// INTELLIGENT TECHNOLOGY //
Business risk pushes South African SMEs towards IT-as-a-Service
sustain. ITaaS offers a subscriptionbased model, providing world-class technology, architecture, monitoring and round-the-clock support from day one.“ With ITaaS, SMEs gain access to an entire ecosystem that works from the start,” Bosch said.“ They don’ t need to build it themselves.”
Selecting the right ITaaS partner
Bosch cautioned against selecting providers purely on cost.“ If a provider can’ t deliver on uptime, restore data in a crisis or secure every layer of your environment, the consequences can be catastrophic.”
iOCO’ s ITaaS solution offers:
A s small- and medium-sized enterprises( SMEs) worldwide adopt IT-as-a-Service( ITaaS) to address skills shortages and cut infrastructure costs, South African businesses are being driven by an even more pressing concern – business risk.
With cyberthreats intensifying and compliance requirements such as POPIA and GDPR tightening, local organisations are turning to ITaaS not just for efficiency but for survival.
“ Many SMEs have already experienced cyberattacks or ransomware incidents, or they have come to the realisation that cybersecurity is critical – and they don’ t know where to start,” said Johan Bosch, Cluster Executive for ITaaS at iOCO.“ They need a trusted partner to help them build resilience and navigate complex compliance landscapes.”
Cybersecurity and compliance now top priorities
The shortage of skilled cybersecurity professionals remains severe, leaving SMEs vulnerable. Protecting sensitive data is essential not only to avoid regulatory fines but to protect hard-won reputations. For smaller businesses, the reputational damage from a breach can be devastating.
A cost-effective and scalable alternative
Traditional IT infrastructure requires significant capital expenditure – something many SMEs cannot
• Over 15 years of experience in South Africa
• More than 1,100 certified technical professionals
• International certifications including ISO 27001, ISAE3402, ISO 9001 and PCI-DSS
• Flexible, scalable contracts
• A record of zero client cancellations due to unmet expectations
“ We don’ t lock clients into long-term contracts. If we don’ t meet our SLAs, they can walk away with three months’ notice,” Bosch said.“ That’ s how confident we are in our service.”
A smarter, safer future for SMEs
As cyber-risks and compliance pressures mount, ITaaS is shifting from an optional investment to a critical component of business resilience.
With the right partner, South African SMEs can strengthen security, manage costs and focus on growth in an increasingly digital economy. �
Intelligent SME. tech
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