Codestone

Category: Support & Managed Services

Uptake of outsourced IT services is likely to increase in the coming year due to the rising importance of environmental issues.

A report from analyst Morrison & Foerster has suggested that firms across the world are starting to "do more than merely pay lip service" to green measures, due to a combination of financial and regulatory requirements.

It pointed to the rising cost of energy and the introduction of legislation such as the UK's CRC Energy Efficiency Scheme, which requires firms that use a large amount of power to cap their emissions.

The research also pointed out that IT-based operations are more likely than most to be major energy users and carbon producers, with data centres highlighted as a particularly large drain on resources.

"We are seeing outsourcing buyers react positively to the 'pull' of cost reduction and corporate social responsibility initiatives and the 'push' of national laws," it added.

Last month, Christine Hodgson of Capgemini told CIO Magazine that using managed IT services is a good way for companies to transfer responsibility for carbon reduction to their external outsourcing partner.

Posted by Lara Ward