< PreviousPeter Ruffley CEO Zizo Local authority carbon neutral strategies are adding to, reducing, their carbon footprint Very few, however, realise that the strategies they are planning to adopt to determine the current state of carbon emissions, namely collecting vast quantities of data and storing it in the cloud, are creating a huge additional carbon footprint that could undermine any chance of achieving carbon neutral status for years to come. Technology infrastructure and data storage is already one of the biggest contributors to carbon emissions – so where is the justification for adding enormous quantities of cloud based environmental data to the mix? Time is not on the side of any Local Authority. Rather than embarking upon an expensive, carbon draining, speculative smart technology procurement that may never deliver, switched-on authorities should consider pragmatic, tactical and low carbon alternatives that leverage Edge computing to deliver immediate insight, control and results, explains Peter Ruffley, CEO, Zizo. Speculative macro approach With the UK’s carbon neutral objectives high on the government agenda, much of the burden is falling on Local Authorities to make essential structural change. There are a number of financial incentives – including the Sustainable Warmth competition and the Local Authority Delivery (LAD) scheme, as well as Local Energy Hubs - but with a complex building portfolio, extending from offices to housing, what is the best approach to improve energy efficiency, move to low-carbon heat, and embrace smart technologies across all these buildings? Almost nine in ten councils have declared a climate emergency – but faced with multiple, often contradictory pressures and targets, how many have any confidence in the next steps to take? Most have highlighted the challenges of balancing carbon targets with budgetary constraints. Many recognise the problem in achieving change – especially retrofitting an extensive building estate with smart environmental technology – without massive, unpopular citizen upheaval. carbon-neutral strategies www.networkseuropemagazine.com 70on neutral g to, not n footprint carbon-neutral strategies www.networkseuropemagazine.com 71 The great news is that there is an inspiring and ever growing array of IT technologies available that can help to reduce carbon footprints. The challenge is to determine what technology to use, where to prioritise and when? Clearly it is essential to understand the current state of play – both to determine the priority areas of change and, hopefully, provide a baseline against which any improvements can be measured. And with the explosion in IoT technology and the promise of ubiquitous 5G networks, much of the thinking is focused on smart cities and smart buildings, technology that can automatically turn off lights, optimise traffic flow and minimise the carbon footprint. The problem for many Local Authorities is that the approach being encouraged during this ‘assessment and planning’ phase is too speculative, too slow and, by default, has a technology dependency that has a high financial and carbon cost. Macro solutions – such as the smart city promises – have appeal in theory. But they require significant time, infrastructure and resources before any tangible changes can be made or improvements delivered. Adding carbon to (maybe) reduce carbon In theory, a smart city will be able to optimise traffic flow to reduce congestion and improve air quality; it should be able to turn off lights to reduce power consumption. But until the entire model is up and running, these ideas cannot be tested at scale – and it is only then that we will discover whether lights can be turned off without compromising citizen safety or if traffic optimisation really makes a difference to air quality. The majority of Local Authorities don’t have the time or money for this macro approach. Even if they had either, where is the justification for the carbon footprint associated with long drawn out procurement processes – something that has yet to be factored into government carbon calculations? Or for the vast infrastructure required to undertake the massive data discovery exercise. Just consider the recent research about the carbon impact of our mobile phone photo habits. For every photo posted online, we take five more and save them on our Google Photos or Apple iCloud accounts, taking up storage space on server farms that, in turn, contribute to the spiralling carbon emissions. According to the study carried out by the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET), the glut of digital photos taken by UK citizens alone accounts for over 355,000 tonnes of CO 2 emissions every year. Before any Local Authority embarks upon a smart building or city initiative, it is essential to understand the immediate carbon impact associated with these huge data resources – especially when so much of the data is collected speculatively. Fast, informative and low carbon IoT has, of course, a vital role to play. But the IoT deployment model will make a massive difference, not only to the financial and carbon cost, but also speed of actionable insight. Using Edge computing in tandem with IoT minimises data storage