Cloud On Demand's Senzo Mbhele on the benefits of the AWS distribution model
When most people think of Amazon Web Services, they automatically assume they should go directly to AWS. However, for the diverse ecosystem of AWS partners – including managed service providers and independent software vendors – the real secret to achieving significant growth often lies in leveraging the distributor model.
Consider this analogy: if AWS is a powerful cloud engine, then the reseller acts as the skilled driver. But who manages the complexities of operating the vehicle, such as maintenance, refuelling, training and necessary pit stops? That administrative heavy lifting falls to the distributor.
In this episode of TCS+, Senzo Mbhele, MD at Cloud On Demand, explains the AWS distribution model and its advantages.
Mbhele discusses:
• The main business challenges that the AWS distribution model addresses;
• How distributors create financial value and improve return on investment for others in the ecosystem, including end customers;
• The support distribution partners provide to internal teams, enabling them to achieve more without the need to hire additional staff;
• The expertise distributors offer to help chief information officers and chief technology officers manage risk, security and governance throughout their cloud journey;
• Common misconceptions that may cause executives to hesitate before partnering with a distributor; and
• Indicators that suggest it might be time for a business to consider the services of a distribution partner, along with the benefits this can bring.
Don’t miss this engaging conversation!
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LSD Open: why repatriating from the cloud can be a costly mistake
Not every organisation that has migrated to the cloud has reaped the rewards promised in terms of faster development and deployment cycles, simplified infrastructure management, and most importantly, a reduction in costs.
Some are going as far as repatriating their infrastructure back into on-premises environments, perhaps because they understand it better and they find they can more reliably predict their costs there.
Deon Stroebel, chief innovation officer at cloud computing specialist LSD Open, argues against this move, saying that issues relating to cost and efficiency are better solved in the cloud than outside of it.
In this episode of TCS+, Stroebel delves into:
• The biggest mistakes companies make after migrating into the cloud;
• The real difference between just running an application on the cloud versus building it in a truly cloud-native way;
• The mindset shift that comes with cloud adoption and why on-premises thinking should not be applied in a cloud environment;
• How containerisation and DevOps help businesses make their cloud deployments more efficient;
• The cost and performance benefits of modernised cloud infrastructure;
• How to use observability tools to monitor cloud usage; and
• How ensuring their cloud environments prepare businesses to adopt new technologies like AI quickly.
This conversation is not to be missed!
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HP’s AI future - how on-device intelligence is redefining work in Africa
AI has advanced at breakneck speed in the last few years, with most knowledge workers using the technology to enhance their work in some shape or form.
Most of this computing has been happening in the cloud. However, the advent of the neural processing unit, or NPU, has made it possible to move AI computation to the edge, which not only improves speeds but also protects personal and company data.
In this episode of TechCentral’s TCS+, we were on location at the Maslow Hotel in Sandton where HP recently hosted its 2025 Future of Work event. The event brings together industry leaders, decision-makers and innovators and explores the evolving landscape of work in the age of artificial intelligence.
Ertug Ayik, vice president and MD for Middle East and Africa at HP, connects the dots between the company’s new AI-infused product line and broader concepts shaping the way in which work is being done.
Ayik delves into:
• HP’s shift from a product focused company to a solutions and services outfit;
• Why on-device AI processing capability has become a priority for HP;
• The advantages on-device AI have for performance, security and power efficiency;
• HP’s strategy for South Africa and the African continent;
• Key initiatives HP is driving across Africa; and
• What to expect from HP in the coming years.
Don’t miss the conversation!
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Arctic Wolf on cybersecurity in the age of AI
What does it really take to defend a business in an era of AI-driven attacks?
In this episode of TechCentral’s TCS+ ,Clare Loveridge, vice president and GM for Europe, Middle East and Africa (Emea), and Johnny Ellis, senior director of Emea channel sales, both at Arctic Wolf, go beyond the buzzwords to confront the uncomfortable truth: despite billions spent on security tools, cyber losses are still mounting.
Arctic Wolf’s answer is a different model, one that combines its artificial intelligence-powered Aurora Platform with human expertise in a concierge delivery approach. It’s a strategy that tackles the industry’s “effectiveness gap” head-on by integrating people, processes and platforms to deliver outcomes, not just alerts.
The conversation is blunt about the shifting threat landscape: AI has overtaken ransomware as the top emerging risk, and no single tool can fix it. What organisations need is visibility at every layer – from endpoints and cloud to people.
Equally compelling is Arctic Wolf’s commitment to channel-first partnerships in South Africa, ensuring trusted local expertise underpins global innovation.
From the acquisition of Cylance Endpoint to the launch of Incident Response 360, the company is pushing to redefine what operationalised security means. But the biggest takeaway is simple: cyberattacks are no longer an “if” but a “when” – and every organisation needs a plan.
Watch or listen to the full discussion to explore why Arctic Wolf believes security must move beyond tools to become a living, breathing business function – and how leaders can finally start sleeping better at night.
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TCS+ | Kinetic Skunk: fintechs risk cloud bill shock without proper planning
Fintechs choose cloud technologies in the hopes that the efficiency and scalability of cloud computing will give them a competitive advantage. But cloud adoption is no silver bullet. If done incorrectly, a migration to the cloud can cause costs to balloon instead of decreasing them, leading to frustration and even lost revenue.
Kinetic Skunk is an Amazon Web Services-certified partner offering cloud solutions with a specialisation in fintech start-ups. In this episode of TechCentral’s TCS+, Donovan Mulder, CEO at Kinetic Skunk, explains the ins and outs of cloud adoption for fintech companies.
Mulder delves into:
• The importance of timing when it comes to cloud adoption and when the best time is to plan for a migration into the cloud.
• Common errors fintechs that have already migrated to the cloud make that can cause costs to balloon out of control.
• Why developers are often not the right people to handle cloud infrastructure architecting and provisioning (hint: it’s a completely different skill set).
• How gaps in cloud infrastructure architecture can lead to security holes.
• The cost optimisation tools available in the AWS cloud environment.
• How tools such as the AWS well-architected framework help fintech’s comply with regulations such as Popia and Fica.
• Advice for South African fintechs before their next cloud bill arrives.
Don’t miss the discussion!
TechCentral's TCS+ is a business technology show that brings you interviews with leaders in South Africa's technology industry - and further afield. It showcases the latest products and services available to businesses large and small. In short, it offers in a window into what's possible. Episodes of TCS+ are sponsored.
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