Richard Cutcher| Humanipo
More Nigerian businesses will be using cloud-based services than in South Africa by the end of 2014, “dramatically” leapfrogging Kenya in the process, according to a survey carried out by Cisco and World Wide Worx.
The Cloud in Africa: Reality Check 2013 research study found this 50 per cent of South Africa’s medium and large businesses are currently using cloud services, compared to 48 per cent in Kenya and 36 per cent in Nigeria.
However, 44 per cent of Nigerian businesses say they expect to adopt the cloud by the end of 2014, compared to just 16 per cent in South Africa and 24 per cent in Kenya.
“Cloud computing is the next big step in the evolution of computing and the internet,” said David Meads, Cisco’s vice president for Africa. “The broadband revolution sweeping Africa and the continent’s reputation for innovation add up to tremendous appetite for services that will drive this evolution.”
There was also significant backing by 57 per cent of decision-makers across the three countries for the security of cloud, with 34 per cent neutral.
Of those questioned, 73 per cent expressed high confidence in its reliability.
“The fact that no one is expressing doubt about the reliability of the cloud means that the final pieces of the puzzle are falling into place,” said Arthur Goldstuck, managing director (MD) of World Wide Worx. “Now the cloud becomes real in Africa.”
