Is It Time for Kenyan Companies to Embrace the Cloud?

Cloud computing technology has been embraced by a range of industries around the world. In the field of entertainment, streaming video provider Netflix runs its customer data, transcoding and more through the cloud.

Meanwhile, social media platforms such as Instagram and Pinterest both use the power of the cloud in order to store huge amounts of data and to help them load the massive amounts of images that users share even quicker.

Despite this adoption from some of the biggest names in the world of business, cloud computing hasn't quite found its footing in the Kenyan market. But, after avoiding the power of the cloud for so long, is it finally time for Kenyan companies to embrace the technology?

How Kenyan Companies Can Benefit from Cloud Computing

One of the biggest benefits of cloud computing is that it allows your employees to work from anywhere. By storing data on cloud servers, when someone needs to access an important file in order to complete their report, they won't have to send an email asking someone to send a locally-stored file to them. Instead, they will be able to access it whenever they want, preventing delays in their workflow.

Image via pixabay.com

It also allows your employees to more easily collaborate. Instead of having to exchange emails back and forth with hefty attachments, the use of cloud-editing software, for example, means that these changes can be made directly on the document.

Updates can be made in real-time, helping teams to get things done a lot quicker. Given that there is a growing number of remote, freelance workers in the country, this is a vital advantage.

What Security Measures Does Cloud Computing Require?

However, it's also important to note that these benefits come with an increased need for proper security. If you're storing data in the cloud - especially sensitive data about your company - you will want to do your utmost to protect that information and secure the apps used to access it.

Image via pixabay.com

Basic security measures may include regularly checking which employees have access to what information and reminding them not to give their passwords out.

For a more technical solution, a web application firewall is essential as it allows companies to analyze and inspect every request coming to their network so that they can head off any attacks at the pass. Most importantly for Kenyan businesses newly migrating to the cloud, WAF also works for both on-premise apps (apps which are stored and hosted on the company's premises) as well as hybrid cloud systems (a mix of on-premise, private/third-party cloud, and public cloud services), keeping things secure whatever the level of adoption.

Why Hasnt Kenya Embraced the Cloud?

According to a report by Business Daily Africa, high-speed access, price, and reliability, the three biggest obstacles standing in the way of Kenya's cloud adoption, are steadily being overcome. As it currently stands, 35.6% of public sector institutions and 22.9% of private businesses in Kenya use the cloud, but it seems that soon, these figures will increase greatly.