AWS, Google, and Microsoft- Data Centers are Gearing up for Climate Crisis

There are steps data centers whether large or small can take steps to minimize the future crisis

Data centers for climate crisis are facing problems and one of the top concerns for cloud computing users is reliability. Data center operators have long made plans for some climate hazards, but as a result of climate change, the likelihood of extreme events is rising and new ones are added.

The operators may need to re-evaluate everything from where to locate new data centers to physically protecting infrastructure and shifting workloads across several areas as a result of this. The three companies with the largest global cloud computing footprints are AWS, Google, and Microsoft, collectively known as the "Big Three" in the data center industry. All three have effective risk assessment procedures that account for potential catastrophes. However, none of the Big Three specifically mention climate change in their risk assessment procedures that are open to the public, much less the growing danger the world possesses due to future risks.

According to AWS, it chooses the locations of its data centers to reduce the hazards associated with flooding and severe weather, and once they are constructed, it relies on technology such as automatic sensors, responsive equipment, and both water- and fire-detecting systems to keep them safe. Google promises clients that it automatically shifts workloads between data centers in other areas in the case of a fire or other calamity, and Microsoft similarly has a sophisticated threat assessment procedure.

Given the ongoing policy changes in Europe and the United States, major corporate operations may have little choice but to implement some of these measures. Large corporations operating on the continent must disclose their exposure to numerous hazards, including climate change, under the EU's corporate sustainability reporting directive, which takes effect in 2023. Although a final rule won't be issued for months, the Securities and Exchange Commission in the US is exploring a similar set of regulations that would also mandate that businesses disclose information about climate risk.