and removes the need for expensive data centre infrastructure. Small, low cost Edge devices can be set up immediately, combined with a variety of IoT sensors – for light and heat, for example – to rapidly capture the current state of play. carbon-neutral strategies www.networkseuropemagazine.com 72Analysing this data in context – for example, adding weather information – provides a Local Authority with real, usable insights to support carbon neutral plans. Smart technologies can be rapidly trialled, with Edge computing ensuring there is no delay in either performing the required analytics or taking the necessary actions, to optimise the energy efficiency of the building. This approach puts Local Authorities back in control. It highlights priority areas for intervention; but also encourages a far more pragmatic, immediate response. If the problem is office workers failing to turn off lights, rather than investing in an expensive, smart AI solution to manage the lights, Edge computing using gamification to encourage behavioural change will reduce energy usage at a much lower cost with a correspondingly low carbon overhead. When smart tech needs to be evaluated, the fast deployment of IoT sensors and Edge computing will allow Local Authorities to establish the real value of their smart tech – for example, setting up two identical family houses with Edge IoT sensors, insulating one and giving it a smart meter and comparing the energy usage to the other uninsulated, unmetered one. Edge supports a fast, focused and pragmatic approach that will rapidly deliver real actionable insights. Practical and pragmatic Time is not on anyone’s side. There is no money for long drawn out procurement or intensive data collection. Local Authorities need a way to quickly identify the biggest contributors to their carbon footprint; and the ability to determine how best to mitigate the problem. Edge computing and IoT offers a tactical approach that not only provides rapid insight but also facilitates the innovation and experimentation that will underpin any successful carbon neutral strategy. There are so many compelling green technologies coming to the market today; some will work, some won’t. Each has a cost associated; some can be implemented quickly; others will require significant changes. All will have to be tried in a real-world environment to determine their efficacy – as well as their wider citizen impacts. Pragmatism is key. There is no room for speculation – and no justification for massive carbon consuming cloud-based data storage. Local Authorities empowered with a fast, low cost, low carbon approach to evaluating options will make swift progress – while the rest continue to store up even more carbon problems for the future. n carbon-neutral strategies www.networkseuropemagazine.com 73 Before any Local Authority embarks upon a smart building or city initiative, it is essential to understand the immediate carbon impact associated with these huge data resourcesIn the limelight: green data centre operations As the world reflects on the ambitious – and sometimes light on detail – environmental commitments made by countries at COP26, energy-intensive business sectors are facing increasing scrutiny. Currently, electricity use by data centres amounts to around 1% of total global demand. This figure may not immediately seem alarming, however, thanks to the explosive growth of cloud computing, some experts estimate that this could soon increase to 15 to 30% in some countries if current trends continue. green data centres www.networkseuropemagazine.com 74It's no surprise then, that going “green” is top of the agenda for many data centre providers. Let’s take a closer look at how the sector is minimising its environmental impact. So, what is the average data centre’s carbon footprint? Partly due to patchy reporting across the sector, this is a difficult question to answer. What we do know, is that the environmental footprint of individual data centres varies hugely. Unfortunately, many new data centres that have low energy efficiency, use high amounts of water and are powered by fossil fuels are still being built. At the same time, however, a large proportion of data centre providers are committed to going climate-neutral – and holding each other to account in the process. For instance, many of the largest European data centre providers are signatories of the Climate Neutral Data Centre Pact. Members of this industry-led self-regulatory initiative have pledged to ensure their European data centres are carbon neutral by 2030. As part of this commitment, they will publish evidence related to energy efficiency, renewable energy use, water conservation, server repairs and part recycling. What makes a “green” data centre? Cooling servers and backups to below 26°C consume up to 40% of the energy used by a typical data centre. As a result, an increasing number of providers are seeking to minimise their carbon footprint through innovative cooling solutions. Some use naturally occurring cold water underground to replace traditional cooling solutions. Other providers – especially those in colder climates – are opting for so-called “free air cooling”, which uses filtered outdoor air to cool