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Is the cloud a valid proposition?

By Nicole Broome, ITWeb contributor
Johannesburg, 27 Oct 2016

ITWeb Cloud Summit 2017

Meet Mai Moodley from SITA at ITWeb's Cloud Summit on 9 February 2017 as he shares his thoughts on the challenges associated with trying to successfully explain the value proposition of cloud computing. Registration is already open. The agenda will be unveiled in just under two weeks' time. To view the topics for discussion, click here.

The value proposition of full-scale adoption of cloud technologies against the backdrop of differences in opportunities and constraints in Africa has local business leaders looking for proven evidence of comparable and competitive advantages.

SITA's ?head of department: financial systems and processes, Maiendra Moodley, speaker at the ITWeb Cloud Summit 2017, says businesses need to balance potential constraints, such as security, compliance and legislative concerns; the high cost of data; and insufficient and unreliable Internet coverage, against a return on investment that is difficult to quantify.

Moodley nods to the fact that many business leaders are questioning a blue-sky approach in end-to-end use of cloud technology but believes that there is a silver lining to throwing your lot in with the cloud. He will explain how to articulate the considerable upside of cloud technology to ensure that there is a good understanding between IT and business of how the company objectives can be achieved through leveraging the cloud, despite the need to obviate the risks.

He points to the cost of data in South Africa as being a downside to cloud adoption, especially by small to medium-sized businesses.

Moodley believes data costs in South Africa are shockingly expensive and says that if the cost of data far outstrips the initial investment in setting up and securing public and private cloud architecture and accessing cloud-based applications, then this acts as a disincentive to using the cloud. Moodley often uses this analogy: "If the cost of investment in the car is outstripped by the cost of insurance, then it would be better to take the bus."

When considering a mobile workforce, he notes that in South Africa we do not enjoy the ubiquitous and often-free WiFi enjoyed by other countries, such as the UK. "The relatively low cost of WiFi data there means that one could pop in to caf'e and enjoy the benefits of access to cloud-based applications and offerings for the same cost as a cup of tea.

SITA's ?head of department: financial systems and processes, Maiendra Moodley.
SITA's ?head of department: financial systems and processes, Maiendra Moodley.

"And when looking at cost, thought needs to go into optimising architecture. As an example, while the use of private clouds offers more security, privacy and control than public cloud, this also requires the business to have the in-house ability to configure and manage and sacrifices some of economies of scale of public clouds," he says.

With the evolution of cloud technologies coming at us with increasing speed and the spread of Internet connectivity, the value proposition of cloud-enabling your business makes cloud investment a valid proposition.

Moodley will examine at next year's summit how we need to position our prism to get a realistic view of cloud computing in South Africa in 2017 and beyond. He will provide valuable insight into applying guidelines and lessons learnt to overcome local challenges and become true global competitors.

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