The cloud movement has gained momentum
Cloud technology is being embraced by large enterprises and small start-ups. If you haven’t yet considered the cloud, now’s the time to do so.
At our recent Intelligent Cloud Security Conference in Cape Town, Technical Director Willem Malan pointed out that around 90% of South African corporates are already using the cloud in one way or another. “The main takeaway from this statistic is that cloud isn’t coming – it’s very much here. Ultimately, it’s an unavoidable reality of business today,” Malan said. He was referencing a study that also highlighted how cloud adoption has soared in SA since 2013.
South Africa’s potential for technology-driven economic growth hasn’t gone unnoticed. The local interest in cloud computing has drawn several multinationals to our shores. Last month, Amazon Web Services announced its plan to open data centres in SA by 2020. Huawei recently confirmed that it will build a cloud facility in Johannesburg. And Microsoft’s sustained commitment to cloud computing in SA has already culminated in two Africa Hyperscale Cloud Data Centres (in Cape Town and Johannesburg) that are expected to come online before year end.
If you’ve been considering cloud migration, now is a good time to weigh your options. South Africa’s cloud market becomes more diverse and more competitive with each new service provider that enters it. As a business owner in the current cloud climate, you’re spoilt for choice. Plus, three of the most frequently cited reasons for cloud migration are compelling business arguments: cost efficiency, performance, and security.
What are the benefits of moving on-premises servers and applications to the cloud?
Cost efficiency is a popular motivator for migrating on-premises data centres to the cloud. Maintaining on-site IT infrastructure can be a considerable expense, given the need for physical space, electrical power, cooling systems, hardware, networking and operating systems, as well as skilled staff. By shifting these responsibilities to cloud service providers (CSPs), businesses can trim their own costs and pay for cloud resources as required, or as consumed.
Substantial funds are necessary to set up an on-site data centre, and any business that makes such a commitment is then bound by a particular generation of technology. In a world where performance and agility are essential for corporate growth, such rigidity can be an obstacle. CSPs offer a variety of software platforms, processing systems, and managed databases that can be scaled in line with business needs.
CSPs across the world are subject to strict security standards enforced by governments, financial regulators, industry watchdogs, and oversight groups. CSPs are entrusted with customer data, and thus employ high-grade digital defence mechanisms. We know that computing systems can be prime targets for cybercriminals, but cloud-based security means that authentication is built in; event logging is continuous; and threat detection is possible in real time.
If you’ve made cloud adoption part of your business strategy, then it’s important to understand that a comprehensive plan of action for your cloud journey is critical.
There are four key steps to follow when migrating on-premises servers and applications to the cloud. We’ll be outlining them for you in the next four blog articles, starting with Step 1: The Readiness Assessment next week. Don’t miss a single post! Follow us on Facebook and Twitter for updates.
