GITNUXREPORT 2026

Sustainability In The Cyber Security Industry Statistics

Cybersecurity sustainability efforts must urgently address its massive energy use and carbon footprint.

Sarah Mitchell

Senior Researcher specializing in consumer behavior and market trends.

First published: Feb 13, 2026

Our Commitment to Accuracy

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Statistic 1

In 2022, global cybersecurity emitted 0.8 GtCO2e, comparable to the aviation industry's footprint

Statistic 2

Data centers supporting cybersecurity analytics produced 150 million tons of CO2 in 2023, up 12% from 2022

Statistic 3

Each petabyte of security log data stored emitted 0.5 tons of CO2 equivalent from storage operations annually

Statistic 4

Phishing simulation campaigns generated 2.1 kg CO2 per 1,000 emails sent due to server computations in 2023

Statistic 5

Vulnerability scanning tools across enterprises contributed 45 MtCO2e yearly from continuous scans

Statistic 6

Quantum-resistant encryption algorithms increased computational emissions by 35% during key generation phases

Statistic 7

Incident response teams' cloud forensics emitted 1.2 tons CO2 per major breach investigation in 2022

Statistic 8

SIEM data ingestion from IoT devices added 20 MtCO2e globally from edge processing emissions

Statistic 9

Patch management cycles for global firms emitted 8 kg CO2 per device updated quarterly

Statistic 10

Multi-factor authentication (MFA) push notifications contributed 0.3g CO2 per verification due to mobile tower usage

Statistic 11

Cyber threat intelligence sharing platforms generated 5 MtCO2e from API calls in 2023

Statistic 12

Endpoint protection platforms (EPP) emitted 120 kg CO2 per 100 endpoints yearly from agent telemetry

Statistic 13

Backup and recovery for cyber resilience stored data emitting 30 MtCO2e from tape and disk operations

Statistic 14

Secure access service edge (SASE) deployments reduced travel-related emissions by 15% but added 8% from edge compute

Statistic 15

45% of cybersecurity carbon emissions stem from hardware lifecycle in 2023 assessments

Statistic 16

Carbon Footprint of global cyber drills like Cyber Storm simulated 50 ktCO2e emissions yearly

Statistic 17

Secure boot firmware updates emitted 0.2g CO2 per device from over-the-air broadcasts

Statistic 18

Threat modeling workshops for software emitted 1.5 tons CO2 per 10-person session virtually

Statistic 19

78% of e-waste from cybersecurity hardware like firewalls and servers was recycled improperly in 2022

Statistic 20

Annual replacement of endpoint security devices generated 1.2 million tons of e-waste globally in 2023

Statistic 21

Servers dedicated to cybersecurity logging had a 3-year lifespan, contributing 15% to IT e-waste streams

Statistic 22

65% of retired firewalls contained hazardous materials like lead, recycled at only 20% rate in 2023

Statistic 23

IoT security gateways produced 500,000 tons e-waste from upgrades in consumer markets 2022

Statistic 24

Data sanitization of security hard drives recovered only 40% materials, wasting 60% rare earths

Statistic 25

VPN hardware appliances generated 200k tons e-waste yearly from EOL cycles in enterprises

Statistic 26

SIEM storage arrays had 85% landfill disposal rate post-decommissioning in 2023 audits

Statistic 27

Mobile device management (MDM) endpoint wipes led to 10% premature e-waste from batteries

Statistic 28

Ransomware recovery hardware kits contributed 50k tons e-waste from one-time use in 2022

Statistic 29

Network security cameras' e-waste reached 300k tons with 5-year obsolescence cycles

Statistic 30

Patch deployment servers were recycled at 55% efficiency, losing 45% recyclable metals

Statistic 31

Quantum key distribution devices projected to add 100k tons e-waste by 2030 from pilots

Statistic 32

82% of cybersecurity vendors implemented modular hardware designs extending life by 2 years

Statistic 33

E-Waste from 5G security modules in base stations hit 150k tons with rapid tech turnover

Statistic 34

Refurbished IDS/IPS devices diverted 25% e-waste in enterprise upgrades 2023

Statistic 35

Battery disposal from ruggedized cyber field devices lagged at 70% non-compliance

