The correct answer is B. 64%, reflecting the increasing importance of environmental sustainability as a strategic business priority among technology professionals worldwide.

According to the IDC white paper Sustainability: From Compliance and Risk Management to Creating Business Value, sponsored by Cisco and published in May 2023, 64% of global survey respondents considered sustainability a very or extremely important business priority.

The study surveyed 1,244 organizations worldwide, focusing on technology leaders and professionals involved in organizational sustainability initiatives.

The report states:

While 64% of survey respondents worldwide view sustainability as a very or extremely important business priority

Cisco

This finding demonstrates that environmental sustainability has evolved beyond regulatory compliance into a significant driver of operational efficiency, innovation, and competitive differentiation.

Technology professionals contribute by implementing energy-efficient networking infrastructure, optimizing data center operations, monitoring energy consumption, managing electronic waste, and deploying digital solutions that support decarbonization.

However, identifying sustainability as a priority does not automatically indicate operational maturity. The same IDC study found that approximately half of respondents were still in the earliest stages of developing comprehensive sustainability strategies.

This distinction highlights the opportunity for Cisco partners to translate sustainability commitments into measurable business outcomes through technology modernization and sustainable infrastructure solutions.