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CSRD & CLOUD TECHNOLOGY: A WIN-WIN COMBINATION

Cloud technology has developed rapidly in recent years and is now a central element of digital development. In addition to the numerous benefits that the cloud offers, sustainability is also playing an increasingly important role. To learn more about how cloud technologies can help reduce your company's environmental footprint and thus support the fight against the climate crisis, let's dive deeper into the topic.
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SUSTAINABILITY = BULL'S EYE?

Yes, a sustainable business strategy is a real bull's eye - in fact, it's a triple bull's eye: the environment, society and the company itself all win! It is therefore essential for companies to identify untapped potential and integrate digital technologies in order to efficiently promote sustainable solutions. Cloud technologies offer enormous potential for sustainable corporate strategies, which is also clearly reflected in the Cloud Report 2023 shows where sustainability is one of the most frequently cited goals that companies pursue with their cloud activities.

Sustainability and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) are becoming increasingly important for companies, also from a legal perspective. The EU CSR Directive "CSRD" requires large companies and capital market-oriented SMEs to report transparently on the impact of their economic activities on sustainability issues. By choosing sustainable cloud providers and integrating additional environmentally friendly practices into their operations, companies can act in accordance with these guidelines and demonstrate their responsibility towards stakeholders, the environment and society.

ADVANTAGES OF THE CLOUD FOR THE SUSTAINABILITY STRATEGY

Given the growing importance of environmental protection and sustainable action, more and more companies are realizing that they can also make their IT infrastructure more environmentally friendly. In fact, cloud technology is like a green superhero for corporate IT infrastructure: it not only makes it more environmentally friendly, but also increases operational efficiency.

Reduced energy consumption

Cloud providers often operate energy-efficient data centers that can reduce energy consumption compared to traditional on-premise infrastructures.

Optimized use of resources

Cloud solutions enable companies to scale their IT infrastructure according to their needs. This means that only the computing power and storage capacities that are actually required are used, resulting in better resource utilization.

Lower CO2 emissions

By using cloud services, companies can reduce their carbon footprint as cloud providers often use renewable energy and advanced cooling technologies.

Sustainability initiatives

Many cloud providers have their own sustainability programmes and targets aimed at further minimizing their environmental impact.

Cost efficiency

In addition to the environmental benefits, switching to the cloud can also offer economic advantages, as less physical infrastructure and maintenance is required.

Electronic waste reduction

The use of cloud services allows companies to reduce their own IT hardware, leading to a reduction in electronic waste, with fewer devices to dispose of and recycle.

BEST PRACTICES FOR ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY USE OF CLOUD RESOURCES

You don't have to be a superhero to save the world - instead of superpowers, we now have cloud technologies at our fingertips!

But as with any superhero movie, there are challenges here too: How can companies ensure that their cloud usage is not only efficient but also environmentally friendly?

Here are the best tips from our Sky-E Red team on how to use cloud resources in a way that not only benefits the business, but also protects the planet:

  • Optimizing the use of resources: Use auto-scaling and serverless architectures to ensure that only the required resources are used to reduce energy consumption and costs.
  • Energy-efficient data centers: Choose cloud providers that operate energy-efficient data centers and use renewable energy. Many large providers such as AWS, Google Cloud and Microsoft Azure have committed themselves to sustainable practices.
  • Sustainable software development: Develop applications that work efficiently and require less computing power. This can be achieved by optimizing the code and algorithms.
  • Use of green IT tools: Use tools and services specifically designed to optimize and monitor energy consumption to minimize the company's carbon footprint.
  • Data management: Reduce unnecessary data storage and transfer. Compress data and use efficient storage solutions to keep energy consumption as low as possible.
  • Regular review and adjustment: Keep a constant eye on the use of cloud resources and adjust them if necessary to ensure that they continue to be used efficiently and sustainably.
 
Of course, we are aware that these best practices can be a complex challenge. But don't worry, our Sky-E Red team is always on hand with the right expertise and know-how to work with you to find sustainable solutions that are specifically tailored to your company. Together we can make the cloud greener!

Because there's no denying that these tips can be a real wake-up call for many existing IT infrastructures - a double espresso for cloud use, so to speak.

Using Sky-E Red's know-how
TOOLS FOR MONITORING THE ENERGY CONSUMPTION OF CLOUD RESOURCES

These tools are not only incredibly useful for making the cloud greener and more efficient, but can also be a perfect starting point for developing a sustainable cloud strategy - even together!

AWS CloudWatch enables the monitoring and management of cloud resources in real time and can help to optimize energy consumption.

Google Cloud Monitoring offers comprehensive monitoring services that make it possible to analyze and adjust energy consumption and resource usage.

The Microsoft Azure Monitor offers extensive monitoring and analysis functions to monitor the performance of cloud resources.

ExoStruxure Energy Hub, an energy management tool specially developed by Schneider Electric, offers a cloud-based solution for monitoring and optimizing energy consumption in buildings and data centers.

Optenda is an energy management software aimed at industry, trade and local authorities. It offers tools for increasing energy efficiency.

CONCLUSION

CSRD and cloud technologies are like summer and sunshine - simply unbeatable together! While the CSRD directive ensures that a company shines in terms of sustainability, cloud technology ensures that IT infrastructures run smoothly like a well-oiled engine. The combination of the two aspects helps companies to reduce their environmental footprint while maximizing their efficiency.

Our Sky-E Red team is ready to do the heavy lifting so companies can sit back and watch their IT infrastructure journey catapult to the next level. We ensure that our clients' cloud strategy is not only sustainable, but also future-proof and customized.

For all those who are ready to start their cloud journey and take advantage of the opportunities offered by cloud technology for a greener future: we are just a click away!

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