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5 November 2010

Cloud computing transforms the way IT is delivered

Clients are however cautioned to consider critical elements when choosing their preferred cloud service providers, and must be uncompromising about them.

05 November 2010, Johannesburg — Cloud computing has undoubtedly changed the way information technology is delivered and South Africa's companies are slowly but surely embracing it.

Grant Morgan, Managing Executive responsible for sales and marketing for Telkom's data centre — Cybernest told delegates during his keynote address on Thursday at the Cloud & Virtualisation Africa Summit 2010 that was held at the Hilton Hotel in Sandton. The two-day summit provided delegates with a platform to learn more about the benefits of cloud computing and exposed them to its fundamentals.

"It is a move into the right direction I must say and have noticed a positive aggression from those companies that are already adopting cloud computing."

However, in his presentation dubbed "transforming the way IT is delivered" Morgan cautions that there are crucial elements that clients must consider when choosing their preferred cloud service providers, and must be uncompromising about them.

One such crucial factor is security. "It is the biggest concern." A service provider, according to Morgan, should have a better data centre that the client can't provide itself and must demonstrate and prove that the client's data, once into cloud, will be secured.

Morgan adds that cloud service providers, Cybernest included, must have a world-class network, with their data centre located at the heart of their network. "In this way clients will be assured that cloud computing is at the core of their service providers' business. This should influence clients' decision to outsource their non-core IT-related functions to a particular service provider."

Buying power is another alarming factor, says Morgan. He advised that clients should choose a service provider who is in agreement with the best suppliers and manufacturers of data centre resources in the world that they can leverage on.

Enthused about the possibilities of transforming the way IT is delivered, Morgan mentioned to the delegates that Cybernest is rated level 3 in terms of Information Technology Infrastructure Library Capability Maturity Model (ITIL CMM) and that they are working hard towards moving up to level 5.

ITIL CMM focuses on software process maturity continuous improvement whereas ITIL helps us understand and develop all of the areas within our infrastructure. "Clients should take this into cognisance as well to understand who they are to trust with their data."

"Once the above-mentioned crucial elements have been established and most importantly demonstrated then clients are geared towards enjoying real IT value for their businesses from their sourcing providers," he concludes.

For further enquiries, please contact:

Pynee Chetty

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Group Communication

Tel:+27 12 642 1716

Mobile: +27 81 389 7874

Email: chettpr2@telkom.co.za

 OR

Leigh-Ann Francis

Specialist: Media Relations

Group Communication

Tel: +27 12 642 1728

Mobile: +27 81 391 4780

Email: francilm@telkom.co.za

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ABOUT TELKOM:

Telkom is a leading communications services provider in South Africa. We had consolidated operating revenue of R16.8 billion and normalised profit after tax of R1, 683 million for the period ended 30 September 2015. Total assets amounted to R41.9 billion and equity attributable to the owners of Telkom to R23.5 billion as of 30 September 2015. The group generated normalised free cash flow of R1.4 billion for the period ended 30 September 2015.

As of 30 September 2015, we had approximately 3.3 million telephone access lines in service and 1,030,441 ports connected via MSAN access. We offer business, residential and payphone customers a wide range of services and products, including:

  • fixed-line retail voice services using PSTN (Public Switched Telephone Network) lines, including ISDN (Integrated Services Digital Network) lines, and the sale of subscription based value-added voice services and calling plans;
  • fixed-line customer premises equipment rental and sales services both voice and data needs and these include PABX, Computers, Routers, Modems, Telephone handsets and other ancillary equipment;
  • interconnection services, including terminating and transiting traffic from South African mobile operators, as well as from international operators and transiting traffic from mobile to international destinations;
  • fixed-line data services, including domestic and international data transmission services, such as point-to-point leased lines, ADSL (Asymmetrical Digital Subscriber Line) services, packet-based services, managed data networking services and internet access and related information technology services;
  • Data Centre Operations includes e-commerce, application service provider, hosting, data storage, e-mail and security services;
  • W-CDMA (Wideband Code Division Multiple Access), a 3G next generation network, including fixed voice services, data services and nomadic voice services;
  • mobile communication services, including voice services, data services and handset sales through our mobile navbar-brand called Telkom Mobile;
  •  information and communication services including cloud services, infrastructure services, workspace services, global service integration management and hardware and network equipment sales locally, in seven African countries, the UK and Dubai through Business Connexion Group; and
  • other services including directory services, through Trudon (Pty) Ltd, wireless data services, through Swiftnet (Pty) Ltd.

Convergence is one of our key strategic initiatives in building a sustainable future for Telkom.  We will lead the provision of converged services in South Africa in support of our mission statement: Seamlessly connecting people to a better life.