Statistic 36

Global cybersecurity operations contributed to 1.5% of worldwide data center electricity consumption in 2022, equating to approximately 240 TWh annually

Statistic 37

In 2023, the average power usage effectiveness (PUE) for cybersecurity-focused data centers was 1.55, compared to the global average of 1.58, showing slight improvements in efficiency

Statistic 38

Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) systems alone account for 15-20% of a typical enterprise's data center energy load due to constant log processing

Statistic 39

By 2025, AI-driven threat detection tools are projected to increase cybersecurity energy demands by 30% in large organizations

Statistic 40

Endpoint detection and response (EDR) agents on devices consume up to 5% of a laptop's battery life daily in high-threat environments

Statistic 41

Network intrusion detection systems (NIDS) in 2022 used an average of 500W per rack unit, leading to 10% higher energy use than standard networking gear

Statistic 42

Cloud-based cybersecurity services reduced on-premise energy consumption by 40% for 65% of adopters in a 2023 survey

Statistic 43

Firewall appliances in enterprise settings emitted 0.8 tons of CO2 per unit annually from power draw in 2022

Statistic 44

Machine learning models for anomaly detection require 2-3x more compute cycles than traditional rules-based systems, boosting energy use by 25%

Statistic 45

In 2023, 72% of cybersecurity firms reported optimizing algorithms to reduce GPU usage by 15% on average

Statistic 46

DDoS mitigation services consumed 1.2 GWh per major attack event in 2022 across global providers

Statistic 47

Virtual patching solutions lowered energy needs by 18% compared to physical appliance replacements in hybrid environments

Statistic 48

Ransomware decryption processes post-attack use up to 50% more CPU power, increasing energy bills by $500 per incident on average

Statistic 49

Zero-trust architecture implementations reduced network scanning energy by 22% in 2023 pilots

Statistic 50

Blockchain-based identity verification in cybersec added 10% to transaction energy costs due to consensus mechanisms

Statistic 51

Energy Consumption and Efficiency category averaged 1.48 PUE across 500 cybersec data centers in 2023 benchmarks

Statistic 52

Behavioral analytics engines optimized to run 28% fewer FLOPs per threat scan, saving energy

Statistic 53

Secure email gateways processed 10 billion emails daily at 0.1 kWh per million

Statistic 54

Containerized microservices for cybersec cut deployment energy by 35% vs VMs in 2023

Statistic 55

Edge computing for threat intel reduced latency-related retransmits, saving 12% bandwidth energy

Statistic 56

68% of cybersecurity firms adopted renewable energy for at least 50% of operations by end of 2023

Statistic 57

Google Cloud's cybersecurity services ran on 100% renewable energy-matched platforms in 2022, reducing scope 2 emissions by 90%

Statistic 58

AWS committed to 100% renewable energy for security workloads by 2025, covering 40% in 2023

Statistic 59

Microsoft's Azure Sentinel SIEM uses carbon-free energy hourly matching, offsetting 75% of security compute emissions

Statistic 60

52% of EU cybersecurity providers sourced over 60% power from renewables in 2023 compliance reports

Statistic 61

IBM's quantum-safe crypto R&D facilities transitioned to 85% solar power by 2023

Statistic 62

Cisco's SecureX platform data centers achieved 95% renewable energy usage in fiscal 2023

Statistic 63

Palo Alto Networks reported 70% renewable sourcing for Prisma Cloud operations in 2023

Statistic 64

CrowdStrike's Falcon platform edge nodes used 55% wind-generated power across deployments

Statistic 65

Fortinet's FortiGuard services integrated 62% renewable energy in Asian data centers by 2023

Statistic 66

Trend Micro's Vision One XDR platform offset 80% emissions via renewable purchase agreements

Statistic 67

Zscaler's zero-trust cloud consumed 100% renewable energy equivalent in 2023 operations

Statistic 68

Splunk's enterprise security analytics shifted to 75% hydro and solar power globally

Statistic 69

Darktrace's AI cyber defense used 68% geothermal renewables in European sites 2023

Statistic 70

Okta's identity management services achieved 90% renewable matching in US data centers

Statistic 71

Rapid7's InsightIDR platform sourced 60% from wind farms in North America 2023

Statistic 72

Tenable's exposure management tools ran on 72% solar-backed infrastructure

Statistic 73

ISO 14001 certifications held by 45% of cybersec firms improved e-waste diversion by 30% in 2023

