There is currently an intertwining trend between cloud computing and big data. More and more companies take a big data business model approach that focus on high-value customer relationships. This requires ever more storage space for data and a local server is barely enough. This is why demand for cloud computing, as the last resort for infinite data storage, has grown by almost 30% in 2013 alone.
The classic options for a cloud solution are Amazon, Google and Apple. In regards to green IT, Apple for example states that all its data centers are running with renewable energy. Amazon though, does not even report carbon emission numbers. This can be taken as a sign that they are not using green energy for their energy supply.
So to shed some light on who's green and who's not, here is a list of the top 3 green cloud vendors:
- Google: As mentioned in one of our previous articles, Google's focus on green energy is high and they do try to use as minimal unclean energy for their services.
- Rackspace: High focus on green energy as well. It is the leader in the Dow Jones Sustainability Index for the second year in a row.
- HP: One of their business propositions is to provide green energy.
- Salesforce: They show no focus on green IT at all.
- Oracle: "Green is not in Oracle's vocabulary" as experts have said.
- Amazon: Amazon is actively using coal as one of its main energy sources.
While companies have great economic benefit in this fast growing sector, they have a unique opportunity and great responsibility to become more green. Managers have the decision power to influence this by always picking the provider which is more green. It is not about having to pay more, it is just about making the right decision.
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