The days of meeting your IT-driven business objectives in a single data center are long gone. Many organizations own multiple enterprise data centers and use outsourced hosting providers and cloud services to address demand. While the market for new data center builds and retrofits remains strong, a recent Uptime Institute sampling of senior-level executives with responsibility for IT and data center facilities at large global companies found that the majority also use third-party compute services:

Managing a global organization’s digital infrastructure portfolio is a complex task. When you include IT-driven sustainability initiatives throughout the organization, it’s almost mind-boggling … but the potential rewards of a holistic sustainable IT strategy are equally significant, both in terms of savings and corporate identity.

That’s why we’ve introduced a new category to this year’s Green Enterprise IT (GEIT) Awards competition: Green Digital Infrastructure Strategy. This Award recognizes exceptional energy and resource efficiency beyond an individual data center. Case studies may involve any or all of the following initiatives:

• Facility builds and/or retrofits
• IT upgrades (e.g., consolidation/virtualization efforts, de-duping and other ways of implementing efficiencies, etc.)
• IT-related initiatives implemented across the entire enterprise (e.g., PC power management; initiatives that facilitate collaboration without requiring travel; telecommute initiatives; supply chain efficiencies; transparent eWaste recycling programs; use of BMS or similar IT-related sustainability measures in office spaces, etc.)
• Use of outsourced service providers (e.g., colocation, hosted, or cloud-based services) that provide granular energy- and resource-use reporting and/or have transparent Green IT credentials.

The Green Digital Infrastructure Strategy category looks beyond an individual project or facility to spotlight the organization’s Green IT vision.  Your GDIS case study should display your corporate portfolio of Green IT initiatives.

Does this mean you can’t profile an exceptional individual project or facility by applying in another category?  Absolutely not! You are welcome to submit that individual project in one of our other categories as well.  That project or facility can still be included in your Green Digital Infrastructure Strategy case study, along with your other Green IT initiatives.

The 2013 GEIT Awards competition is now open. To be considered, applications must be submitted by January 18, 2013, but don’t put off applying … end-of-year reporting and the holiday season are closer than you think! Further information is available here.