Microsoft has pledged strict compliance with the highest data protection and security standards worldwide for cloud services while espousing the socio-economic benefits that the adoption of cloud will bring to Nigerian businesses and government agencies.
The disclosure comes on the heels of a $35,000 grant to the Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies (NIALS) to research gaps in data privacy and security.
Following the United States National Security Agency (NSA) PRISM/Edward Snowden leakage saga where sensitive security information became public knowledge, governments and companies have become wary of entrusting private vital information to a third party.
To address disquiets such as this, Microsoft elected to fund an independent research by NIALS which will, among others, focus on how concerns on data privacy, security of data, data sovereignty/localisation and management should be approached to ensure that these fundamental apprehensions do not slow down the adoption of cloud services in Nigeria.
The government has realised the importance of cloud computing as a means of enhancing e-government service across all sectors and particularly in health, agriculture, and education.
The research in the NIALS will focus on the SMB/SME and education sectors. Cloud computing can potentially enable SMEs to boost economic growth.
While the SMB/SME sector accounts for 40 per cent of Nigeria’s gross domestic product (GDP), its use of ICT is as low as 30 per cent.
This ICT usage can, however, be accelerated through cloud, given its ubiquity and accessibility from anywhere and any device, including older PCs with limited computing power.
A BCG study published in 2013 and a McKinsey study published in 2011 highlight the importance of SMEs being able to access affordable best-in-class tools such as public cloud services which foster innovation and significantly increase productivity.
Microsoft Nigeria Country Managing Director, Kabelo Makwane, said the company has in its 14 years of operation in Nigeria directly and indirectly contributed to the government’s objective of creating jobs and wealth.
He cited Microsoft’s programmes for academic institutions via its Partners in Learning (PIL) programme under which it also has the Worldwide Education and Innovative Teachers Forum, YouthSpark and programmes on e-Learning requirements for academia and students.
These, he disclosed, “have been enabling the digitisation of relevant educational content and information and classroom experience on mobile devices and social media leveraging cloud computing.”
NIALS Director General, Professor Adedeji Adekunle, said the Microsoft-funded research will frame the key legal and policy issues that are critical enablers of cloud computing.
This includes the right legal and policy environment to support and mandate improved broadband speeds, among others, to grow cloud services. Policy is critical as low bandwidth and slow connectivity hinder cloud adoption.
The research will also define and identify the transformation opportunity created by cloud computing, including the rollout of e-government services across ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) and highlight how cloud computing is being adopted in developed markets.
Kabelo added that this independent research will be publicly available on NIALS’ and Microsoft’s websites, among others.
It is anticipated to contribute to the body of knowledge on gaps in data privacy and security, the socio-economic benefits of the adoption of cloud services, potential of cloud computing services to transform, and accelerate the growth of SMEs and the education sector, and ultimately the Nigerian economy.
Kabelo also expressed hope that the research will promote independent and objective research on key technology and policy issues and trends, public awareness of important IT trends such as cloud computing and related issues and greater understanding of the IT industry.
