Survey reveals load shedding caused massive shift to cloud

South Africa has long struggled with load shedding, which makes it difficult for both individuals and businesses to maintain a steady output and productivity. The frequent power cuts have cost the South African economy an estimated R1.6 trillion in 2023 alone. However, a recent survey by ITWeb indicates that load shedding is now a significant factor in the nation's dramatic migration to cloud services.

Businesses were severely impacted by load shedding in 2023, which prompted a spike in the use of the cloud as a way to lessen the negative consequences of power cuts. Storing and transmitting data is reliant on power - enterprises that host data on-site are putting productivity in the hands of the power suppliers. The two solutions are to invest in costly solar backup systems or to seek the services of cloud providers.

Most cloud service providers in South Africa already have backup electricity systems in place. This means that businesses can pass the problem of load shedding on to their cloud providers and make use of the always-on nature of cloud networking. This improves productivity and retains accessibility for employees, no matter where they work from.

Industries that rely heavily on IT and digital services suffer the most during load shedding, experiencing disruptions in operations, loss of productivity, and potential financial losses. By relying on cloud providers, companies can also reduce their spend on backup power; smaller solar inverter systems are needed to power the office and individual uninterrupted power supply (UPS) equipment is sufficient to keep computers on.

What the survey reveals

In the survey conducted by ITWeb, the aim was to gain a better understanding of the position and usage of cloud services among South African businesses, specifically in relation to load shedding. The survey captured insights from 167 respondents, with participants representing a range of industries, including IT, financial services, government, and more.

The key findings of the survey shed light on the significant impact that load shedding has had on businesses and their migration to the cloud. Out of the respondents, 29% identified themselves as front-runners in cloud migration, while 45% expressed comfort in migrating to the cloud but emphasised the need for careful planning and sufficient time.

An additional, 22% expressed that they were content but currently focused on other projects. These figures demonstrate how companies are beginning to realise that adopting cloud services is essential to successfully managing load shedding issues.

Important results

Regarding the switch to cloud services during load shedding, the poll provided some important findings. The five primary technological factors that respondents identified as driving cloud adoption were among the study's noteworthy results.

Enhancing business continuity (61%), facilitating efficient disaster recovery (60%), lowering the chance of downtime (58%), updating programmes (58%), and cutting expenses (52%) are some of these motivators. It is notable that the load shedding scenario in South Africa had a significant impact on the primary driver, which is business continuity.

What’s more, according to the poll, hybrid cloud deployment is the most popular approach (65%), followed by private cloud (14%), multicloud (13%), and public cloud (8%). This inclination for hybrid deployment is in line with the financial concerns surrounding a full cloud adoption strategy, which is still seen as a barrier by a lot of companies.

Benefits of cloud migration

Businesses can benefit from a number of cloud computing features that help lessen the impact of load shedding. First off, using the cloud gives organisations more scalability and flexibility, enabling them to modify their workloads and resource allocations as needed. This makes it possible for businesses to continue operating normally even in the face of fluctuating electrical supply conditions.

In addition, cloud services are far less expensive than conventional on-premises infrastructure. Businesses may optimise their IT expenditure and drastically cut operating costs by utilising cloud resources.

SEACOM’s role in supporting cloud migration

SEACOM offers South African enterprises state-of-the-art cloud computing and cloud networking services. We are aware of the difficulties caused by load shedding and have played a key role in assisting companies in overcoming these obstacles by implementing cloud computing strategies and architectures.

Our proficiency in cloud computing and cloud networking allows us to offer customised solutions that address the unique requirements of South African enterprises. With the skills and tools to support organisations along their cloud migration journey, SEACOM can handle any task related to data security, disaster recovery techniques, or cost efficiency optimisation.

It is clear that there is a major move towards cloud services, spurred by load shedding in South Africa. As a top supplier of ICT services, SEACOM is dedicated to using our knowledge of cloud computing and cloud networking to support companies in overcoming these obstacles.

We are prepared to help companies make use of cloud services to guarantee continuous operations and expansion. For more information about our cloud services or to get a quote, email us at marketing@seacom.com or leave us a message.

SEACOM owns Africa’s most extensive network of information and communications technology (ICT) infrastructure, including subsea cables and secure internet connections. We offer a diverse range of flexible, scalable and high-quality solutions for businesses that meet world-class standards for connectivity.

SEACOM is privately owned and operated, making it agile and adaptable to the needs of the customer. This makes us the preferred ICT and internet connectivity partner for African businesses and peripheral service providers. We can guarantee high-speed, low-latency and secure internet connections to corporates and small enterprises.

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