Abstract:
This research looked at cloud computing in a South African bank. Interviews were
conducted in the information technology sector of a major bank in South Arica, as part
of a deductive research method, to establish how cloud computing should be
understood, what are specific benefits, obstacles, risks and if the benefits outweigh the
obstacles and risks.
The research demonstrated that cloud computing is a fairly new concept in South
African banks especially when it comes to the public cloud. Private clouds are currently
in existence, especially in the form of data centres and virtualised services. The
research also indicated that benefits outweigh obstacles and risks, with cost seen as the
most important benefit in contrast to privacy and security as the most important obstacle
to consider.
It would be difficult for a bank in South Africa to move into the public cloud and the focus
would be to move no-core services into a public cloud and to keep the core services
within the bank.
It should be noted that the research sample was limited to only one of the major banks
in South African and that it would be inaccurate to present the results as a complete
view of banks in South Africa.
