Shifting how we think of and interact with digital information, cloud computing is more visible in our online activities and the media. It is also a valuable resource for companies looking for sustainable IT solutions, with cloud services providing an expected 85 million tonnes of annual net CO2 savings (and US$241 billion in total revenue) by 2020 for US businesses alone.
When storing information on site, dedicated IT hardware is owned and operated by a single company. In the cloud, IT resources are located off-site with another company providing a data-storage service. In addition to CO2 reductions, this structure can increase process efficiency and organizational flexibility. An additional financial benefit comes from economy-wide energy savings.
