Sustainability in IT Operations: The Importance of Virtualization and Other Techniques

The environmental impact of IT infrastructure is often overlooked when setting it up. Traditional considerations such as initial cost, performance, compatibility, and maintenance are prioritized, but the increasing number of server equipment leads to higher energy consumption, cooling expenses, and maintenance costs. To address this issue, organizations such as Dell, Sun Microsystems and others have formed non-profit organizations like "The Green Grid" to promote efficient energy consumption in IT equipment. 

Another organization, SPEC, which is formed by Oracle, IBM, and HP, conducts research to help compare energy-saving practices in IT organizations like data centres and server rooms. Both of these organizations, along with other market leaders, recommend virtualization as an energy-efficient practice.

Virtualization is a technology that enables multiple server software to run on a single server hardware. This results in a reduction of the number of server hardware needed, which in turn leads to lower cooling expenses, lower energy consumption, and less floor space. Virtualization projects promote server consolidations that lead the way for better management of the servers and lower maintenance costs. It is important to note that while virtualization is not a sufficient effort on its own to make IT operations more environmentally friendly, it is a step in the right direction.

There are several ways to reduce the environmental impact of IT infrastructure other than server virtualization. One way is to use energy-efficient hardware such as servers, storage devices and cooling systems. Another way is to use renewable energy sources to power the IT infrastructure, such as solar or wind power. Additionally, implementing power management systems, such as power capping and automatic power-down of idle systems, can help reduce energy consumption. Another approach is to use cloud computing and remote hosting, which can reduce the need for physical servers, and can also reduce the energy consumption and environmental impact of data centres. Additionally, proper disposal of electronic waste, and recycling of old equipment, can also help reduce the environmental impact of IT operations. Overall, a comprehensive approach that considers energy efficiency, renewable energy, power management, and waste reduction, is needed to fully address the environmental impact of IT operations.

In conclusion, all these techniques should be used in combination. Overall, it is crucial for organizations to adopt a holistic approach towards sustainability in their IT operations and continuously strive to improve their environmental footprint.

Vedat YOZKAT

The Next Big Thing

What would be the next big thing?

With more brands, start-up or established companies and individuals emphasizing the importance of a solid presence on the market, everybody is working hard to take a market share from the next big thing in the market. In today’s business environment, it is very difficult to point out a single thing that would be the next big thing, however, I hereby try to make assumptions how the next big thing would be like. 

- probably it's something socially responsible
- probably it presents at least a trace of innovation
- probably it uses an existing technology with a twist
- probably it's young
- probably it's environment friendly
- probably it's something cool
- probably it's something simple
- probably it's something crowd sourced and/or crowd funded
- probably it's solving a problem that we didn't know existed
- probably something promoted by a big shot
- probably something disruptive

There is only so much attention from consumers and customers to go around, and the all new products and services are overflowing in all shapes and sizes, it would take a lot of efforts to stand out. 

Be there or else...

Vedat YOZKAT

Schedule a Walk

Many of us, as office workers, spend great deal of time sitting at our desks for long hours. Sitting for prolonged hours do not do any good to any of us. Not only, it increases our stress level and risk of having health problems but also decreases our metabolism speed and our productivity as a result. Years ago when smart phones were not very popular and wearable technologies were not on the market yet, I bought a simple mechanical pedometer to measure my daily activity. Aside from my gym routine, I wanted to see how many steps I was taking on a regular day. My car is parked right in front of my home and after a short drive I park in front of my work place. I sit all day long in front of my computer and do my short commute in the evening to go back home. I was doing my regular gym activities but take that aside, I found out that on a regular day, I was not active at all. My step count was less that 5000 steps a day which may be considered as a "sedentary lifestyle." I needed to do something to change my daily routine.

My workplace is in an industrial zone, there are no green parks, not even a decent walking route, and however, I decided to take walking breaks in the middle of the day right before my lunch. I started taking 20 minutes fast pacing walks around the neighborhood which added almost 3000 steps to my daily step count. I have been doing this for years now, if I am not preoccupied with something extremely important or if it is not raining heavily, I am taking a 20 minute walk almost every day.

I do not see this as a calorie burning activity or a replacement of my daily exercise routine; I continue doing my regular exercises. This is just a short time off for getting away from what I do, clearing my mind, boosting my energy level to return back to work more focused and for a chance to get exposed to the sun and fresh air. I found out that other than increasing my energy level and concentration, these short walks improve my problem solving capability and increase my creativity.

Many people take smoking breaks, coffee or tea breaks and get away from their desks frequently. I highly recommend taking a walking break once a day which would facilitate harmonizing your mind and body, replenish your concentration and focus and finally enhance your productivity. Once you start moving, you will be more open to the idea of moving more and being more active.


