By KOPANO MONAHENG
BUSINESSES depend hugely on technology today more than they did years ago.
And this means employees can communicate far more quickly and conveniently, no matter where they are. Tools like online chat rooms and phone services allow employees to manage many tasks from home. This gives companies an opportunity to work with employees regardless of their location.
Business owners and managers must also be wary of cyber criminals who are always finding new ways to scam their targets.
On Thursday, one of Mzansi’s leading digital system integrators, BCX, launched its Africa Local Public (ALP) Cloud service that will help provide innovative technology solutions to businesses in the African continent.
Jonas Bogoshi, CEO at BCX, said the ALP Cloud addresses the rising demand for secure, scalable and high-performance cloud solutions that cater to the distinct requirements of South African businesses. He said from now on, local enterprises can access secure and resilient cloud compute, storage, network and security services (IAAS) with low latency and high efficiency offered by BCX’s ALP Cloud.
“The initial capacity will be made available to enterprise clients and will be further expanded with additional products and capacity, pending specific demands from clients,” said Jonas.
The ALP Cloud service is powered by Alibaba Cloud – the digital technology and intelligence backbone of the Alibaba Group. One standout feature of the ALP Cloud is its pricing strategy.
BCX has opted to charge for services in the local currency, the South African Rand, which is in stark contrast to other hyper-scalers in the local market.
Bogoshi highlights the significance of this decision, stating that it alleviates the challenge posed by the unpredictable exchange rate.
By billing in the local currency, BCX ensures cost predictability for South African enterprises, allowing them to effectively manage their cloud service expenses and avoid the volatility of the exchange rate market.
BCX also recognises the importance of data sovereignty and residency within the South African context.
“BCX aims to align with the principles of the National Data and Cloud Policy, which seeks to promote data sovereignty in South Africa,” notes Jan Bouwer, Chief Solutions Officer at BCX.
Bouwer explains that ALP Cloud ensures that data stays within South Africa, addressing data sovereignty and compliance requirements.
ALP Cloud has been deployed in two data centres in South Africa. BCX remains committed to keeping local data within Africa’s borders and intends to launch a third data centre in Cape Town, along with another disaster recovery data centre in one of South Africa’s neighbouring countries to mitigate the impact of load shedding.
BCX’s emphasis on a local approach sets it apart, suggests Bouwer.
“The launch of ALP Cloud serves multiple purposes, one of which accentuates our dedication to maintaining a local presence. As a result, when our customers opt for BCX local cloud services, they will be directly connecting with and supported by a South African company.”
In addition, with global technology experience from Alibaba Cloud and local expertise from BCX, the company ensures that service deployment meets international standards.
BCX has also been diligently working to upskill local talent for the rising digital transformation demands by enterprises. It is extending training and certification opportunities to universities, aiming to equip students with valuable skills in cloud services.
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