{"id":24761,"date":"2023-06-28T09:53:18","date_gmt":"2023-06-28T13:53:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/quantumlifecycle.com\/?p=24761"},"modified":"2023-09-06T08:33:18","modified_gmt":"2023-09-06T12:33:18","slug":"the-environmental-impact-of-cloud-computing-data-storage","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/quantumlifecycle.com\/en_CA\/blog\/the-environmental-impact-of-cloud-computing-data-storage\/","title":{"rendered":"The Environmental Impact of Cloud Computing & Data Storage"},"content":{"rendered":"

Oftentimes, cloud computing and data storage are generally perceived as environmentally friendly<\/a> practices. After all, for people who may not have an IT background, the cloud can be an elusive concept. Yet, despite its name, the reality is that data isn\u2019t simply stored in a \u201ccloud.\u201d Rather, this data storage method requires a vast infrastructure of network devices, all of which have a significant environmental impact<\/a>. Here\u2019s what you should know about cloud computing and its environmental toll.<\/p>\n

What is the cloud?<\/h2>\n

From a technical standpoint, the cloud refers to the accumulation of computing resources over a network. Colloquially, it has come to represent the full range of infrastructures that enable online activity \u2013 everything from social media to streaming and shared drives. It\u2019s understandable that the cloud as we\u2019ve come to know it may seem formless, but in reality, the cloud is in fact made up of tangible components. To power all of this computing, the cloud encompasses:<\/p>\n