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EDITOR’S QUESTION
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YOLANDA SMIT,
REGIONAL
DIRECTOR,
PBT GROUP
C
loud remains a topic which is continually debated among
business. While it can be complex to move or integrate
completely into the cloud, the possibilities that the cloud can
open for a business means it is definitely worth the investment.
Of course, cost efficiency alone can be viewed as a massive benefit
for large or even smaller businesses operating across the continent.
What the cloud offers is a more cost-conscious approach for
maintaining servers, meaning these businesses can then invest in IT
resources that they may not have been previously able to do due to
the expense.
Any cloud adoption strategy must therefore
place data security at the front and centre
of the approach and follow guidelines to not
only ensure data is effectively protected in the
cloud, but that data compliance is met and
data regulations are not violated.
As a result, it is important for a business to
consider what the minimum international
regulation requirements are, both locally and
www.intelligentcio.com
Following a cloud strategy that does not take this into consideration
is a risk that a business should not be willing to take.
“
Over and above this, the cloud also offers agility which means
utilising infrastructure as a service.
Furthermore, by investing in cloud services,
the mundane task of server maintenance and
clean ups is removed. This, in turn, can free up
much needed staff time to place a focus on
business innovation and future growth.
Considering this, it comes as no surprise
that Gartner predicts that the public cloud
market is set to surpass US$300 billion by
2021. However, as cloud adoption grows, so
does the growth in cybercriminal interest,
which is now targeting this service offering
and the data that passes through the cloud.
In fact, one of the biggest reasons why
companies are hesitant to fully invest in the
cloud, is security.
internationally, with regards to privacy and data security as this can
limit what data can be stored in the cloud, or what data can be ‘held’
in certain countries.
AS CLOUD
ADOPTION
GROWS, SO DOES
THE GROWTH IN
CYBERCRIMINAL
INTEREST,
WHICH IS NOW
TARGETING
THIS SERVICE
OFFERING AND
THE DATA THAT
PASSES THROUGH
THE CLOUD.
There are other aspects to consider when
implementing a cloud strategy, a reliable
Internet connection for example, needs to be
clearly defined as a lack of access can impact
the cloud solution and the business operations.
Additionally, considerations around data
transfer rates and defining what is an
acceptable speed at which data needs to
be uploaded or downloaded in the cloud as
a business must ensure that it can manage
end-user requirements.
Lastly, data transfer volumes and frequencies
should also be addressed, to allow for
existing bandwidth capabilities to meet
these requirements.
With 2018 expected to see solid increases
in cloud adoption and transformation
strategies, there are elements that a
business’ cloud strategy needs to address to
get this right. But no matter what, businesses
should be placing a strong focus on security,
as this is one area that can see a business
succeed in cloud adoption and potentially
leapfrog ahead of competitors. n
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