ABSTRACT:
The study aimed at showcasing issues and challenges associated with the adoption of cloud computing services by enterprises in Nigeria. The study was a survey type, 20 companies were purposively sampled. Questionnaires and interviews were used to gather primary data. Primary data collected were analyzed using frequency distribution tables and percentages. The study revealed that a great percentage of the respondents had various degree of awareness of cloud computing services, and despite the awareness they enterprises seldom adopted cloud computing services as was represented by 60% of respondents pointing to this fact. Efficiency in service delivery to their customers (100%), and on- demand self-service (100%) among other benefits were enumerated by enterprises as what they intended to enjoy should they move their services to cloud. The study also pin pointed challenges that faced adoption of cloud computing by enterprises; and Cloud data security, Privacy breech of users’ data and cost implications stood as with high percentages as major challenges facing cloud adoption by Nigerian enterprises among other challenges. The respondents identified factors that would improve adoption of cloud computing services by enterprises and these include; ensuring cloud data security (100%), decrease in privacy breech issues (100%), and increase in staff integrity of cloud providers (100%), amongst others. The study recommended that cloud service providers should strive to maintain high level of trust with their customers by ensuring cloud data security, reducing privacy breech issues and lock-in, ensure reliability in other to win user confidence and attract more enterprises to move their IT services to cloud.
Keywords: Adoption, Challenges, Cloud Computing, Data Security, Enterprises.
