As African markets expand, the demand for advanced technology to enhance business operations, customer service, and global competitiveness is rising. But to make this shift, companies need a strong IT infrastructure to support new digital tools, data processing, automation, and online services.
With initiatives like the African Union’s Digital Transformation Strategy (2020-2030) and the Eastern Africa Regional Digital Integration Project (EARDIP), the continent is actively working toward a secure digital market and increased regional cooperation.
Despite the opportunities, African businesses face operational challenges, including inadequate energy supply, unreliable internet connectivity, and disparate regulatory frameworks across regions. To address these hurdles, Servercore, a global IT infrastructure company with a local presence in Kenya is providing tailored cloud servers and solutions to help businesses optimize performance and drive digital transformation.
The company’s goal is to empower businesses of all sizes to optimise their cloud capabilities, innovate, and contribute to the region’s digital growth.
In February, Servercore successfully migrated GoDeliveries’ cloud infrastructure from an offshore provider to a local solution within one month. This milestone marked a significant step forward in GoDeliveries’ cloud strategy, as the transition reduced cloud rental costs by 43% and enhanced overall IT system performance. The Nairobi-based food delivery service had struggled with high costs, slow response times, and limited server efficiency under its previous system. Following the migration, the company significantly improved its user experience.
In an interview, Victoria Kleinbort, Country Manager for Servercore Kenya, shares insights on how businesses can navigate these challenges and select the right IT infrastructure for long-term growth.
What regulatory considerations should organisations keep in mind when selecting an IT infrastructure model in Africa?
Laws guide every sector, and you wouldn’t expect less from an industry that deals with data. The reason for this is that data residency laws are prevalent in Africa.
In countries like Kenya, Algeria, Gabon, Niger, and Morocco, data protection laws require that regulated data, such as personal information, be stored and processed within the borders of the country.
The Act also indicates that data localisation requirements apply to critical sectors, including data processing in revenue management, national civil registration systems, population registry and identity management, education, electronic payment systems management, and health and critical infrastructure to enhance security and compliance with local laws.
To comply with the law, Kenyan-based organisations need to work with cloud providers based in Kenya.
What factors should be considered when evaluating a Kenyan company’s software for cloud deployment?
Cloud requirements for a Kenyan company’s software are critical because a specific application may have technical or licensing limitations concerning its operation within cloud environments. While some applications may need particular configurations or updates, others might not support cloud deployment.
Evaluating software’s cloud compatibility ensures alignment with the existing IT infrastructure, maximizes benefits, minimizes disruptions, and helps avoid hidden costs.
What is the budget to establish an on-premise infrastructure that ensures minimal downtime during incidents?
Typically, on-premises setups require significant hardware, maintenance, and skilled personnel investments. Without adequate budget resources, companies risk prolonged downtimes and disrupted operations, impacting productivity, which leads to revenue losses.
Thus, it’s essential to allocate a budget in advance for projected infrastructure costs and potential risks.
Considering the unique challenges faced by businesses in Africa, what security measures should companies prioritize when selecting a cloud provider?
When selecting a cloud provider, businesses should focus on implementing strong encryption for data, utilising multi-factor authentication for access control. Additionally, it is essential to choose a provider that offers continuous monitoring and regular security audits to detect and mitigate risks. Severcore provides detailed security practices in its comprehensive Security Guide.
What is the impact of unused resources on IT infrastructure costs and efficiency?
Unused resources can significantly impact a company’s overall IT budget and efficiency.
With on-premises infrastructures, unused resources, such as idle servers or overprovisioned storage, lead to wasted capital expenditure. Unlike an on-premises setup, a cloud model allows businesses to pay only for the resources they utilize, allowing for rapid infrastructure scaling as demand increases and saving cloud costs.
Understanding the costs of unused resources helps organizations avoid overspending. It also encourages efficient resource allocation and ensures IT infrastructure remains cost-effective.
What role does skilled IT personnel play in the success of an IT infrastructure?
Depending on specific needs, having more than one team of technical experts may be necessary. The success of an IT infrastructure depends on skilled personnel who can manage, maintain, and troubleshoot the system. Without the right IT staff, organisations risk inefficiencies and prolonged downtime. Ensuring the availability of skilled IT specialists helps maintain smooth operations, optimise performance, and support strategic growth.
