While many businesses in South Africa boast about being "cloud-native," the reality isn't as straightforward as it seems. The essence of being cloud-native lies beyond mere technological adoption; it's about walking the walk rather than talking the talk. Let's peel back the layers and examine the true nature of business cloud adoption in South Africa.

Amidst the buzz of being cloud-native, only a limited number of businesses genuinely embrace cloud-centric strategies. The majority tend to merely echo the rhetoric without embodying the essence of true cloud adoption. Despite vendors clamoring at their doors and implementing multiple complex tools, the genuine transition to cloud-native operations remains elusive.

The foundational issue lies in the work processes deeply ingrained in traditional on-premises hardware. Businesses wrestle with complex systems that are often at odds with cloud-native principles, leading to duplicated cloud costs and convoluted operating procedures.

A significant misconception lies in the lack of cloud-native connectivity adoption. Many businesses still rely on traditional Direct Internet Access and leased lines, resulting in a labyrinth of single points of failure. This connectivity stack, consisting of numerous potential points of failure from head office to Internet breakout, falls short of true cloud-native resilience.

Moreover, the celebrated firewalls from reputed magic quadrant vendors aren't inherently cloud-native. Cloud providers eschew these conventional firewalls in favor of Linux-based deployments like netfilter. The configuration complexities and sluggish connectivity often associated with these firewalls deter genuine cloud-native transitions.

A pivotal step toward cloud-native adaptation involves embracing broadband connectivity. Unlike the cascading single points of failure in traditional connectivity, South Africa boasts two robust peering exchange points, housing multiple resilient fabrics across various locations. This diverse infrastructure significantly mitigates the risks of single points of failure while simultaneously reducing costs.

Surprisingly, broadband costs are notably lower than dedicated connectivity mechanisms, making them a more cost-effective and reliable alternative. Removing single points of failure and reducing costs are integral aspects of authentic cloud-native practices.

• Ermano Quartero gives some background on what SD-WAN is

The linchpin enabling this transformative connectivity paradigm shift is SD-WAN. Embracing SD-WAN technology is pivotal to truly walking the cloud-native talk and navigating the transition to a more reliable, cost-effective, and resilient connectivity landscape.

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