As more organizations in East Africa embrace cloud computing, choosing the right migration strategy becomes critical for success. This article explores practical approaches to cloud migration with considerations specific to the region’s unique infrastructure and regulatory environment.

Understanding Cloud Migration Options

Cloud migration isn’t a one-size-fits-all process. Organizations typically choose from several approaches:

1. Rehosting (Lift and Shift) – Moving applications to the cloud without making significant changes
2. Replatforming – Making targeted optimizations during migration
3. Refactoring – Redesigning applications to be cloud-native
4. Repurchasing – Switching to SaaS alternatives
5. Retiring – Eliminating unnecessary applications
6. Retaining – Keeping certain applications on-premises

For East African businesses, the choice often depends on factors like application complexity, connectivity constraints, and compliance requirements.

Regional Considerations

Connectivity Challenges: While internet infrastructure has improved significantly across East Africa, bandwidth limitations and reliability issues remain concerns in some areas. We recommend:

• Implementing robust caching strategies
• Designing for offline functionality where appropriate
• Considering hybrid cloud approaches for latency-sensitive applications
• Utilizing CDNs to improve content delivery

Compliance and Data Sovereignty: Understanding local regulations regarding data storage and processing is crucial:

• Kenya’s Data Protection Act
• Tanzania’s Electronic Transactions Act
• Uganda’s Data Protection and Privacy Act

These regulations may require certain data to remain within national borders, influencing cloud provider and architecture choices.

Getting Started

A successful cloud migration begins with thorough assessment and planning:

1. Application portfolio analysis
2. Total cost of ownership (TCO) calculation
3. Risk assessment and mitigation planning
4. Proof-of-concept migrations for critical systems
5. Training and change management

At Pictus Labs, we guide organizations through each step of this journey, ensuring that cloud migration delivers tangible business benefits while addressing regional challenges.