11% Of African Orgs Have Reached Cloud Maturity

A new report by NTT DATA has revealed that despite nearly two decades of cloud adoption, only 11% of organisations in Africa, and 14% globally, have reached the highest level of cloud maturity. The findings highlight a growing gap between cloud ambition and actual business outcomes, especially as artificial intelligence (AI) continues to reshape enterprise technology priorities.

The report, titled Cloud-led Innovation in the Era of AI: The New Rules for Driving Value with Cloud, is based on a global survey of more than 2,300 senior decision-makers across 33 countries, including 125 leaders from Africa. It paints a complex picture of organisations racing to adopt AI while struggling to build the cloud foundations required to support it.

According to the study, cloud is increasingly becoming the execution layer for AI, with 99% of organisations reporting that AI is driving increased demand for cloud investment. However, this surge in demand is not being matched by adequate investment levels. In fact, 88% of respondents say their current cloud spending is insufficient, putting AI initiatives, cloud-native development, and modernization efforts at risk.

While cloud is widely viewed as essential for innovation, fewer than half of organisations report satisfaction with its impact or with their progress in modernising systems. This disconnect underscores the challenges many enterprises face in translating cloud strategies into tangible business value.

The report identifies a clear advantage for “cloud-evolved” organisations, those that have reached advanced levels of cloud adoption and demonstrate strong business performance. These organisations are significantly better positioned to capitalise on AI opportunities.

Speaking on the findings, Charlie Li, President and Global Head of Cloud and Security at NTT DATA, noted that AI is advancing faster than enterprise cloud maturity. He emphasised that cloud has evolved beyond being just infrastructure to becoming a critical execution layer for AI, warning that organisations that fail to modernise their cloud environments risk limiting the value of their AI investments.

“Cloud has moved well beyond infrastructure and is now the execution layer for AI. Organizations that fail to evolve their cloud foundations risk constraining the growth and value of their AI investments. Our clients who are succeeding are treating cloud as a value creator, not a technology initiative,” Li said.

From a regional perspective, Murray Campbell, Managing Director of Cloud and Security for the Middle East and Africa, highlighted that while African organisations demonstrate strong ambition, many still need to modernise and secure their cloud environments to unlock meaningful value. He noted that when foundational elements are properly implemented, cloud can become a powerful enabler of AI-driven growth and business transformation.

Six Priorities for Cloud Success in the AI Era

To help organisations bridge the gap between ambition and execution, NTT DATA outlines six key imperatives for maximising the value of cloud in the age of AI.

First, organisations must develop cloud and AI strategies in tandem. While AI adoption is accelerating, alignment between AI and cloud strategies remains inconsistent, with skills gaps, particularly in AI, emerging as a major challenge.

Second, cloud architecture decisions are becoming increasingly critical. Enterprises are adopting a mix of public, private, hybrid, and sovereign cloud models, with expectations of significant growth in private and sovereign cloud deployments over the next two years.

Third, organisations need to rethink how they drive business value through modern applications. Legacy systems and outdated data platforms continue to hinder innovation, making application and infrastructure modernisation a top priority.

Fourth, a platform-led approach is becoming essential. As cloud environments grow more complex, many organisations are struggling with cost management, driving increased demand for fully managed cloud platforms.

Fifth, organisations must redefine how they measure cloud transformation success. While AI is helping shift focus from technical metrics to business outcomes, adoption remains uneven, with cloud leaders more likely to integrate AI into migration and transformation projects.

Finally, strengthening cloud security remains fundamental. Although security is the top investment priority, confidence levels vary widely. Leading organisations distinguish themselves by implementing clear governance structures, defined roles, and regular audits to ensure robust security frameworks.

A Critical Moment for Cloud and AI Alignment

The report ultimately underscores a critical inflection point for organisations in Africa and globally. As AI adoption accelerates, the ability to extract value will increasingly depend on the maturity of underlying cloud environments.

For many organisations, the message is clear: without modern, secure, and well-aligned cloud strategies, the full promise of AI may remain out of reach.