A recent study conducted by Gartner predicts a significant shift in how organizations manage energy consumption in the cloud by 2026. According to the report, half of all organizations are expected to utilize sustainability tools to monitor and manage hybrid cloud energy consumption.
The survey, which polled 2,457 respondents from 84 countries, highlights the increasing pressure on companies to meet carbon neutrality and net zero goals. Investors, customers, regulators, and governments are pushing for more sustainable practices across industries.
Gartner’s VP analyst, Padraig Byrne, emphasized the need for organizations to align their IT carbon footprint with corporate sustainability goals. This shift towards incorporating sustainability monitoring into cloud operations underscores the growing responsibility of I&O leaders to prioritize environmental concerns.
The study also points to the emergence of new IT management areas termed GreenOps, focusing on reporting activities, energy usage, water efficiency, and greenhouse gas emissions in cloud and data centers. This development will require organizations to adopt new IT operating models and leverage monitoring, analytical, and AI services to optimize CO2 emissions and power consumption.
While the transition to sustainability-enabled monitoring poses challenges, such as the lack of real-time information and inaccurate data granularity, Gartner recommends implementing GreenOps practices to support carbon-neutral objectives. By collecting and managing sustainability telemetry from cloud providers, organizations can position themselves to optimize GHG emissions and power consumption in the future.
As companies navigate the complexities of achieving net zero carbon goals, the adoption of sustainable IT practices will play a crucial role in minimizing environmental impact and driving long-term sustainability efforts. With the right strategies in place, organizations can proactively address energy consumption challenges in the cloud and contribute to a more sustainable future.
