Cloud computing in a South African Bank

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.