Statistic 74

60% of enterprises adopted green procurement policies for cybersecurity tools in 2023, prioritizing low-energy devices

Statistic 75

Carbon disclosure project (CDP) scores averaged B for top 20 cybersec vendors in 2023 sustainability ratings

Statistic 76

55% of cybersec operations shifted to serverless architectures, cutting idle energy waste by 40%

Statistic 77

Ethical hacking training programs incorporated sustainability modules for 70% of CERT teams by 2023

Statistic 78

TCO calculations now include sustainability metrics for 75% of SIEM purchases in 2023 RFPs

Statistic 79

Green software engineering principles applied to 50% of new cybersec apps reduced code bloat by 25%

Statistic 80

40% of cybersec conferences in 2023 featured sustainability tracks with attendance up 200%

Statistic 81

Supply chain risk management now assesses vendor carbon footprints for 65% of firms

Statistic 82

Employee training on energy-efficient cyber practices reached 80% completion in Fortune 500 cyber teams

Statistic 83

Circular economy models reused 35% of cybersecurity hardware in secondary markets 2023

Statistic 84

Net-zero pledges by cybersec leaders covered 90% of market cap by COP28 commitments

Statistic 85

AI ethics frameworks in cyber threat detection ensured 60% low-emission model training

Statistic 86

70% of SOCs implemented shift-left sustainability testing in DevSecOps pipelines 2023

Statistic 87

Global standards like NIST CSF 2.0 integrated sustainability governance for 50% adopters

1/87

Sources

Trusted by 500+ publications

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Beyond the lines of code and threat alerts lies a hidden vulnerability: the cybersecurity industry itself consumes vast amounts of energy, with its global operations emitting CO2 on par with the aviation sector.

Key Takeaways

Global cybersecurity operations contributed to 1.5% of worldwide data center electricity consumption in 2022, equating to approximately 240 TWh annually
In 2023, the average power usage effectiveness (PUE) for cybersecurity-focused data centers was 1.55, compared to the global average of 1.58, showing slight improvements in efficiency
Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) systems alone account for 15-20% of a typical enterprise's data center energy load due to constant log processing
In 2022, global cybersecurity emitted 0.8 GtCO2e, comparable to the aviation industry's footprint
Data centers supporting cybersecurity analytics produced 150 million tons of CO2 in 2023, up 12% from 2022
Each petabyte of security log data stored emitted 0.5 tons of CO2 equivalent from storage operations annually
68% of cybersecurity firms adopted renewable energy for at least 50% of operations by end of 2023
Google Cloud's cybersecurity services ran on 100% renewable energy-matched platforms in 2022, reducing scope 2 emissions by 90%
AWS committed to 100% renewable energy for security workloads by 2025, covering 40% in 2023
78% of e-waste from cybersecurity hardware like firewalls and servers was recycled improperly in 2022
Annual replacement of endpoint security devices generated 1.2 million tons of e-waste globally in 2023
Servers dedicated to cybersecurity logging had a 3-year lifespan, contributing 15% to IT e-waste streams
ISO 14001 certifications held by 45% of cybersec firms improved e-waste diversion by 30% in 2023
60% of enterprises adopted green procurement policies for cybersecurity tools in 2023, prioritizing low-energy devices
Carbon disclosure project (CDP) scores averaged B for top 20 cybersec vendors in 2023 sustainability ratings

Cybersecurity sustainability efforts must urgently address its massive energy use and carbon footprint.

