27 Oct 2008

Firms 'should prepare for green IT'

Businesses are expected to turn to green IT solutions in growing numbers after the rising cost of energy raised questions surrounding the data management infrastructure of today's enterprise industry.

Research by IT analyst IDC found that firms are considering factors such as energy prices, growth in data volumes and data storage, and the potential impact green IT could have on the reputation of their brands.

Veron Turner, senior vice president of enterprise infrastructure at the group, advised firms that green IT could help make their businesses both sustainable and environmentally-friendly.

"With expectations for corporate social responsibility on the rise, business leaders must prepare their companies to meet the demands of future environmental mandates, such as carbon trading and asset disposal," she added.

It follows a recent industry study by Storage Expo which showed that 70 per cent of firms consider energy efficiency, when cost effective, as a top investment priority for their technological operations.