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Five Cloud Computing Trends for 2021

February 9, 2021

By Matt Wright

When it comes to the world of work, 2020 will be remembered as a year that accelerated technological change. Forced out of their comfort zones, companies either adopted or more fully embraced technologies that they might have given short shrift to previously. Cloud computing is no exception.

According to the most recent “Cloud in Africa” report, cloud technology was vital in helping businesses manage the disruptions caused by the coronavirus pandemic. Among the most common uses of the cloud were disaster recovery (91%), remote working (82%) and customer service activities (52%).

Just a few years ago, they might not have been able to survive the storm in the same way. As recently as 2013, just 50% of businesses in South Africa, Kenya, and Nigeria were using some form of cloud computing. Today the number sits at 100%. But with cloud now ubiquitous, what trends will emerge in 2021 and what impact will they have on enterprise-scale businesses?

Cloud’s growing role as a business enabler

The growing number of cloud-based applications available may bring increased security risks, but they also enable new ways of doing business. From accounting and payroll applications to office productivity suites, it’s possible to run much more of the business from the cloud than ever before.

As a result, businesses are much more capable of running remotely in a way that’s productive and meaningful. 2020 will have given businesses a taste of what cloud-based applications can do for their businesses. In 2021, the cloud’s role as an enabler will only grow stronger as organisations adopt it for more of their day-to-day functions.

Hybrid cloud comes to the fore

Hybrid cloud refers to mixed computing, storage, and services environment made up of on-premises infrastructure, private cloud services, and a public cloud—such as Amazon Web Services (AWS) or Microsoft Azure—with orchestration among the various platforms.

In 2021, more organisations will adopt this model. The speed, control, and enhanced security offered by the hybrid cloud make it attractive to enterprises. Additionally, a hybrid cloud offers high levels of customisation. That allows businesses to adapt on the fly, the importance of which became vividly apparent in 2020. Hybrid cloud also offers the dual coverage of both private and public cloud security, making it the best available option in most instances.

Security becomes paramount

Security has always been a concern when it comes to the cloud. A proliferation of high-profile data breaches has only increased that concern. Additionally, with companies moving more and more applications to the cloud, the stakes of a breach are much higher than before. Where an organisation might previously have only used the cloud for backups, it’s now much more likely to use it for operational purposes.

With the average data breach costing R40-million, cloud providers will be under growing pressure to show that they can keep customer data safe, no matter what applications they offer.

Building bridges between providers

For most of cloud computing’s history, the big providers have taken a “walled garden” approach to their offerings. The sell was that they were one-stop shops that could look after all of an organisation’s cloud, data, and compute requirements.

But the rise of hybrid cloud outlined above and the specific requirements of different departments within a business means that’s no longer viable. Organisations increasingly need different cloud applications from different providers to talk to each other. The providers that thrive in 2021 won’t be the ones that keep their ecosystems closed but the ones which have bridges to other providers’ services.

Cloud meets AI, big data, and IoT

Over the past decade or so, artificial intelligence (AI)/machine learning, the Internet of Things (IoT) and big data have all grown in parallel with cloud computing. Increasingly, however, cloud computing is enabling these new technologies.

By merging cloud computing with IoT and big data, businesses can enhance production, get access to the critical data of their customers, and make better business decisions. When combined with AI, meanwhile, providers can make their cloud applications more functional for end-users. A good example of this is Salesforce’s Einstein, which offers the ability to capture customer data, making it easier to track and personalise customer relationships.

Matt Wright, CTO of BlueSky

Kelechi Deca

Kelechi Deca has over two decades of media experience, he has traveled to over 77 countries reporting on multilateral development institutions, international business, trade, travels, culture, and diplomacy. He is also a petrol head with in-depth knowledge of automobiles and the auto industry

Five Things Organisations should Consider before Migrating to the Cloud

November 28, 2020

By Matt Surkont

Cloud computing has been adopted by 77% of South African businesses, with the most popular application being the backing up of data. The benefits for those that do embrace cloud include reduced IT costs, faster speed-to-market, better service levels, and cloud as an enabler of the digital business. Additionally, the imperative to embrace cloud computing has never been higher. The recently released 4th annual Salesforce State of the Connected Customer report shows that South African consumers expect the majority of their interactions with business this year to be online.

Matt Surkont Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of BlueSky — **Matt Surkont, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of BlueSky**

Further, 84% of South African customers say that COVID-19 has elevated their expectation of businesses digital capabilities. In other words, businesses need to be digital, and to be digital – they need cloud.But embracing cloud computing and making the most of it are two different things. Here are 5 things South African businesses need to consider before moving to the cloud:

Understand the benefits…and risks

There are several well-established benefits to embracing cloud computing. These include lower cost and greater speed, thanks to not having to spend money on data centres with servers, IT experts, continuous air-conditioning and expensive hardware and software. Embracing cloud also comes with greater agility, with businesses able to simply contact their provider when they need additional performance and capacity.

As important as those benefits are, businesses also need to be aware of the risks of cloud adoption. When it comes to public cloud especially, there are security risks. Its wide accessibility makes it more vulnerable to hackers. A good provider will, however, mitigate those risks and ensure that your business’ data is as safe (if not safer) than it would be on site.