Vedat YOZKAT

Think Global, Act Social

Technology is usually to blame for environmental problems and for promoting social detachment, being in the heart of the technology, is it possible for IT operations to be more social, is it possible for IT departments to contribute to social and environmental projects?

Although, IT departments have always been the leader for productivity, we think, we still could find room to improve our services and help contributing to social initiatives without compromising the service quality. Other than participating to the global projects and programs, we think by acting smart and making minor adjustments we can consume less, help reducing our carbon footprint locally and contribute to the society more.

IT departments contributes substantially in many green initiatives within corporations, such as paper reduction campaigns, energy conversation projects, promoting communication projects to reduce business travels and involving heavily in recycle & reuse projects.

Not only we “think green” for such activities, but also as IT teams, we take parts on socially responsible activities. We have been getting in touch with vocational schools in the vicinity to make a difference for the students in these schools. We provide a workplace experience for the students in such vocational schools. For students who are studying in computer science, programming and electronics, it is at upmost importance to find a workplace to put their learning at use. Not only, we provide a workplace experience for these students but also we involve them in IT projects to increase their take from this experience.

Furthermore, IT departments usually provide many training opportunities. Corporations consist of both well-educated, experienced staff and junior and not well equipped staff. One of IT departments' aim to bring everyone at an average level of understanding the technology and increase everyone's level of computer literacy. We provide many training opportunities to those that are not very well equipped with all the skills and qualification for their career targets. Without the required computer skills, many people cannot reach their career targets. We believe by helping them the break this barrier, IT departments play an important role in people's development and reaching their career goals.

Every year, number of personal computer systems retired or no longer needed by IT departments. While these are not the most powerful computers, they are still very useful for teaching basic computer skills. We refurbish these computers, remove all software licenses from them and reinstall free software licenses. After completing the installation and testing, we donate the equipment free of charge to eligible schools that are truly in need. This donation program has helped bring access to computer technology to many students. We are proud of these efforts that help create and foster foundations for enhanced learning. We will continue to donate such equipment to the schools and other educational nonprofit organizations in need.

We believe that environmental and social problems will not go away overnight by itself, all of us have to make collective efforts, we have to think smart to find more ways to be sustainable and increase our involvement in social initiatives.

We always have to keep in mind that the small details make the difference.

Vedat YOZKAT

A Flexible Solution for the Modern Workforce

Telecommuting, also known as remote work or working from home, refers to a flexible work arrangement in which employees perform their work from a location outside of their office, such as their home or a remote location. The history of telecommuting can be traced back to the 1960s and 1970s, when technology advancements made it possible for employees to perform their work from remote locations. At that time, telecommuting was seen as a way to reduce traffic congestion, save energy, and increase worker productivity. However, it wasn't until the late 20th and early 21st centuries that telecommuting became more widespread, as advances in technology and the Internet made it easier for employees to communicate and collaborate with their co-workers from a distance. The rise of laptops, and other portable devices made it easier for employees to work from anywhere, and many companies think about embracing telecommuting as a way to reduce costs and improve worker satisfaction.

With advancements in technology, it is now more possible to have all job-related tools and equipment at home. This raises the question of whether a traditional workplace is even necessary anymore. More and more businesses could be conducted from home offices, with technology playing a major role in allowing employees to work effectively and efficiently. The Internet, with its increased availability and lower cost, is a key player in facilitating remote work. In addition, the widespread use of web-based applications allow for convenient and secure use of applications from anywhere. For businesses that require secure transactions, Virtual Private Network (VPN) applications are available to provide secure access to corporate networks. Communication tools can also be easily set up at home, giving employees access to the same communication capabilities as they would have in a traditional workplace. Telecommuting offers numerous benefits, including environmental benefits such as reducing fossil fuel usage and carbon emissions from commuting, social benefits such as reducing traffic and providing work opportunities for disabled and remote individuals, financial benefits such as lower overhead costs from reduced office space requirements, and personal benefits such as improved work-life balance and time management. For businesses, telecommuting provides advantages such as the ability to conduct business across multiple time zones, faster disaster recovery, and improved risk management. 

Companies could also offer employees to have the combination of two options to work from the office or from home, depending on their needs and the requirements of their job. This flexible work arrangement provides employees with a work-life balance and greater autonomy, while also giving companies the ability to benefit from the advantages of in-person collaboration and face-to-face interaction.

In conclusion, telecommuting has come a long way since its inception in the 1960s and 1970s. With advancements in technology and the widespread use of the Internet, telecommuting has become a viable and attractive option for both employees and businesses. It is clear that telecommuting is here to stay and will continue to evolve as technology improves. For businesses and employees, telecommuting offers the ability to work effectively and efficiently from anywhere, providing numerous benefits for both. Whether it is reducing costs, improving work-life balance, or reducing carbon emissions, telecommuting has become a valuable option for businesses and employees alike.