For decades, Moore’s Law saw processing power double every two years with stable energy consumption. But all that is changing. 

The advent of artificial intelligence (AI) will require—as one tech observer recently noted—”a shocking amount of electricity” for similar gains. By 2027, 1.5 million AI server units are expected to ship annually. When running at full capacity, these would consume at least 85.4 terawatt-hours of electricity annually—enough to power Singapore‘s 1.43 million households for over a decade. As AI usage surges, supporting infrastructure will need to expand exponentially, potentially pushing global energy consumption to a staggering 13 percent by 2030.

We take a look at Southeast Asia’s rising popularity as a data centre hub

With such high environmental stakes, how can the tech industry modernise its IT infrastructure to accelerate sustainability? And how can we ensure that technological advancement does not come at the expense of our planet?

Sustainable IT evolution

Despite the immense climate challenges, there is a path forward. Our 2024 Enterprise Cloud Index (ECI) report reveals that organisations in APJ are actively making significant strides in sustainability through IT modernisation. This development signals the region’s serious commitment to reducing carbon footprints and futureproofing their businesses.

An encouraging three in five respondents said they have already updated their IT infrastructure to enhance sustainability. This transformation is not just about compliance; it is essential, to demonstrating that sustainable technological advancement is within reach. 

What’s more, our findings highlight two significant trends. About 90 percent of respondents are taking a “cloud smart” strategy, leveraging the best environment—whether in their data centre, the cloud, or at the edge—for their applications and data. It also found that more than 80 percent of organisations recognise the benefits of this approach. This not only enhances operational efficiency but also supports data-driven sustainability by optimising resource use and reducing energy consumption. Furthermore, clearer regulatory guidelines, such as Singapore’s mandate for firms to disclose climate-related information from 2025, are amplifying the urgency to adopt sustainable practices. 

The critical shift towards data-driven sustainability, supported by infrastructure modernisation and clearer regulatory guidelines, offers a beacon of hope. It indicates that the tech industry can indeed innovate responsibly and sustainably.

Embracing data-driven sustainability

Data-driven sustainability involves leveraging advanced analytics and real-time data to make informed decisions, enhancing environmental performance and operational efficiency. This approach integrates three key steps: integrating energy-efficient technologies; optimising resource use; and continuously monitoring and improving IT infrastructure. 

A vital component of this strategy is the adoption of Hyperconverged Infrastructure (HCI)—a popular choice for organisations across the region. HCI streamlines operations by collapsing compute, storage, networking functions, and AI accelerators, reducing hardware footprint and enhancing energy efficiency. These benefits are part of the reason why HCI is fast becoming the infrastructure of choice for many organisations as they modernise their data centres.

A compelling example is Marist College Canberra. The Australian educational institution modernised its IT infrastructure by replacing an outdated three-tier data centre architecture with HCI. This transformation led to an 86 percent consolidation of its IT infrastructure, dramatically reducing power usage and eliminating the need for a bulky uninterruptible power supply unit. The new infrastructure not only reduced the school’s carbon footprint but also improved system performance and scalability, creating a better learning environment.

Marist College Canberra’s case illustrates the tangible benefits of focusing on sustainability. By modernising its IT infrastructure, the college achieved both environmental and operational excellence. This success underscores the potential for other organisations to follow suit, highlighting the critical role of innovative IT solutions in building a sustainable future.

Modernising power monitoring for optimal energy use and performance 

Beyond modernising infrastructure, organisations also need to modernise their approach towards energy use. Understanding energy consumption in IT systems has historically been a challenging undertaking, with organisations relying on estimations or “typical” consumption values that don’t provide an accurate picture. This is further exacerbated by the increasing complexity of modern IT systems, which often include a mix of onsite servers, co-located platforms, and service provider hosting.

To gain better visibility, organisations need platforms with advanced power monitoring capabilities, in particular those that track energy usage data in near-real time for greater accuracy. Integrating these capabilities within HCI systems and having specific power metrics displayed on system dashboards enhances the organisation’s ability to visualise energy use across the full IT environment. This in turn empowers organisations to make more informed decisions about energy utilisation and workload management.

Beyond optimised resource use and reduced carbon footprints, opting for platforms that integrate modern power monitoring features also changes the way IT decision-makers approach sustainability. It ensures that sustainable IT practices are not an afterthought but a strategic imperative for future resilience and growth. 

Empowering future moves

The drive towards sustainability transcends merely reducing carbon footprints or waste. It’s about creating resilient systems and practices that thrive without depleting resources or causing ecological harm. As technology, finance, and environmental outcomes become increasingly intertwined, the real power of sustainability lies in forging new paths and setting new standards.

Reflecting on Moore’s Law, while technological progress will continue to accelerate, our ability to sustain progress hinges on responsible innovation. By embracing data-driven sustainability and modernising IT infrastructures, businesses can lead the charge towards a resilient and sustainable future. 

The article titled “How data-driven IT modernisation is transforming sustainable growth for Asia” was contributed by Faiz Shakir, VP & Managing Director, Nutanix Southern Asia

About the author

Faiz has over two decades of experience in the IT infrastructure domain. He is widely recognized for his leadership skills, strategic thinking, and deep understanding of the latest technologies and market trends.

Under Faiz’s leadership, Nutanix South Asia has achieved unprecedented success, expanding its market share and revenue significantly which has led it to hold #1 position as per IDC in India for 20 consecutive quarters.

Throughout his career, he has held key leadership roles, driving business growth and delivering innovative solutions to meet the evolving needs of customers. Prior to Nutanix Faiz has successfully led successful teams at EMC & achieved high results collaborating with alliance partners.

Faiz is a business management graduate & recently completed a leadership program in Columbia Business School. He is an active member of several industry associations and has recently received the CEO of the year award by Economic Times for the year 2021/22 and the Emerging Leaders of Asia Award from Times Now in 2023.