Accenture is optimizing its cloud operations to enhance speed, sustainability, and cost-efficiency, reflecting a commitment to responsible cloud use and ongoing value extraction. The initiative includes leveraging cloud analytics, application modernization, instance management, and the development of a CO2 calculator prototype that measures environmental impact, resulting in significant reductions in carbon emissions and operational costs. The outcomes indicate improved efficiency and substantial savings, with a projected 25% increase in savings over three years.

1. STORIES
How we’re optimizing for speed,
sustainability and spend
Get the most from
your cloud journey

2. Copyright © 2022 Accenture. All rights reserved
Achieving
ongoing
cloud value
Cloud has become essential for organizations
looking to be more flexible and resilient. But
getting to the cloud is only part of the journey.
Capitalizing on the Cloud Continuum is about
seamless operations, continuous optimization
and transformation to achieve ongoing
business value—and to consume efficiently
and more responsibly.
We took a fresh look at how we were structuring our
cloud services now that we’ve been running in the
cloud for several years. Given that the world of
cloud is rapidly maturing, constantly changing and
becoming more sophisticated, it was clear there
was an opportunity to foster greater innovation,
capitalize on best-in-class cloud services and
realize more value.
At the same time, we wanted to address how to use
the power of the cloud to make smarter choices and
run Accenture’s business in a more responsible
way. We also needed to address the longer-term
challenge of finding ways to keep IT emissions
down as Accenture grows.
Key to extracting value from the cloud is to ensure
we are secure from the start, make responsible
decisions, and that our people and culture are
aligned to the new ways of working in the cloud.
Building on that foundation, we chose to optimize
around speed, sustainability and spend. With cloud,
we can harness these areas to operate our business
with agility.
“It’s not a matter of if you should use the
cloud, it’s a matter of how you should use
the cloud.”
— DON GALZARANO, Managing Director – Global IT,
Enterprise Technology, Intelligent Cloud & Networks,
Accenture
Call for change

3. Copyright © 2022 Accenture. All rights reserved
Leaner,
smarter,
greener
When tech meets human ingenuity
We looked at how we were structuring our
cloud services and reexamined our cloud
environment using cloud analytics and
reporting, data-driven insights, knowledge
of vendor offerings, and an understanding
of our compute environment.
We identified six key levers to optimize our
cloud operations:
Application modernization. We are re-platforming
legacy applications to serverless technology and
cloud-native architecture, increasing operational
efficiency and cost savings.
Right sizing and true sizing. We measured instance
usage and performance to understand compute
needs, correctly match workloads and avoid
overprovisioning. Doing this unlocked powerful
savings that significantly reduces our operational
costs and carbon emissions impact.
Instance payment strategy. By understanding
our vendor offerings and Accenture’s true
compute needs, we found the most efficient
pay structure.
Instance upgrades. Running instance
upgrades regularly allow us to stay
current, run faster and more efficiently
at a lower cost.
Environment rationalization. Automatically
matching compute power based on usage
prevents waste, underutilization and
redundancy. We also defined stricter standards
and created governance structures for
environment sizes and types.
Smart scheduling. We established automated,
flexible shutdown schedules based on usage
patterns that turn off servers in environments
that are not in use.
Copyright © 2022 Accenture. All rights reserved

4. Copyright © 2022 Accenture. All rights reserved
“Optimizing our cloud
operations is a must in
moving Accenture to a
market-leading, cloud-
native position where we
can act fast, be nimble,
run cost-effectively and
securely, and create a
sustainable footprint for
years to come.”
PENELOPE PRETT
Chief Information Officer, Accenture
When tech meets human ingenuity
CO2 Calculator prototype
An innovative aspect of our program was the
development of a CO2 Calculator prototype
to produce detailed, data-driven measures
of the environmental impact of our cloud
environment. It’s based on a series of formulas
to measure an estimation of Accenture’s
public cloud energy consumption. This
information enables our application teams
with ways to lower energy usage and
estimated carbon emissions.
Using algorithms, the CO2 Calculator
analyzes billing and consumption data
across Accenture’s global IT public cloud
environments, and in turn, estimates energy
and CO2e (e = equivalent) emissions, based
on how frequently our server inventory remains
powered on for use, as well as what size servers
we choose to run within the environment.
This estimation results in more rapid optimization. By
being able to make reasonable calculations as to the
environmental footprint of a specific asset, like a cloud
virtual machine, we can show how responsible and
thoughtful management of even that one, individual
asset can make a difference to the environment. The
CO2 Calculator prototype creates a continual cycle by
which stakeholders can consume the data and allow it
to drive better business and environmental decisions.

5. Copyright © 2022 Accenture. All rights reserved
Speed,
sustainability
and spend
A valuable difference
Our Global IT’s efforts are delivering notable results
across the three areas of focus—speed,
sustainability and spend.
Not only is Accenture operating at a faster pace,
with more efficiency and increased ability to meet
business demands, but we’ve significantly reduced our
environmental impact. We also anticipate a 25% increase
in planned savings over three years as we continue to
make smarter operating decisions.
Accenture’s cloud value realization journey includes:
Speed
• 1,300 cloud instances upgraded in 6 weeks
with no noticeable impact to the business
• Time to deploy applications decreased from weeks
to days due to our modernization efforts
Sustainability
• 49% decrease in CO2e emissions in 6 months
• 220+ estimated reduction in metric tons of carbon
emissions in 9 months
• 900K+ estimated reduction of kWh of power
consumption in 9 months
• 20% reduction in average run hours across all
server instances
Spend
• $13 million in savings from reserved instance
utilization estimated over 4 years
• 12% reduction in total IaaS spend
• 13% of fixed IT spend shifted to variable IT spend

6. Copyright © 2022 Accenture. All rights reserved
Copyright © 2022 Accenture.
All rights reserved.
Accenture and its logo
are trademarks of Accenture.
About Accenture
Accenture is a global professional services company with leading
capabilities in digital, cloud and security. Combining unmatched
experience and specialized skills across more than 40 industries,
we offer Strategy and Consulting, Interactive, Technology and
Operations services — all powered by the world’s largest network of
Advanced Technology and Intelligent Operations centers. Our
699,000 people deliver on the promise of technology and human
ingenuity every day, serving clients in more than 120 countries. We
embrace the power of change to create value and shared success
for our clients, people, shareholders, partners and communities.
Visit us at www.accenture.com.
Contact
Merim Becirovic
Managing Director
Global IT
Enterprise Technology
Don Galzarano
Managing Director
Global IT
Enterprise Technology,
Intelligent Cloud & Networks
Jason Reynolds
Director
Global IT
Intelligent Cloud & Networks,
Intelligent Technology Operations
/merim-becirovic
/don-galzarano
/jason-reynolds