INDUSTRY VIEW
Another factor impacting the decision to move to hybrid is the strong drive towards compliance , especially data protection . There has been a massive push in Kenya regarding this , with significant investments being made to ensure companies adhere to regulatory requirements . Having already invested in the private cloud , going hybrid means businesses can leverage shared services and infrastructure far more cost-effectively while maintaining compliance .
Navigating obstacles
This does not mean that companies do not face obstacles when it comes to migrating to the cloud . One of the significant ones relates to adoption and IT transformation . There is a huge challenge when it comes to keeping up with developments in this space . Organisations need to manage shorter development cycles and overcome their concerns around controlling costs and mitigating risks .
Because not all applications are cloud-optimised , going about modernising them can add to the complexity of the migration . There is also a reduction in IT budgets to consider . Across the board , companies in the region are seeing a change in ownership take place when it comes to these budgets , which are now moving from the CIO into the rest of the business . Practically , retaining and attracting the right skills for cloud adoption is an ongoing problem .
Organisations must also be constantly vigilant regarding security and compliance as driven by the various regulatory institutions .
Additionally , the infrastructure must meet the performance requirements of a cloud-driven environment . Fortunately , Kenya has seen ongoing investments in infrastructure pay off to mitigate concerns around having access to fast and reliable connectivity .
Another obstacle to consider is how a company can derive the maximum benefit from the data it has at its disposal . With data being the new currency , many businesses need to understand how best to unlock the potential of their data .
Digital building blocks
Putting the building blocks in place for a successful Digital Transformation plan that can simplify the cloud transition is critical . An organisation needs to have end-to-end service capabilities in place . Discussions around the cloud and digital transformation have all centred on how to enable this service .
Companies also need cloud expertise . Some skills are transferrable , while others are not . A platform approach to discovery , management ,
Even though public and private cloud models provide benefits , we anticipate the hybrid cloud model to win the race for massive adoption .
and development across multiple technologies forms part of this discussion . It entails balancing between upskilling existing resources and using trusted third parties .
Throughout this , cost optimisation becomes essential if organisations are to be more efficient around their IT spending and reduce the total ownership cost .
Commercial models must become more flexible . The consumption has changed from CAPEX to OPEX . Therefore , business and technology leaders need flexibility both in terms of their mindset and the business ’ s operational model to fully align to a hybrid cloud model .
Yet , the cloud has proven its value to the region , and it will only contribute to accelerated efficiencies . But for this to happen , organisations need to be more open and adaptive to change to ensure they can future-proof their operations . •
Because not all applications are cloudoptimised , going about modernising them can add to the complexity of the migration . There is also a reduction in IT budgets to consider .
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