INTELLIGENT BRANDS // Cloud

A January 2025 South African industry survey by Analytico revealed a marked increase in preference for Google as a cloud provider, so this announcement is excellent news for ICT decision-makers.

“ The Google Africa region launch strengthens Google’ s commitment to its African partners and demonstrates its long-term commitment to the region. It addresses crucial data sovereignty concerns and unlocks opportunities for Altron to deliver innovative, compliant solutions driving digital transformation for its clients,” said Gregory MacLennan, CEO of DigiCloud.

Altron Digital Business is also bringing Google Workspace to the market, a collection of cloud-based productivity and collaboration tools with integrated applications for communication, document creation, and collaboration. Features tailored to local enterprise needs, particularly in multi-cloud management, AI-driven services, and sustainability are increasingly significant for South African businesses and government initiatives.

“ The local launch empowers Altron Digital Business to play a pivotal role in bringing the best technologies to customers in Africa, for

Africa. As a trusted partner and advisor, we enable customers to make informed technology decisions and maximise the return on their tech investments,” said Natasha Bezuidenhout, Head of Cloud Services, Altron Digital Business.

GCP offers a range of features including:

AI and Machine Learning Innovations

GCP has extensive capabilities in machine learning and AI, offering tools like Vertex AI and BigQuery ML that allow companies to build, deploy, and scale AI models. This supports data-driven decisionmaking and personalisation, which can be a game-changer for sectors like finance, healthcare, and retail in South Africa. GCP’ s partnership with local universities and initiatives to make AI more accessible also contributes to building local talent.

Multi-Cloud Management and Flexibility

Google Anthos is a robust multi-cloud management platform that supports seamless application development, deployment, and management across different environments, including on-premises, hybrid, and other cloud platforms. This flexibility aligns with South African businesses looking to avoid vendor lock-in while leveraging multiple hyperscalers.

Sustainability and Carbon-Reduction Solutions

Google Cloud is well-known for its sustainability practices, and they actively promote carbon-free cloud regions. GCP’ s Carbon Footprint reporting tool enables South African enterprises to monitor and optimise their cloud energy usage, which aligns with growing ESG, Environmental, Social, and Governance expectations locally.

Data Sovereignty and Compliance

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Natasha Bezuidenhout, Head of Cloud Services, Altron Digital Business

While GCP doesn’ t have an actual region in South Africa yet, they address data sovereignty through local partnerships and robust compliance standards. These partnerships often include data residency solutions that work within GCP’ s compliance framework to meet South African regulatory standards like POPIA, Protection of Personal Information Act.

Altron Digital Business was formed following the merger of Altron’ s three IT businesses. p

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