Cloud-based Email Adoption at Higher Education Institutions in South Africa

Abstract

INTRODUCTION Cloud computing is a computing paradigm that is causing much interest around the world. It has the potential to allow organizations to utilize computer resources, and to access IT services more cheaply, and with less hassle than ever before (Farah, 2010; Mather, Kumaraswamy, & Latif, 2009; Shivakumar & Raju, 2010). It is however, not a computing paradigm that can always be adopted without hesitation. As with all other IT-related matters, managers are obliged to demonstrate due diligence when it comes to making decisions about the adoption of computing. To be able to do this, managers should be fully aware of both the risks and the benefits associated with computing. Organizations which adopt new technologies, such as cloud-based solutions, without fully investigating the risks and benefits, can put themselves at risk. Cloud-based email is a computing service, which is rapidly being adopted by organizations internationally. Educational institutions are among the foremost adopters of this computing service (Corbyn, 2009). This paper examines the state of cloud-based email adoption in South African higher education institutions. Firstly, the popularity of cloud-based email at educational institutions internationally is highlighted. The state of cloud-based email adoptions in South African universities specifically is then explained by means of an analysis of the results of surveys conducted with IT staff of several South African universities. The findings of the survey include information about which cloud-based email service providers are most popular at South African higher education institutions; how satisfied managers are with the service they receive from such providers; and what concerns such managers have with the service. To begin with though, the term computing is briefly explained below. CLOUD COMPUTING Cloud computing is a term that has generated much discussion during the last few years. A search on Google for the term cloud on 15 July 2010, resulted in about 49,100,000 results. The same search on 14 May 2012 resulted in about 101,000,000 results. Well-respected bodies, such as NIST (NIST, 2009), ISACA (ISACA, 2010) and ENISA (ENISA, 2010) have created groups that focus on computing. Bodies devoted to the effective deployment of computing, such as the Cloud Security Alliance (CSA, 2009) and the Global Inter-Cloud Technology Forum (GICTF, 2010), have also been formed. Companies, such as Microsoft, Google, Novell, Dell, Cisco, Intel, McAffe, Symantec, and many others, have subsequently become CSA members (CSA, 2009). All of these companies, therefore, have, at least indicated, their interest in computing. There are also several companies that are acting as service providers (CSPs). Mather, Kumaraswamy and Latif (2009, 214) list some CSPs, including Amazon, Google, Microsoft, Salesforce.com and Sun. The investment that companies like these are willing to make, in order to enter the market suggests that they believe that computing will have an impact on the way organizations do business in the future. What is computing though? Fundamentally, computing has to do with the provisioning of services, platforms and fundamental computing resources (infrastructure), as services over the Internet (Computer Security Alliance, 2009, 13; Mather, Kumaraswamy, & Latif, 2009, 11; Mell & Grance, 2009). Cloud computing can be simply explained by using a utility analogy (ISACA, 2009, 4, Breeding 2009). Organizations may make use of a resource, such as electricity from a utility company, without much consideration for how the electricity was produced, or where it comes from. Likewise, computing makes it possible for companies to access various IT resources and services from a service provider with only an abstract idea of where the resources are and how they work. …