Is “green IT” just a buzzword, or is it something that can truly help the environment and your business? There are many opinions ranging from “who cares” to “the end is near.”
In reality, the benefits of “green IT” initiatives are tangible since as an outcome we reduce overall energy consumption. Examples include using old CRT monitors vs. LCDs, consolidating server rooms saving space and reducing cooling requirements, and finally, recycling old technology. To clarify, when I say recycling, I mean reusing a device for another purpose including upgrading older or obsolete technology.
Thanks to Jason, Manager of IT, and his creative solutions, one of my clients – a large non-profit agency will now save significant dollars while taking advantage of the best in breed technology. The solution is truly simple; as a charity, the organization received a kind donation of used laptop computers. Coupled with the existing stock of recently upgraded laptops, the number of devices was sufficient to meet Cisco PIX replacement project requirements.
In 2001, the organization implemented high-speed lines across 75 office locations. For that purpose, the company purchased 75 Cisco PIX devices. I should note that over the years, Cisco gear performed very well and did not require excessive maintenance. However, as time went by, several devices simply failed due to age. In the end, due to the higher risk of failure as well as feature limitations, a decision was made to upgrade the firewalls. Considering the economic downturn and the fact that every dollar counts when it comes to non-profit organizations, Jason began re-configuring the existing laptops utilizing widely used and adopted open-source security software.
Having thoroughly tested the system in multiple sites, the organizational IT has moved into a full deployment mode. So what about the old Cisco firewalls? They are going back to Cisco for recycling.
If you would like to receive additional details, please contact us.
Until next time.
Steve E. Driz
Filed under: Cost Reduction, Green IT, Information Technology | Tagged: Green IT, server consolidation, technology recycling
Recently we moved our old monitor out , clear the clutters from our lab and you know what it feels so good now.