AWS and Azure, with their focus on sustainable cloud computing, are well-positioned to meet this demand.
  2. Cost savings: Sustainable cloud computing can also result in cost savings for companies, as they can reduce their energy consumption and lower their carbon footprint. This makes cloud computing a more attractive option for companies that are focused on reducing their operating costs.
  3. Improved reputation: Finally, sustainability can also help companies improve their reputation and attract customers who are looking for socially responsible businesses. By partnering with cloud providers like AWS and Azure, companies can demonstrate their commitment to sustainability and ESG investing, which can help them stand out in a crowded market.

In conclusion, sustainability and ESG investing are having a significant impact on cloud adoption for AWS and Azure. By prioritizing sustainable cloud computing practices, these cloud providers are meeting the needs of companies that are looking to reduce their environmental impact and meet their ESG goals.

Final Thoughts

IG CloudOps' cloud management platform is plug-and-play for both AWS & Azure making cloud adoption even easier and more secure. Our platform allows companies to quickly manage solutions while maintaining the highest levels of security and compliance – all in a cloud environment that is optimized for sustainability.

Contact us below to learn more about how we can help your company make cloud adoption simpler, faster, and more sustainable.

Or if you want to find out more about our Azure migration services click hereOr for AWS migration services click here.

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