NetworkTigers explores how sustainable technology solutions can drive efficiency, reduce costs, and benefit the environment.
The ever-increasing growth of data creation, analytics, and storage in recent years has led to a massive increase in energy demands. In some areas of the country, the US power grid struggles to keep up. According to the Washington Post, in 2022, the 2,700 data centers in the US used 4% of the country’s total generated electricity. By 2026, that number is expected to increase to 6%. Energy consumption is expected to continue to grow along with an ever-rising demand for internet infrastructure.
Businesses can lead sustainability efforts by adopting eco-friendly practices in their use of technology and the IoT. This is good for the planet and more efficient, productive, and affordable in the long run for the business. What does
Upgrading for energy efficiency
From smart building technology for offices to energy-efficient networking equipment, upgrading can often get you the coolest new gadget and a more sustainable way of doing business. Advancements in data center cooling, LED lighting, electric vehicles, solar panels, AI-enabled energy conservation metering, and demand-based data storage infrastructure can shape how your company conducts its day-to-day for the better. Investing in them sooner rather than later saves your company time and money while taking steps to become more sustainable.
Using IT to optimize supply chains
Supply chain management is one area where aggregating data can help pinpoint sustainable solutions. Supply chains from vendors contribute significantly to waste, from unnecessary shipping and complicated routes to multiple deliveries, non-biodegradable packaging, and more. IT data analytics may help highlight what supply chain shifts are necessary to source more consistently from local vendors, reduce the flow of goods, and lower environmental impact.
Lifecycle management
All networking gear has a lifecycle. Investing in quality gear from the start can help prevent unnecessary waste and high recurring costs for your business. However, your business might also consider planning for lifecycle management for all your gear as it gets phased out, upgraded, or stops functioning.
Lifecycle management involves evaluating a piece of gear’s recyclability and determining whether its components can be reused or repurposed. Professionally repaired and refurbished networking gear can be an economical and sustainable solution.
Ensuring that unusable gear is properly decommissioned and recycled can also ensure your networks remain secure from intrusion. When improperly dealt with, old hardware creates obsolescences and weak spots that can be easier targets for hackers to gain access to an overall network than up-to-date gear. For instance, old printers have recently become particularly interesting to hackers seeking to inject malware. Because printers are often entrusted with wireless access and email access, as well as see a large amount of data, when not properly decommissioned at the end of their life cycle, they can create a cybersecurity risk.
Switching to cloud computing
Digital documentation can reduce office waste by up to 70%. The Green Business Benchmark reports that the average office worker goes through approximately 10,000 sheets of paper annually. Switching to digital documents can reduce waste, streamline communication, and ensure that everyone is always working from the same version.
What is more, storing files in the cloud comes with additional benefits. A shared cloud server is more energy efficient than businesses investing in and maintaining individual servers. Working from the cloud can also save your company money, reducing your need for upfront investment in networking gear and continued spending on specialized IT know-how when it comes to maintaining individual hardware servers.
According to data from the National Academy of Sciences, cloud computing is safer for companies interested in additional cybersecurity benefits than most at-home or in-office networks. Encryption services by Google, Apple, and more are working with the best currently available. While no system is 100% secure, cloud computing may also be able to offer additional flexibility and scalability that individual servers cannot.
Investing in refurbished networking gear
Refurbished networking gear is a reliable, budget-friendly, and effective option. Refurbished products have been thoroughly tested to ensure that they conform to manufacturers’ standards, and some come with warranties to ensure you get your money’s worth. Refurbished gear is not only a sustainable solution, but it can ensure that you receive products that have already been vetted and certified by IT professionals.
Addressing redundancies
Many businesses have redundancies. Maybe your data needs cleanup, or certain forms or handbooks are outdated but still in circulation. You might even realize your company has invested in unnecessary storage or office space or other major expenses that can be downsized to become more energy-efficient and affordable.
Sustainability is smart for everyone concerned. Businesses that upgrade to sustainable tech solutions reduce waste, and partake in lifecycle management can prevent cybersecurity risks, save themselves money, win over customers, and ensure they are around for the long haul.
About NetworkTigers
NetworkTigers is the leader in the secondary market for Grade A, seller-refurbished networking equipment. Founded in January 1996 as Andover Consulting Group, which built and re-architected data centers for Fortune 500 firms, NetworkTigers provides consulting and network equipment to global governmental agencies, Fortune 2000, and healthcare companies. www.networktigers.com.
All articles sponsored by NetworkTigers.