Know which applications suit your business

Cloud computing isn’t just about data storage. It also includes applications such as disaster recovery, hosted email, and most types of business software. A number of factors, including the size and complexity of your business, will determine which applications you need. Clearly defining your needs will help you understand which applications actually suit your business. That, in turn, will help you find providers that are in sync with these needs and don’t try to upsell you on products you don’t need.

Identify the right cloud deployment

Every cloud service provider offers three different deployment models: Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS), Platform as a Service (PaaS), and Software as a Service (SaaS). Which one you choose depends on how much flexibility and control you need.

IaaS brings the highest levels of flexibility and cloud management but is more resource-intensive. PaaS comes with fewer IT resource requirements and faster speed to market but has restrictions on technical functionality and compute resources. SaaS, meanwhile, requires the fewest IT resources and offers rapid deployment. But it also comes with minimal application control and little to no flexibility.

Consider the currency

Although less of a worry than it once was, the volatility of the Rand and the fact that most cloud providers charged in dollars was a long-standing complication for cloud adoption in South Africa. Fortunately, many of the biggest cloud providers have switched to Rand pricing. Even then though, currency fluctuations can result in major price increases from year to year.

It’s important, therefore, that businesses not only consider providers that charge locally but also those that have kept their charges consistent over the years.

Know who’ll manage your cloud deployment

While it’s definitely possible for small and medium-sized businesses to manage their own cloud deployment, the rapid pace of technological change can make it confusing and time-consuming. A good cloud deployment partner will guide your organisation through that transition and ensure that it sees all the benefits of the cloud with minimal interruption to your operations.

Matt Surkont is the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of BlueSky

Kelechi Deca

Kelechi Deca has over two decades of media experience, he has traveled to over 77 countries reporting on multilateral development institutions, international business, trade, travels, culture, and diplomacy. He is also a petrol head with in-depth knowledge of automobiles and the auto industry

The Future of Cloud Computing: Moving at the Speed of Business By Patrick Ndegwa

September 1, 2020

There’s been a definite shift around the discussion about the cloud in Africa. Businesses now accept that the future of organising, processing and presenting their data is in the cloud. And with services like cloud-based email, many companies are already using this innovative technology – whether they realise it or not. The conversation has changed from asking ‘what is cloud technology?’ to look at how it can be harnessed to achieve business success.

***Patrick Ndegwa, Business Sales Lead for SEACOM East Africa***

Organisations need to be able to adapt at the same speed as this new technology and take advantage of the opportunities it presents. This will ensure business continuity and resilience in the long term. So what’s next for the cloud?

The future of cloud computing: opportunities for Africa

The Internet of Things is set to become even more prominent, with companies able to automate and optimise more processes as connected ‘smart’ machines are used. Interconnected systems mean that business processes and actual equipment will be linked to ensure ease of access and optimisation. This has the power to significantly improve efficiency for businesses that can get it right. This could include inventory systems that automatically order more stock when levels are low; smart machines that notify you before a part needs to be replaced; or logistics tracking that optimises routes and delivery based on orders and current traffic congestion. As we progress into this digital world of work, systems will become more interlinked and intertwined, providing opportunities for companies that are ready to take advantage.

Furthermore, the cloud enables remote working and service provision, regardless of where employees or organisations are located. This opens up business opportunities as distance from customers and clients is no longer a stumbling block. African companies can offer their services to a wider market – and in turn use additional services – as a result of a digitally connected world. The same applies to workers; employees can search for jobs nationally and internationally, as opposed to simply searching for opportunities in their immediate area.

Business flexibility and scalability will be key to enabling growth while reducing unnecessary costs as a result of more streamlined operating systems and access to more markets and a wider range of service providers.

Ensuring the safety and security of the business

The importance of security in this new cloud-connected world cannot be stressed enough. As more data is moved to a cloud environment, businesses that don’t take security seriously become more susceptible to data breaches.

User rights need to be properly managed and the relevant software put into place to prevent cyberattacks and data leaks. In addition to this, each individual accessing a system affects the safety of the wider network, so employee training is vital. Accessing and managing data remotely will need to become a priority. The constant influx of data that is being collected and stored needs to be organised and used strategically. Regular backups are crucial in ensuring that information is safe and easily accessible should the original data be deemed at risk. This will ensure business continuity and reduce downtime. Companies that stand to win will be those that partner with cloud providers that can help them put the right security measures in place.

Adapting to a cloud-driven world of business

Research indicates that by 2025, all of the world’s data is expected to increase by five times. This data is estimated to be worth around 123.2 billion USD. In addition to this, the mobile cloud services market will be worth an estimated 95 billion USD by 2024. This trend also applies to Africa.

As Internet usage in Africa grows, so does the amount of data created – as well as the value of that data. Accessing these huge amounts of data won’t be the biggest challenge – making sense of it will be. Companies that can collect, collate and analyse the sheer volume of data generated every day by their customers, employees and other stakeholders stand to gain a lot. If you aren’t organising your data and using it strategically, you will be left behind.

As we look to the future, the importance of partnering with a provider that can assist your business in meeting its operational needs to remain a top priority. A forward-thinking cloud partner can help your business plan for the future, while making the most of the latest innovative technology.

Patrick Ndegwa is Business Sales Lead for SEACOM East Africa

Kelechi Deca

Kelechi Deca has over two decades of media experience, he has traveled to over 77 countries reporting on multilateral development institutions, international business, trade, travels, culture, and diplomacy. He is also a petrol head with in-depth knowledge of automobiles and the auto industry