Are spikes in resource consumption anticipated?
Spikes occur during seasonal sales or from temporary requirements for cloud services to handle specific tasks. If not planned, spikes can lead to higher-than-expected costs.
How can organisations manage resource spikes in their IT infrastructure to control costs and maintain performance?
Predicting resource spikes allows organisations to choose an infrastructure model that can handle variability efficiently, ensuring performance continuity, cost control, and a seamless user experience during high-demand periods.
Once these considerations have been addressed, businesses can move forward in evaluating potential models, whose features we will explore below.
What is your view on building an On-Premise Infrastructure?
The on-premise IT infrastructure approach is often regarded as a traditional approach to building and managing a company’s servers, data storage, and processing resources. This requires significant investment, expertise, and resources to ensure data security and maintenance.
This approach suits companies with strict regulatory compliance needs or simple infrastructure requirements while smaller businesses may opt for this model if they only need a few servers to support their website and CRM systems. The implementation scenarios vary based on the size of the business.
Managing a company’s server site can be complex and requires specialized expertise to ensure data security and maintenance. However, this approach can also lead to inefficient use of computing power. A simpler alternative is to rent space in a third-party data centre, where the provider handles security and maintenance, allowing the company to focus on managing its equipment.
What do you think about the cloud path for business?
Cloud infrastructure is made up of a range of remotely accessible computing resources, including servers, virtual machines, storage solutions, and more. These pre-configured solutions, offered by cloud providers, enable businesses to easily host and develop their IT infrastructure. Some of the services they offer include Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS), Platform as a Service (PaaS), and Software as a Service (SaaS)
Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) allows companies to instantly access computing resources, such as dedicated and cloud servers, to host their IT projects. With IaaS, businesses can choose the ideal solution for their specific needs and workloads, and install their preferred software and applications.
While for Platform as a Service (PaaS), this solution provides companies with a comprehensive platform for developing, testing, and deploying digital products. Startups and small businesses use PaaS to accelerate application development and deployment without needing to hire additional IT experts. Larger companies leverage PaaS to streamline processes, reduce operational costs, and quickly test product ideas.
Software as a Service (SaaS) allows companies to pay for and use software without having to build or maintain it. While customization options may be limited, SaaS is often the best choice for small businesses, as it eliminates the need to hire development teams and build platforms from scratch.
A McKinsey survey says many African technology leaders have shifted about 45% of their workloads to the public cloud environment through IaaS, PaaS, and SaaS solutions.
The cloud model is ideal for businesses that need rapid product evolution and scalability. Cloud servers can be launched instantly, and infrastructure can be easily scaled up or down as needed. For large enterprises, outsourcing IT infrastructure to a provider allows them to focus on core products and business efficiency. Cloud infrastructure also enables companies to expand globally without the hassle of setting up equipment in new locations. However, established companies with legacy systems may find migrating to the cloud costly and time-consuming, with transition periods ranging from six months to a year.
What are your thoughts on hybrid IT infrastructure?
A hybrid IT infrastructure combines cloud services with on-premise infrastructure, allowing businesses to leverage the best of both worlds. This approach enables companies to accelerate time-to-market, reduce procurement challenges, and efficiently store and process data. The hybrid model offers numerous benefits, including scalability, flexibility, and cost savings. It also provides disaster resistance and efficient workload distribution. Businesses can use cloud services for testing and development while maintaining core processes on-premise. Hybrid infrastructure also enables companies to establish backup sites and enhance system reliability.
To ensure security in hybrid cloud solutions, businesses must consider securing endpoint devices and communication lines. Secure connections can be established through dedicated lines or encrypted connections using certified equipment. Additionally, implementing supplementary security software and firewalls can strengthen protection. Cloud providers also monitor their infrastructure to identify and address potential vulnerabilities, minimising the risk of incidents.
What considerations should African businesses keep in mind when selecting an IT infrastructure model?
For African businesses, selecting the right IT infrastructure model – whether on-premises, cloud, or hybrid – depends on their unique needs and circumstances. Each model has its strengths and weaknesses, which must be evaluated against business objectives, regulatory requirements, and technical needs. Effective implementation requires careful planning, ongoing maintenance, and a focus on flexibility, scalability, and cost-effectiveness, all while addressing the distinct challenges of operating in Africa and leveraging modern technology.
