An open foundation for 2020

Issue 1 2020 Infrastructure

Even though the transaction closed in July 2019, IBM’s acquisition of Red Hat has been the defining moment for open source in 2019. Valued at $34 billion, it shows the importance of open source to business growth in a digital world.


Muggie van Staden.

Cynics might argue that ‘Big Blue’ will never be able to justify the spend, but sentiment is that this could position the open standards environment as an integral part of any technological disruption that will take place. Companies across industry sectors have already begun re-evaluating where ICT investment must be focused on, especially given how the cloud has become more mainstream in the South African market.

Cloud migration

What the IBM-Red Hat deal shows is that the migration to open hybrid cloud technologies will be the way to go as we head into the new decade. Companies are using the digital transition as the means to modernise ageing infrastructure and re-examine legacy processes. And while much of the movement to the cloud has revolved around going public, expectations are that next year will bring with it a return to a hybrid approach where mission-critical data will remain on site. However, putting a secure and user-friendly platform in place to make data movement from on-premise to public an easier journey will result in businesses even more readily embracing open starts to deploy, run, and manage data in this hybrid world.

Beyond the acquisition, 2019 also saw containers and micro-services starting to become mainstream in South Africa. These have become some of the most quickly adopted enterprise software development technologies in the market today. Moving from testing to production environments, containers are changing how applications are structured to reflect a more agile and smarter market. Customers demand real-time responsiveness to queries, product customisation, and personalised experiences. Containers provide the delivery mechanism to accomplish this.

Docking stations

However, this has not been a quick journey. Docker began the process more than six years ago. But adding impetus to this has been its importance in enabling digital transformation. As part of this, container orchestration will become a critical skill in the developer teams of organisations. Upskilling employees takes on increased importance as organisations seek to find competitive advantages. This is less likely coming from product differentiation and more to do with the customer experience.

Taking all these various components into consideration, you have a market that is ripe to benefit even more from a cloud-centric (and open) landscape. South African businesses are having more serious discussions around multi-cloud and hybrid cloud implementations. Throughout this, an open approach relying on an agile approach through containers gives organisations the impetus they need to be digital-first.

Technologies like artificial intelligence, automation, and machine learning might be the flavour of the moment, but without open standards, none of it will matter. This is essential to provide companies with the means to more readily link their data sources to real-time analytical models that result in business growth. The next decade is going to present even more opportunities for growth on-premise and in the cloud. Just how effective an organisation will be in managing this will depend on its ability to embrace an open environment.




Share this article:
Share via emailShare via LinkedInPrint this page



Further reading:

Enhanced cellular connectivity is critical for farm safety
Infrastructure Agriculture (Industry)
In South Africa, the safety of our rural communities, particularly on farms, is a pressing concern. Nearly 32% of South Africa’s 60 million people live in these areas, where security challenges are constantly in the spotlight.

Read more...
All aspects of data protection
Technews Publishing Editor's Choice Information Security Infrastructure AI & Data Analytics
SMART Security Solutions spoke to Kate Mollett, Senior Director, Commvault Africa, about the company and its evolution from a backup specialist to a full data protection specialist, as well as the latest announcements from the company.

Read more...
Revolutionising networking technology for the future
Infrastructure IoT & Automation
[Sponsored] In the fast-evolving landscape of networking technology, RUCKUS Networks stands out as a trailblazer, offering innovative solutions that redefine connectivity experiences across various industries.

Read more...
Edge could help transform South Africa’s healthcare
Axis Communications SA Infrastructure
Edge computing has emerged as a game-changing technology for many industries, and the healthcare sector is no exception. In particular, South Africa’s healthcare industry could significantly benefit from the potential of this technology.

Read more...
Cloud platform for cyber resilience in the hybrid enterprise
Infrastructure
The Commvault Cloud brings together data protection, security, intelligence, and recovery on one platform, offering AI capabilities to defeat cyber threats, and includes integration with Microsoft Azure OpenAI Service.

Read more...
Rapid rise in DNS attacks drives demand for new approach
Infrastructure Risk Management & Resilience
As ransomware grows more sophisticated and DNS attacks become more frequent, businesses are increasingly trying to protect themselves by adopting innovative approaches and technologies to bolster the integrity and security of their backup systems.

Read more...
Majority of South African companies concerned about cloud security
Information Security Infrastructure
Global and local businesses share a common concern when it comes to cloud security. 95% of global businesses and 89% of local businesses are concerned about the security of public clouds.

Read more...
Consolidated cybersecurity management
Technews Publishing Editor's Choice Information Security Infrastructure
SMART Security Solutions spoke to Gareth Redelinghuys, Country Managing Director, African Cluster at Trend Micro, to find out what makes Trend stand out from the crowd and also its latest market offerings.

Read more...
Access to data centre secured
Suprema Access Control & Identity Management Infrastructure
GBM required a modern access control system to increase the security of its facilities in a productive environment without affecting the operation of the offices and the data centre, which are carried out 24/7/365.

Read more...
Africa’s growth lies on shoulders of renewable energy
News & Events Infrastructure
The Africa Tech Festival from 13 to 16 November in Cape Town will unpack the challenges and discuss the pivotal role of sustainability & renewable energy in advancing technological development in Africa.

Read more...