02 Jan 2009

Go virtual to be more green, expert says

Businesses should take a broader view of virtualisation as part of their research into green IT, it has been suggested.

According to Heather Clancy, writing at ZDNet.com, businesses should consider incorporating virtualisation technology into their routine data centre practises.

"It's time to stop thinking about virtualisation as a one-time event and look at how it will influence server and storage purchases over the long term," Ms Clancy wrote.

The IT expert's article also noted that technology improvements in broadband mean there is no reason why companies should not conduct at least a portion of their meetings virtually, through videoconferencing.

As well as saving money, it will also improve the morale of employees and executives who dislike crowded journeys to meetings, Ms Clancy noted.

Software-as-a-service in the cloud can also enable companies to automate key business processes without putting pressure on their own data centres, she added.

Environmental performance is regarded as an important or very important aspect of business operations by 90 per cent of firms, according to a recent survey by iomart and Green IT magazine.