Companies Can Reduce Their Carbon Footprint by Adopting Cloud-Based Infrastructure

Ram Narayanan, the Country Manager at Check Point Software Technologies, Middle East, says Check Point Software is committed to making the world a safer and more secure place
How does technology contribute to sustainability?
The world is warming up. To avoid the consequences of climate change, we must work together to limit global warming to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels. Utilizing advanced technology can play an important role in companies’ sustainability initiatives by accelerating their progress and developing profitable solutions that also benefit the environment, social, and governance goals.
As a leading provider of cyber security solutions, Check Point Software understands that climate change and global warming have observable effects on the environment. We, therefore, take an active part in helping to ensure the sustainability of the world’s resources and the environment by reducing our carbon footprint and creating reliable products and services.
Check Point Software is committed to making the world a safer and more secure place. In the digital era, this commitment applies to our work both on the internet and the physical world alike. As we aspire to achieve a more sustainable future for all, we have set out various practices and guidelines for our employees and stakeholders to adhere to as a commitment towards Check Point Software’s ESG initiatives.
What sort of sustainability efforts does your company practice? Examples: minimal/recyclable packaging, use of recycled material for devices, green energy, low energy consumption, digital products and services, and so on.
As part of our mission to “secure your everything”, Check Point Software is deeply committed to the protection of our planet alongside our digital world and striving to look after the environment by joining the global action for mitigating the climate crisis and doing our part to strive to reach carbon neutrality by 2040. Check Point Software’s impact on the environment is generally through its products, services, and facilities.
We comply with the applicable environmental laws and regulations and create reliable products and services that minimize the environmental impact throughout all phases of the life cycle. Below are some examples of the practices and efforts carried through Check Point Software’s environmental policy:
- Products and Services: We create reliable products and services that minimize the environmental impact throughout all phases of the life cycle. We strive to reduce energy usage and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, as our suppliers comply with the requirements and standards of ISO 14064:2006.
- Trade-in Program: We offer a trade-in program incentivising the return of hardware products by customers rather than disposing of them.
- Transportation: Employees are enabled to work remotely as part of our Hybrid work model.
- Paper use reduction: We monitor and reduce our paper use by issuing paperless certifications, licenses, and technical manuals and supporting paperless infrastructure.
- Waste management: We apply waste reduction strategies, and reuse and recycle electronic waste, plastic bottles, batteries, paper, and cardboard.
Do we need to look at sustainability beyond the use of “green energy”?
The environment often comes first when we talk about sustainability, but equally important are economic and social sustainability aspects which need to be addressed to promote sustainability initiatives. Through its ESG practices, Check Point Software strives to identify and manage sustainability impacts in all areas of its business by being committed to:
- Complying with the applicable environmental laws and regulations.
- Adopting environmental practices, standards, and policies across our operations.
- Developing products and services with minimal environmental impact throughout all phases of the supply chain.
- Assessing our performance and measuring our environmental impact.
- Holding ourselves accountable to our stakeholders regarding our environmental impact and maintaining transparent communication.
- Expect all employees to be engaged in environmental activities and make careful use of resources. Addressing environmental challenges in the workspace through various responsible means and inspiring employee conscience in support of the environment.
- Working with our suppliers to identify environmentally conscious components to increase lifecycle and energy efficiency. Suppliers are requested to disclose their objectives and their use of emissions and comply with our commitments and goals.
How can companies reduce their carbon footprint? Are there local or regional initiatives that encourage companies to adopt best practices?
One of the ways for companies to reduce their carbon footprint is through the adoption of cloud-based infrastructure. A study suggests that cloud computing can help companies reduce their per-user carbon footprint from 30% for large enterprises and up to 90% for small businesses. Cloud-based infrastructure is shared among multiple organizations and operated by organizations that are highly motivated to maximize efficiency.
This provides a much more sustainable solution than an onsite data center that may not be fully utilized or optimized. Check Point Software supports the reduction of physical infrastructure by moving to virtualized infrastructure by moving from on-premise solutions to cloud security. Cloud-native applications can reduce carbon emissions, infrastructure, and physical space and control the overall use of energy.
The UAE has pledged to reach net zero carbon emissions by 2050 and has launched various initiatives to become a global model and leader in sustainability such as the “Green Economy for Sustainable Development” with an aim to increase its global competitiveness by increasing the share of renewable, clean, and alternative sources of energy in the country’s energy mix. The UAE has also launched various encouraging platforms to engage businesses to share knowledge and best practices for sustainable development.
What challenges do companies face today in their journey toward net zero and how can technology help solve those issues?
It is clear that most businesses are committed to moving forward with progress to a Net Zero Future, though it can be difficult to determine where to start and how to move forward due to the various challenges along the way. Some of the major obstacles to developing and implementing a net zero plan are lack of expertise or experience with carbon management, the cost associated with the new technologies and energy-saving initiatives, as well as overcoming the challenge of altering individual behaviours to act in accordance with the Net Zero initiatives.
Technology not only ensures that we use the assets at our disposal judiciously, but it can also automate extra menial basic tasks as a result releasing up the human workforce to address more interesting and profitable endeavours. Technologies like Artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning, and the Internet of Things (IoT) are potential technologies for improving cutting-edge working techniques to attain the most beneficial energy efficiency. Fundamentally, they present great opportunities to improve the environmental performance of current and future business practices.
What factors can help companies advance toward their sustainability goals?
Sustainability can be perceived in many ways when it comes to business. However, environmental, social and governance (ESG) are often the dominant context when it comes to corporate sustainability today. The goal is not only to build a sustainable business by making products from recycled materials.
A sustainable business should not only revolve around organic and eco-friendly materials. In order to achieve business sustainability, various models such as ESG benchmarking have been devised to evaluate businesses and which can be utilized effectively to enhance businesses to achieve their sustainability goals through various factors such as:
- Involvement towards the well-being of the community.
- Providing value to the human capital by promoting a safe, healthy, and supportive work environment
- Promoting core values of honest and ethical conduct, integrity, open communication, equal opportunity, and diversity.
- Taking an active part in helping to ensure the sustainability of the world’s resources and environment.
- Ensuring that the working conditions in the operations and supply chain are safe and that business operations are conducted ethically.
- Adopting corporate governance guidelines to assist in carrying out responsibilities to serve the interests of the company and its shareholders.