Africa is getting cloudy (and we love it)

Let’s be real. Cloud adoption in Africa started a little slow. But things are changing—fast. More companies are ditching the old-school setups and jumping into the cloud. And it’s not just a trend. It’s a smart move.

One of the big wins? Multi-cloud adoption. It’s giving businesses more flexibility, better

performance, and fewer headaches. Cloud providers are stepping up too - customizing solutions for specific industries (because, yes, hospitals and logistics companies don’t need the same stuff). They’re even setting up local learning centers to get closer to the action and actually listen to what African markets need. About time, right?

Why the sudden switch?

Simple. The old systems just aren’t cutting it anymore. Here's the short version of what’s not working:

• Too expensive to install and maintain – Servers don’t come cheap. And they don’t fix themselves
• Security? What security? – Legacy systems often miss basics like MFA. That’s like leaving the front door wide open
• Power issues – Load shedding. Power cuts. You know the drill. Not great for uptime

So, who’s moving to the cloud? More teams than ever. Especially the ones who:

• Are just getting started and want to avoid hardware headaches
• Work remotely or across different cities (or countries)
• Want to centralize everything in one place
• Plan to grow and need flexibility
• Just want to work smarter, not harder

And guess what? It’s working. Cloud tech is boosting productivity, streamlining operations, and helping businesses serve customers faster and better. Everybody wins.

The stats don’t lie

According to McKinsey, 45% of African companies are already using cloud. That’s on par or even ahead of places like North America and China. Not too shabby.

But what about the other 55%? Still stuck on:

• Not knowing what cloud actually is
• Tough regulations in finance, health, logistics, and similar sectors
• Already sunk money into hardware and not quite ready to walk away

So how do we get more people on board?

It’s going to take a team effort—governments, tech companies, cloud providers, and everyone in between. Here’s what needs to happen:

• Fix the rules – Outdated policies are slowing things down. We need smart, modern frameworks that support growth
• Talk human, not tech – Cloud isn’t rocket science. Ministries and tech companies should explain it like you would to your favorite aunt
• Work together – Strategic partnerships can open more doors and give teams the tools they need to make the switch