The cloud offers several benefits in-house data centers cannot

Tuesday, July 26, 2011

As the companies worldwide continue to adopt cloud computing at a feverish pitch, there are four reasons why the technology is more energy-efficient than in-house data centers, according to a recent Jonathan Koomey blog post.

For larger cloud deployments, it is easier to make efficiency improvements and spread costs to a greater server base. Also, the cloud offers server utilizations between 30 and 40 percent, while in-house data centers have between 5 and 15 percent, the report stated.

Additionally, the cloud is more flexible than in-house data centers because users can redesign server features to adjust energy demands.

"While most company in-house IT operations face the problem of a disconnect between IT departments driving server purchases, and facilities departments paying the electric bill, that problem has largely been solved for the cloud providers," said GigaOM researcher Jonathan Koomey.

According to a recent Network World report, Cisco's chief technologist for the company's Internet Business Solutions Group, Dave Evans, said the cloud is one of 10 technologies that will be important during the next decade.