servers. Other energy efficiency measures – though they may seem small individually – can together have a large effect on overall energy consumption. For instance, you can install rack cabinets, housing servers that are equipped with a cold air containment system that guarantees maximum efficiency. Another efficiency measure that's being implemented more frequently is waste heat capture and reuse. Waste heat generated by data centre servers is now being used to warm homes, offices, swimming pools and more! Of course, emerging technologies, like AI-driven Data Centre Infrastructure Management systems (DCIM), will make it easier for providers to ensure their data centres are as efficient as possible. But such operational technologies are still in their infancy and have not yet been adopted by the majority of providers. Will more data centre providers become self-generators? Maximising energy efficiency is just one side of the green data centre coin, the other is sourcing renewable energy to power operations. Previously, self-generation was prohibitively expensive for many providers, but since the cost-per-unit of renewable energy production has fallen significantly in recent years, more are making the leap. Even photovoltaic panels cover the surfaces of buildings, alongside a purpose-built hydroelectric plant. If data centre providers can’t self-generate, there are other options available. In Europe, they can choose to procure renewable electricity, rather than energy from fossil fuels, from their respective countries’ national grids through the European Guarantee of Origin scheme (GoO). What can customers do to minimise the carbon footprint of their data storage? In short, vote with their wallets! Customers should put pressure on their data centre provider to be transparent about their environmental impact. This ensures that any “green” claims are backed up with evidence. Currently, many customers simply don’t consider the carbon footprint of their data centre operations, as most only report on their scope 1 and/or 2 emissions – those which they generate directly. However, going forward, data centre providers should expect closer scrutiny of their environmental credentials as more customers set net zero emissions targets. These targets often involve calculating Scope 3 emissions – which include all indirect emissions from external suppliers, including data centre providers. Given current circumstances, it’s clear that environmentally friendly data centre providers will soon gain a significant advantage over their competition. This gap will only widen over the coming years, making “going green” a no-brainer. n Fabrizio Garrone Aruba representative on the Board of Directors of the Climate Neutral Data Centre Pact ight: data ons flects on the metimes light on mmitments made ensive business rrently, electricity otal global demand. ver, thanks to the that this could soon tinue. green data centres www.networkseuropemagazine.com 75Eight trends in cloud computing to look out for in 2022 As 2022 approaches, Amir Hashmi, Founder and CEO of zsah, a managed IT and cloud solutions provider lists eight trends expected to continue into the new year. cloud computing www.networkseuropemagazine.com 76cloud computing for in 2022 cloud computing www.networkseuropemagazine.com 77After the tumultuous last few years, cloud computing remains a priority for organisations looking for business continuity, cost efficiency and increased future scalability, which has proven potential power during the pandemic. Cloud computing bolstered the global economy, ensured continuity for remote workforces and allowed supply chains to adapt. With all this in mind, below I present some cloud computing trends we expect to continue looming large in 2021 and beyond into 2022. A transition to multi-cloud strategies The big tech providers have a walled-garden approach to the ‘one-stop-shop’ services they offer when providing organisations with a solution to their computing needs. Moving forwards into 2022, we expect to see businesses continue to feel uneasy with putting all eggs in this proverbial basket and therefore to continue expressing a preference for hybrid or multi-cloud setups. Currently, the Flexera 2020 State of the Cloud Report shows that 93% of companies have a multi-cloud model, while 87% have a hybrid cloud approach. We expect to see these numbers continue to grow. AI and cloud computing According to Gartner's Top Strategic Technology Trends for 2021, organisations need a strong AI engineering strategy to ensure their projects don't fail. Gartner's position is that most AI projects would fail to move past the prototype or proof-of-concept stage without AI engineering. We would certainly agree. AI is a critical enabler for adapting cloud computing technology to our needs. More specifically, cloud services can enable users with low skill sets and limited budgets to access advanced machine learning functions. With more AI engineering, cloud computing will make advanced toolsets more widely available – and this is good news for everyone. AI engineering and machine learning (ML) do not just affect software – they also play a vital role in the processes that keep data centres up and running. In fragile and