Sustainable Cloud Strategies and Business Models: Where Green Innovation Meets Growth

Frost & Sullivan’s latest cloud webinar shed light on How Cloud Computing Is Creating New Growth Opportunities and Accelerating Environmental Goals. Through real-world examples and strategic insights, this webinar explored new ways for organizations to embed sustainability into their digital core using innovative cloud technologies and business models.

Featured Experts:
During this session, the following panelists collaborated to share their views on green infrastructure, hybrid and multi-cloud architecture, and data management:

• Ignacio Perrone – Growth Expert and Director, Cloud at Frost & Sullivan
• Fredrick Royan – Growth Expert and Global Practice Area Leader, Sustainability and Circular Economy at Frost & Sullivan
• Ian Emanuel Fresco – Growth Expert and Consulting Analyst, ICT at Frost & Sullivan
• Jonathan LaCour – Chief Technology Officer at Mission Cloud (a CDW Company)
• Marina Rosso Siverino – Co-founder at Del Plata Green    

 Watch the full webinar and supercharge your cloud strategy today.

Actionable Growth Insights from This Webinar

• Key Metrics for Quantifying the Environmental Footprint of Cloud Operations

Measuring the environmental impact of cloud operations goes beyond just counting kilowatts. Though power usage effectiveness (PUE) remains the go-to benchmark for most providers, water consumption is fast becoming just as important, especially with rising concerns over water scarcity and the heavy cooling demands of data centers. Other powerful metrics include:

• CUE: Carbon Usage Effectiveness
• WUE: Water Usage Effectiveness
• Energy Consumption
• Carbon Intensity of Energy Sources

Looking ahead, adding asset utilization efficiency (AUE) into the mix changes the conversation from “how much we consume” to “how well we use what we have.” This unlocks new opportunities to repurpose excess capacity and reduce waste. For instance, in regions like Scandinavia, even waste heat from data centers is being redirected into district heating networks, thereby turning potential waste into community value.

View growth analytics to know more about changing customer priorities in this space.

• Balancing Two Sides of the Cloud Equation: Provider and Consumer Responsibility

Sustainability in cloud computing is a story of two sides, providers and consumers.

• On one hand, we have providers who rely on energy and water intensive data centers and storage.
• On the other we have consumers who constantly strive to lower their own carbon footprints by moving from on-premises storage to more efficient, high-utilization facilities.

Both sides face mounting pressure from regulators, shareholders, and public opinion to transition to greener operations. The scale of the challenge is staggering: By the end of 2025, data centers could account for 20% of global electricity use, 5.5% of carbon emissions, and billions of liters in annual water consumption.

Which partnerships will help providers and customers minimize carbon emissions and waste in their cloud operations?

• The 6P Framework: Sustainability-first Cloud Operations

The 6P framework delivers a clear, actionable path for embedding sustainability into the very core of cloud operations from the ground up:

• Policies and government regulations set ambitious environmental targets that directly shape Products like energy-efficient servers, liquid cooling systems, and renewable energy use.
• This creates Processes that cut power usage, reduce waste heat, optimize utilization rates, and automate workflows.
• People (from employee wellbeing to local communities) benefit through initiatives like water conservation, energy optimization, and skills development.
• Strategic Partnerships with utilities, renewable energy providers, and hardware manufacturers magnify these benefits.
• Platforms like carbon or water credit systems enable precise measurement, accountability, and reinvestment.

By integrating all six pillars at the design stage, cloud infrastructure can evolve from being a resource-intensive necessity into a regenerative force that reduces environmental impact, while creating lasting social value.

View growth analytics to know more about changing customer priorities in this space.

• Circular Data Centers: Redefining Cloud Infrastructure

Emerging AI workloads and digital transformation are increasing the demand for cloud and computing infrastructure, pushing energy, water, and material consumption to new heights. Circular data centers are well positioned to address this challenge by embedding sustainability into every stage of the asset lifecycle—from design to decommissioning.

• This translates into increasing investments in low-carbon materials, tracking and minimizing embodied carbon, designing data centers for easy repair and upgrades, and implementing reuse strategies to give equipment a second or even third life.
• It also enables operators to participate in circular markets, trading refurbished components and water credits, while improving asset utilization efficiency (AUE).
• Further, digital product passports can document the composition, repair history, and sustainability credentials of every component—ensuring transparency, enabling resale, and simplifying recycling at end-of-life.

Watch the full webinar and supercharge your cloud strategy today.

As cloud adoption accelerates, the winners will be those who embed sustainability into their architecture, operations, and partnership strategies from day one. The question is — How will you design and implement a cloud strategy that delivers measurable value for both the planet and your organization’s bottom line?

Click Here to connect with Frost & Sullivan’s Cloud and ICT growth experts for customized opportunities, tech strategies, and best practices in sustainable cloud innovation!