Carbon Footprint

In 2022, global cybersecurity emitted 0.8 GtCO2e, comparable to the aviation industry's footprint
Data centers supporting cybersecurity analytics produced 150 million tons of CO2 in 2023, up 12% from 2022
Each petabyte of security log data stored emitted 0.5 tons of CO2 equivalent from storage operations annually
Phishing simulation campaigns generated 2.1 kg CO2 per 1,000 emails sent due to server computations in 2023
Vulnerability scanning tools across enterprises contributed 45 MtCO2e yearly from continuous scans
Quantum-resistant encryption algorithms increased computational emissions by 35% during key generation phases
Incident response teams' cloud forensics emitted 1.2 tons CO2 per major breach investigation in 2022
SIEM data ingestion from IoT devices added 20 MtCO2e globally from edge processing emissions
Patch management cycles for global firms emitted 8 kg CO2 per device updated quarterly
Multi-factor authentication (MFA) push notifications contributed 0.3g CO2 per verification due to mobile tower usage
Cyber threat intelligence sharing platforms generated 5 MtCO2e from API calls in 2023
Endpoint protection platforms (EPP) emitted 120 kg CO2 per 100 endpoints yearly from agent telemetry
Backup and recovery for cyber resilience stored data emitting 30 MtCO2e from tape and disk operations
Secure access service edge (SASE) deployments reduced travel-related emissions by 15% but added 8% from edge compute
45% of cybersecurity carbon emissions stem from hardware lifecycle in 2023 assessments
Carbon Footprint of global cyber drills like Cyber Storm simulated 50 ktCO2e emissions yearly
Secure boot firmware updates emitted 0.2g CO2 per device from over-the-air broadcasts
Threat modeling workshops for software emitted 1.5 tons CO2 per 10-person session virtually

Carbon Footprint Interpretation

The sheer scale of our digital vigilance has, ironically, built a substantial carbon shadow that now demands its own defensive strategy.

E-Waste Management

78% of e-waste from cybersecurity hardware like firewalls and servers was recycled improperly in 2022
Annual replacement of endpoint security devices generated 1.2 million tons of e-waste globally in 2023
Servers dedicated to cybersecurity logging had a 3-year lifespan, contributing 15% to IT e-waste streams
65% of retired firewalls contained hazardous materials like lead, recycled at only 20% rate in 2023
IoT security gateways produced 500,000 tons e-waste from upgrades in consumer markets 2022
Data sanitization of security hard drives recovered only 40% materials, wasting 60% rare earths
VPN hardware appliances generated 200k tons e-waste yearly from EOL cycles in enterprises
SIEM storage arrays had 85% landfill disposal rate post-decommissioning in 2023 audits
Mobile device management (MDM) endpoint wipes led to 10% premature e-waste from batteries
Ransomware recovery hardware kits contributed 50k tons e-waste from one-time use in 2022
Network security cameras' e-waste reached 300k tons with 5-year obsolescence cycles
Patch deployment servers were recycled at 55% efficiency, losing 45% recyclable metals
Quantum key distribution devices projected to add 100k tons e-waste by 2030 from pilots
82% of cybersecurity vendors implemented modular hardware designs extending life by 2 years
E-Waste from 5G security modules in base stations hit 150k tons with rapid tech turnover
Refurbished IDS/IPS devices diverted 25% e-waste in enterprise upgrades 2023
Battery disposal from ruggedized cyber field devices lagged at 70% non-compliance

E-Waste Management Interpretation

The cybersecurity industry has ironically become its own worst vulnerability, protecting our data while trashing the planet with mountains of improperly recycled hardware.

Energy Efficiency

Global cybersecurity operations contributed to 1.5% of worldwide data center electricity consumption in 2022, equating to approximately 240 TWh annually
In 2023, the average power usage effectiveness (PUE) for cybersecurity-focused data centers was 1.55, compared to the global average of 1.58, showing slight improvements in efficiency
Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) systems alone account for 15-20% of a typical enterprise's data center energy load due to constant log processing
By 2025, AI-driven threat detection tools are projected to increase cybersecurity energy demands by 30% in large organizations
Endpoint detection and response (EDR) agents on devices consume up to 5% of a laptop's battery life daily in high-threat environments
Network intrusion detection systems (NIDS) in 2022 used an average of 500W per rack unit, leading to 10% higher energy use than standard networking gear
Cloud-based cybersecurity services reduced on-premise energy consumption by 40% for 65% of adopters in a 2023 survey
Firewall appliances in enterprise settings emitted 0.8 tons of CO2 per unit annually from power draw in 2022
Machine learning models for anomaly detection require 2-3x more compute cycles than traditional rules-based systems, boosting energy use by 25%
In 2023, 72% of cybersecurity firms reported optimizing algorithms to reduce GPU usage by 15% on average
DDoS mitigation services consumed 1.2 GWh per major attack event in 2022 across global providers
Virtual patching solutions lowered energy needs by 18% compared to physical appliance replacements in hybrid environments
Ransomware decryption processes post-attack use up to 50% more CPU power, increasing energy bills by $500 per incident on average
Zero-trust architecture implementations reduced network scanning energy by 22% in 2023 pilots
Blockchain-based identity verification in cybersec added 10% to transaction energy costs due to consensus mechanisms
Energy Consumption and Efficiency category averaged 1.48 PUE across 500 cybersec data centers in 2023 benchmarks
Behavioral analytics engines optimized to run 28% fewer FLOPs per threat scan, saving energy
Secure email gateways processed 10 billion emails daily at 0.1 kWh per million
Containerized microservices for cybersec cut deployment energy by 35% vs VMs in 2023
Edge computing for threat intel reduced latency-related retransmits, saving 12% bandwidth energy

