Hybrid by Design: Unlocking Government Budget Efficiencies

In an era where budget efficiencies for South Africa are more critical than ever, a clear digital strategy is emerging as a solution for government cost savings. This year’s National Budget has sparked debate over government’s tech spending, yet evidence may suggest that investing in updated, modern IT systems can not only save money but also enhance the country's service delivery.

According to insights from Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE) public sector survey, around 57% of South African public sector respondents reported that almost half their workloads reside in the public cloud. This contrasts with 73% of UK officials who maintain on-premises systems, highlighting either a rapid local shift to cloud adoption or a need for clarity in public versus private cloud definitions.

The survey results point toward a prevalent challenge: many government agencies are stuck with a “hybrid by mistake” IT environment instead of one that is “hybrid by design.”

“This tells us that either local cloud adoption is happening far more quickly than one might imagine, or that for many of these organisations, there is a gap in clarity around the definitions of public and private cloud. Ultimately, it indicates that government agencies are still grappling with challenges around IT infrastructure challenges,” HPE explains.

Fragmented IT systems – when different departments adopt their own strategies – lead to inefficiencies such as data silos, high maintenance costs, and increased cybersecurity risks. This disjointed digital approach not only hinders productivity but also leaves departments vulnerable to cyberattacks, with recovery becoming a rigorous task.

To fully embrace digital transformation, government departments must adopt a unified approach to data and workload management. This means optimising which tasks should remain on-premises and which ones can be migrated to private or public clouds.

HPE asserts that its GreenLake’s as-a-service solution enables government agencies to manage their workloads dynamically, allowing them to pay only for what they use. GreenLake cloud facilitates resource deployment and management across both private and public clouds while ensuring data control remains with the agency.

“Lengthy government procurement cycles usually mean departments budget for their IT infrastructure for the next five to seven years. This alternative pay-as-you-go approach makes budgeting more flexible and efficient,” the company adds.

By shifting from a fragmented “hybrid by mistake” model to a strategic approach, government agencies can modernise its IT infrastructure and unlock significant budget efficiencies while enhancing public service delivery.

“The public sector holds immense potential to achieve significant cost savings and enhanced service delivery through digital transformation. A clear hybrid cloud strategy not only drives efficiency but also ensures agility and security, paving the way for a more connected and responsive government” concludes HPE.

*This article is an opinion piece contributed by Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE).