Data Center and Cloud

Across the tech sector, we need to recognize that data centers will rank by the middle of the next decade among the large users of electrical power on the planet.

– Brad Smith, President of Microsoft

In this chapter, you will learn why there has been a shift from on-premises to cloud computing, the definition of the cloud, and the value and opportunity for enterprises leveraging the cloud, sustainable digital infrastructure, in data centers or in the cloud. Secondly, we will dig into the sustainability benefits of cloud computing. Thirdly, we will look at how sustainable global cloud service providers are in general and what public commitments they have made. We will look at some of the best practices and innovations from these cloud providers in terms of sustainability. Furthermore, we will investigate a case study where a data center provider is creating a net-positive cloud. Finally, this chapter will outline external green and eco-sustainability...