Ready to Fly – A Cloud Migration Roadmap for Kenyan Enterprises

According to World Wide Worx’s Cloud in Africa 2023 report, 84% of Kenyan organizations increased their cloud service spending last year. Increased local data centers and available cloud platforms fuel this. At the same time, the country’s public sector is transitioning from traditional analog services to digital ones, positioning Kenya as a regional ICT powerhouse and taking its place in a globally connected digital economy.

Kenya fully embraces cloud computing technology and lays the foundation for Africa’s technological revolution. However, the technology is inherently intimidating for many organizations and represents great investment, manpower, and resources. Putting your best foot forward and being aware of best practices is the solution.

What goes into a successful cloud migration strategy?

Come up with a plan.

A successful business fully comprehends what it is trying to achieve; the same goes for what they want from cloud computing. Migration strategies do not fall under the banner of a one-size-fits-all approach. Therefore, it’s up to organizations and their technology partners to fully develop a tailor-made migration plan that encompasses all relevant facets, from infrastructure and applications to data and hosting options.

Organizations should begin by identifying their objectives. Establish Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) and any additional criteria you need to meet. At the same time, you should place all project stakeholders, acknowledge any obstacles you may encounter during the migration process, and determine how those obstacles could influence your ability to accomplish your objectives.

Organizations should also familiarize themselves with policies and regulations related to data gathering, storage, and management. Kenya’s Data Protection Act, passed by the country’s parliament in 2019, establishes parameters and safeguards that organizations and data controllers must adhere to. Cloud migration strategies must always consider security and compliance requirements like this into account.

Choose your applications and environments.

Cloud computing is not just one function of a business. Cloud-based applications can encompass everything from file storage and email to finance and Customer Relationship Management (CRM). With so much at stake in a migration strategy, organizations must consider what cloud best suits their needs.

For many enterprises, the choice is simply between public and private cloud. Public cloud contexts are created by IT infrastructure not owned by the end user and are used by many. In contrast, remote environments are solely dedicated to and run by a single entity. Both options have advantages and disadvantages, but their distinction between them has evolved to be more than a question of location and ownership.

For many organizations, the honest answer lies in a hybrid cloud. This refers to single IT environments created using multiple domains connected through Local Area Networks (LANs), Wide Area Networks (WANs), and Virtual Private Networks (VPNs). Hybrid cloud environments command several advantages, such as increased cost control and scalability. Hybrid also offers greater standardization and uniformity, critical for workflows and ensuring compatibility across domains. Today’s cloud providers are ready and able to deliver services that meet hybrid needs, so be sure about and confident in the scenario that works best for your enterprise.

Engage!

Migrating to the cloud doesn’t simply involve pushing a big red button. Once architecture review and proof of concept processes have been completed, organizations can commence their transition, modernize their existing applications, and develop new, cloud-native ones.

An important component to consider when it comes to best practices is Infrastructure as Code (IaC). This allows teams to define and deploy infrastructure while ensuring continuous delivery. Automatic configurations lead to consistency and replicability; doing it manually can lead to individual errors.

Of course, for Kenyan enterprises, cloud migration can only happen as quickly and efficiently as the available resources and expertise allow. This is where the country has made significant strides. Continued investment in cloud infrastructure and data centers means increasing capacity, while education initiatives led by cloud providers like AWS are closing the critical skills gap and opening up career opportunities.

What comes after?

With the migration process complete, enterprises must shift their focus to cloud governance and management. Enterprises must remain cognisant of cloud usage standards and their organizational needs while adhering to guardrails to avoid losing control of their cloud budget.

Post-migration, an organization’s cloud infrastructure should boast a well-managed environment. One equipped with the necessary backup resources, monitored for any security anomalies or incidents, and adequately prepared for either. Settings and applications should optimize an enterprise’s ability to capitalize on cloud-native technologies and expand its capabilities in terms of business activity, operations, and product offerings.

With the help of trusted technology and cloud vendors who offer comprehensive, managed, and always-on services, enterprises in Kenya can move to the cloud at a pace and budget that suit them. It’s only a question of whether they’re ready to fly.

By Christopher Saul, Territory Sales Lead for East Africa at Red Hat