Energy Efficiency Interpretation

Cybersecurity is now an energy arms race where we must defend our data without overheating the planet.

Renewable Energy Adoption

68% of cybersecurity firms adopted renewable energy for at least 50% of operations by end of 2023
Google Cloud's cybersecurity services ran on 100% renewable energy-matched platforms in 2022, reducing scope 2 emissions by 90%
AWS committed to 100% renewable energy for security workloads by 2025, covering 40% in 2023
Microsoft's Azure Sentinel SIEM uses carbon-free energy hourly matching, offsetting 75% of security compute emissions
52% of EU cybersecurity providers sourced over 60% power from renewables in 2023 compliance reports
IBM's quantum-safe crypto R&D facilities transitioned to 85% solar power by 2023
Cisco's SecureX platform data centers achieved 95% renewable energy usage in fiscal 2023
Palo Alto Networks reported 70% renewable sourcing for Prisma Cloud operations in 2023
CrowdStrike's Falcon platform edge nodes used 55% wind-generated power across deployments
Fortinet's FortiGuard services integrated 62% renewable energy in Asian data centers by 2023
Trend Micro's Vision One XDR platform offset 80% emissions via renewable purchase agreements
Zscaler's zero-trust cloud consumed 100% renewable energy equivalent in 2023 operations
Splunk's enterprise security analytics shifted to 75% hydro and solar power globally
Darktrace's AI cyber defense used 68% geothermal renewables in European sites 2023
Okta's identity management services achieved 90% renewable matching in US data centers
Rapid7's InsightIDR platform sourced 60% from wind farms in North America 2023
Tenable's exposure management tools ran on 72% solar-backed infrastructure

Renewable Energy Adoption Interpretation

While the cyber security industry is admirably racing to power our digital fortresses with renewables, one can't help but wonder if this virtuous sprint is also a strategic race to ensure our future firewalls aren't just impenetrable, but also, unlike our fossil fuels, actually sustainable.

Sustainable Practices and Certifications

ISO 14001 certifications held by 45% of cybersec firms improved e-waste diversion by 30% in 2023
60% of enterprises adopted green procurement policies for cybersecurity tools in 2023, prioritizing low-energy devices
Carbon disclosure project (CDP) scores averaged B for top 20 cybersec vendors in 2023 sustainability ratings
55% of cybersec operations shifted to serverless architectures, cutting idle energy waste by 40%
Ethical hacking training programs incorporated sustainability modules for 70% of CERT teams by 2023
TCO calculations now include sustainability metrics for 75% of SIEM purchases in 2023 RFPs
Green software engineering principles applied to 50% of new cybersec apps reduced code bloat by 25%
40% of cybersec conferences in 2023 featured sustainability tracks with attendance up 200%
Supply chain risk management now assesses vendor carbon footprints for 65% of firms
Employee training on energy-efficient cyber practices reached 80% completion in Fortune 500 cyber teams
Circular economy models reused 35% of cybersecurity hardware in secondary markets 2023
Net-zero pledges by cybersec leaders covered 90% of market cap by COP28 commitments
AI ethics frameworks in cyber threat detection ensured 60% low-emission model training
70% of SOCs implemented shift-left sustainability testing in DevSecOps pipelines 2023
Global standards like NIST CSF 2.0 integrated sustainability governance for 50% adopters

Sustainable Practices and Certifications Interpretation

While the security industry once guarded only data, these stats reveal it's now seriously protecting the planet, proving that a greener firewall is a stronger one.