A Daisy Corporate Services report has revealed that outdated IT equipment wastes money and harms the environment.
The study, Faster, greener, cheaper: Dealing with IT Infrastructure Complexity in a Hybrid Cloud World, has exposed a massive obstacle in legacy infrastructure, which is gobbling up power and spewing out carbon.
As well as being a drain on the grid, the old gear burns a hole in the pocket, with cash spent on keeping the machines running. The IT industry has a chance to sell new and improved products, but this is more than just a sales pitch – it’s about saving the planet and cutting costs.
The report showed a strong desire by customers to go green and be more eco-friendly. Nearly nine of ten IT bosses said sustainability and energy efficiency were necessary, and many had set their own goals.
Daisy, head of propositions and strategy consulting Andy Bevan, said sustainability was a key part of any modern business, and IT departments had a big role in helping the whole organisation go green.
“But legacy technology is a headache for IT teams, with old equipment still using much power,” he said.
The risks of sticking with legacy kit mean some of the options the IT industry can offer that would ease budgets and make customers more green should have been included.
“Customers can benefit from the green features of their cloud providers but are being held back by the difficulties of moving their legacy hardware,” he said.
“This is where modern hybrid cloud platforms can help bridge the gap between on-site infrastructure and cloud to deliver performance and sustainability benefits.”
A debate around legacy infrastructure is happening against a backdrop of increased awareness about other options. Daisy found that 86 per cent of those customers it spoke to agreed that a pay-as-you-go IT infrastructure model would benefit. A similar level was keen to use artificial intelligence to boost efficiency.
“Over the last few years, it has been a tough market for many businesses,” said Bevan. “Driving efficiencies is a big part of businesses’ survival strategies today, which significantly impacts IT teams.
At a time when IT bosses are under pressure to cut spending, many businesses are still paying a fortune on their legacy hardware, he added.
“By moving to the cloud and a pay-as-you-go pricing model, businesses can cut costs and increase flexibility by paying for what they use. This should be their dream come true for cash-strapped IT departments,” he said.
