Advancements In The Cloud
Two topics on cloud computing and cloud application deployment outside of the topics covered in MIS 3406 that stood out to me were green cloud computing and Azure. Green cloud computing is a form of cloud computing that focuses on the potential environmental benefits cloud-based services can offer. It is a delivery of IT services on the internet that are environmentally friendly. The three main goals of green cloud computing are to maximize energy efficiencies during the device’s lifecycles, promote the use of recyclable materials, and to minimize the use of hazardous IT components (Rodrigues). Green cloud computing can be seen from two perspectives which are green hardware and green software engineering methodologies (Rodrigues). These both promote the use of energy-efficient and environmentally friendly applications and information and communications technology (ICT) tools (Rodrigues). The main message behind green cloud computing is that it is environmentally sustainable because it provides an efficient resource provisioning mechanism, offers multi-tenancy options, and dematerializes your IT setup (Rodrigues). Meanwhile Azure, or better known as Microsoft Azure, is Microsoft’s cloud computing platform. It helps businesses to manage challenges and meet their organizational goals. Azure has a variety of services which can be used to create cloud-based resources, like VMs and databases (Bigelow). It also serves as a platform for hosting databases in the cloud.
Green cloud computing relates to the material covered in MIS 3406 as it is pushing for a more environmentally friendly use of the cloud. Throughout the course we used Amazon Web Services to design and create cloud-based network infrastructures for deploying applications securely at scale. Implementing the practice of green cloud computing will allow customers using AWS to see the changes they are making in their carbon footprint. In class we learned about different cloud native applications and green cloud computing can be applied to these services to make them more efficient. AWS is energy efficient, and Amazon is on a mission to use 100 percent renewable energy by 2025 (Somerson). Azure and AWS are competitors as they are both cloud computing platforms. Azure also relates to the course work as it provides similar features used in AWS that students learned over the semester. Azure provides autoscaling, self-service, security, share elements of a public cloud, and has many other similarities to AWS (ProjectPro). Azure is an example of a sustainable cloud computing platform in which we can use the skills developed from AWS and apply them to other platforms to support our needs.
The two topics also relate to each other because green cloud computing can be built off and impact Microsoft Azure. Azure has been 100 percent carbon neutral since 2012 which has increased their sustainability and sends out a message for companies to take care of their carbon footprint (Azure Sustainability). Azure also wants to be 100 percent renewable energy by 2025 (Azure Sustainability). An example of green cloud computing that has been applied to practice is deploying virtual technologies, participating in electronic recycling programs, and overall using technology in a more environmentally responsible manner (Green Computing). Azure has many capabilities and some of these include that it is flexible and can back up data on any location. Azure can also host and develop web or mobile apps through patch management, autoscaling and integration (McCoy). These are just some of the many things that can be done when applying Microsoft Azure. These two topics have made an impact in the digital world and will continue to transform technology.
Works Cited
“Azure Sustainability-Sustainable Technologies: Microsoft Azure.” Azure Sustainability-Sustainable Technologies | Microsoft Azure, https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/explore/global-infrastructure/sustainability/#overview.
Bigelow, Stephen J. “What Is Microsoft Azure and How Does It Work?” SearchCloudComputing, TechTarget, 19 Oct. 2022, https://www.techtarget.com/searchcloudcomputing/definition/Windows-Azure#:~:text=Once%20customers%20subscribe%20to%20Azure,host%20workloads%20and%20store%20data.
“Green Computing.” University of Puget Sound, https://www.pugetsound.edu/technology-services/green-computing.
McCoy, Logan. “Microsoft Azure Explained: What It Is and Why It Matters.” CCB Technology, 12 July 2022, https://ccbtechnology.com/what-microsoft-azure-is-and-why-it-matters/.
ProjectPro. “AWS vs Azure-Who Is the Big Winner in the Cloud War?” ProjectPro, ProjectPro, 6 June 2022, https://www.projectpro.io/article/aws-vs-azure-who-is-the-big-winner-in-the-cloud-war/401#:~:text=AWS%20and%20Azure%20offer%20essentially,management%20features%2C%20and%20instant%20provisioning.
Rodrigues, Cláudio. “What Is Green Cloud Computing, and How Can Organizations Use It to Minimize Overall Carbon Footprint?” Parallels Remote Application Server Blog – Application Virtualization, Mobility and VDI, Parallels Inc., 20 May 2022, https://www.parallels.com/blogs/ras/what-is-green-cloud-computing/.
Somerson, Paul. “Dos Power Tools: Techniques, Tricks, and Utilities.” Amazon, Bantam Books, 1991, https://aws.amazon.com/power-and-utilities/sustainability/.