expensive environments, power usage, cooling systems and hardware networks are all managed and monitored by AI algorithms. Therefore, improvements here could translate to increased efficiency and thus even a reduced environmental footprint. Hybrid working and virtual desktops Workstation environments will increasingly be deliverable cloud-managed solutions to a desktop or laptop. Desktop- as-a-service platforms such as Windows Virtual Desktop and Amazon workspaces will become more popular. It will be an invaluable solution to the hardware limitations of a workforce moving towards a hybrid model. The Anywhere Operations IT model enables staff everywhere, supports customers anywhere, and manages the deployment of business services across distributed IT infrastructure. With more people working on virtual cloud desktops, organisations will benefit from lowering upfront costs, eliminating hardware updates, enhancing security, and greater flexibility when people join or leave the organisation. Distributed cloud According to Gartner, public cloud companies are transitioning to location-independent distributed cloud services. In this setup, the public cloud provider maintains, operates and develops the services but physically provides them at the point of need. It eliminates latency issues and satisfies privacy regulations such as the GDPR, that require data storage in a specific geographic location. There are many types of distributed cloud, including: on the premises, Internet of Things (IoT) edge cloud, metro- area community cloud, 5G mobile edge cloud and global network edge cloud. These will all start to be adopted by companies, local authorities, and national governments in the coming years. Cloud computing meets edge computing According to Frost and Sullivan projections, about 90% of industrial firms will use edge computing, data analysis, and solution development at the data generation site by the end of 2021. It makes businesses more efficient by reducing latency, cost, and security risks. The global roll-out of 5G technology can only supercharge this development, leading to a massive demand for cloud- to-edge applications. Many public cloud providers have started shifting workloads to intelligent-edge platforms – such as HP, Nvidia, Microsoft and IBM – who have all made significant investments in the fusion of Edge, 5G and AI. The rise of cloud gaming More and more companies are offering gaming-as-a- service. Google, Amazon, and Microsoft launched gaming on-demand services in 2020, while Sony has had a solution for a few years now. This trend is expected to grow dramatically into 2022 and beyond as cloud technology improves and 5G comes online. The advantages of cloud gaming are very similar to that of on-demand movie streaming services like Netflix. Users don't need storage space for entertainment libraries and don't require specialised hardware, which translates to lower overall costs. Cloud gaming also eliminates the piracy problem and helps developers generate more revenue by allowing gamers to play more than one game at a time. It isn't surprising that Mordor Intelligence projects the cloud gaming market to grow to $2.7 billion by 2026, at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 15.3% from 2021 to 2026. More regulatory control We would be remiss in writing about cloud computing trends and failing to mention the looming avalanche of regulatory control. In the Trump era, Big Tech companies found themselves fighting lawsuit after lawsuit, and tech executives had a hard time even attending congressional hearings in the US. The security and data privacy implications of cloud computing must ultimately result in regulation. To respond appropriately, cloud hosting companies in the UK and elsewhere will need to hire skilled data governance and compliance experts to ensure their firms remain on the right side of the law. Data governance and compliance will become critical areas of concern for CIOs and CISOs. Amir Hashmi Founder and CEO zsah cloud computing www.networkseuropemagazine.com 78Skill shortages Although right now it seems less of a pressing issue than a shortage of HGV drivers, cloud computing, as with all fourth-generation technologies, is at significant risk of its stalled momentum by the lack of cloud-native talent in the marketplace. According to one survey from last year, 86% of IT leaders expected cloud projects to slow down in 2020 due to a shortage of cloud talent. Gartner projects that this trend will extend into 2022 with insufficient cloud skills delaying cloud migrations by as much as two years, if not more. The net result is that more businesses will fall short of their cloud adoption objectives. Therefore, access to cloud-native expertise will be a critical determinant of cloud success. Gartner suggests that companies partner with managed service providers with a proven track record in cloud enablement and management. Naturally, we agree wholeheartedly. n cloud computing www.networkseuropemagazine.com 79 With more people working on virtual cloud desktops, organisations will benefit from lowering upfront costs, eliminating hardware updates, enhancing security, and greater flexibility when people join or leave the organisation.Next >