# Improving infrastructure efficiency for growing demand in the age of AI

[Dropbox](https://yomu.fyi/company/dropbox) · Ilya Yakovlev · Aug 18, 2026

## Summary

Dropbox manages growing infrastructure demands from AI and standard workloads by maximizing the efficiency of its existing data centers rather than just building more capacity. Through a system-level approach spanning software, hardware, and physical facility design, the company dynamically manages power and balances workloads. These optimizations, combined with higher storage density and data-driven hardware lifecycle management, have significantly reduced energy use per unit of storage.

## Takeaways

- Dropbox uses an automated 'Deep Sleep' initiative to power down idle servers or spin down drives during low-demand periods, returning them to service within minutes.
- Adopting high-density drive technologies like shingled magnetic recording (SMR) has reduced Dropbox's storage power consumption by over 50% in watts per petabyte since 2020.
- Instead of following rigid, age-based equipment replacement schedules, Dropbox uses component failure rates and performance metrics to safely extend hardware operational lifespans.

**Tags:** [Architecture](https://yomu.fyi/topic/architecture), [Performance](https://yomu.fyi/topic/performance), [Reliability](https://yomu.fyi/topic/reliability), [Scalability](https://yomu.fyi/topic/scalability)

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