In server and storage consolidation, enterprises have been seeking to avoid complex server sprawl, boost utilization, and curb future capital expenses. IT leaders faced with demands to show green leadership should re-cast their consolidation efforts as a critical green project. This will boost support for consolidation while improving the leadership profile of IT.

Significant Green Potential

Consolidation is a significant green project however it is not necessarily a green project. Most enterprises doing consolidation are not driven by green imperatives. Consolidation is a mature strategy that has high adoption among both green and non-green enterprises.

Info-Tech has found, for example, that about 47% of enterprises that have some form of green budgeting are doing server consolidation and virtualization. About 38% of enterprises with no green budget are still doing consolidation and virtualization (see Figure 1). Overall a healthy 40% are doing consolidation regardless of their strategic orientation toward green spending.