In a significant statement to entrepreneurs, Toshiba has advised businesses in Uganda to stop relying on third-party service providers and instead build their own data centers.

The call was made during an event where Toshiba launched its new initiative aimed at educating businesses on the benefits of in-house data storage solutions.

By building a data center, companies can reduce costs in the long term and gain flexibility in scaling their operations.

Why Toshiba Is Encouraging Entrepreneurs to Build Data Centers

Toshiba emphasizes that relying on external service providers for data storage often results in recurring costs, which can be reduced by creating an in-house data center.

Santosh Varghese, Vice President at Toshiba Gulf FZE, explained that while ready-made solutions like data boxes and external servers are convenient, they tend to be more expensive.

Toshiba’s initiative seeks to provide businesses with the necessary knowledge and tools to build their own centers, ensuring cost-effective and scalable solutions tailored to their specific needs.

The Shift Toward Hybrid Data Solutions

Toshiba also discussed the shift in data storage strategies, where many companies are moving towards a hybrid approach—combining cloud storage with on-premises data centers.

While cloud adoption is growing, Toshiba believes that maintaining local storage is still valuable, especially for businesses handling large volumes of data.

In Uganda, many companies are generating massive amounts of data due to the rapid digital transformation happening in sectors such as social media, content creation, and traditional media.

Cost-Effective Data Storage: Hard Drives vs. SSDs

One key point Toshiba highlighted is the cost-effectiveness of hard drives over solid-state drives (SSDs) for businesses looking to build their own data centers.

Despite advancements in SSD technology, traditional hard drives remain the preferred option for large-scale data storage due to their lower cost per gigabyte.

Varghese pointed out that as data generation continues to grow—expected to reach 163 Zettabytes globally by 2025—businesses need affordable and scalable storage solutions. Hard drives offer a reliable option for managing massive data volumes without straining financial resources.

Importance of Data Storage in Business Continuity

During the event, Toshiba also stressed the importance of data storage systems in ensuring business continuity, especially during unforeseen circumstances such as the COVID-19 lockdown.

Many Ugandan businesses were forced to close, but those with efficient data storage systems were able to transition to remote operations more smoothly.

Varghese highlighted that building a reliable data center can safeguard businesses against future disruptions and allow them to continue operating even in challenging environments.

Educating Businesses on Data Solutions

Toshiba’s new initiative isn’t just about encouraging businesses to build data centers; it’s also about educating them. The company aims to work closely with channel partners, including system integrators and value-added distributors, to ensure that businesses in Uganda are well-informed about their storage options.

By empowering entrepreneurs with the knowledge to manage their data storage needs, Toshiba hopes to foster a more resilient and data-driven business landscape in Uganda.

The Benefits of Owning a Data Center

The primary benefits of building a data center include:

1. Cost Savings: In the long term, owning a data center eliminates the recurring costs associated with renting storage space from third-party providers.
2. Scalability: Businesses can easily scale their data centers according to their needs, whether they’re expanding or downsizing.
3. Customization: Owning a data center allows businesses to customize their storage solutions to meet specific needs, ensuring optimal performance and efficiency.
4. Enhanced Security: With an in-house data center, businesses have complete control over their data, reducing the risk of security breaches that can occur with third-party providers.
5. Improved Business Continuity: Data centers provide a safeguard against operational disruptions, ensuring businesses can continue functioning even during crises.

Who Should Consider Building a Data Center?

According to Toshiba, the BYODC (Build Your Own Data Center) initiative is ideal for businesses generating significant amounts of data, especially those producing over 100 terabytes.

This includes industries such as media, entertainment, finance, and e-commerce, which heavily rely on data for their day-to-day operations.

For small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), Toshiba’s initiative offers affordable solutions for managing their growing data needs.

With proper education and support, even SMEs can benefit from owning a data center and reduce their reliance on external storage providers.

Data Storage Trends and Projections

Toshiba also shared some important insights into global data storage trends. By 2025, the world is expected to generate 163 Zettabytes of data, doubling the 80 Zettabytes generated today.

This explosion in data is being driven by the digital revolution, where more content—video, audio, and still images—is being created for platforms like social media.

To cope with this data surge, businesses must adopt efficient storage solutions. Toshiba’s hybrid approach, which combines cloud storage with on-premises data centers, offers a flexible solution for businesses facing this data challenge.

Toshiba’s Vision for Uganda

Toshiba is committed to supporting the growth of Uganda’s digital economy by providing local businesses with the tools they need to manage their data more effectively.

The company’s focus on educating channel partners and business entities will play a crucial role in equipping Uganda’s entrepreneurs with the knowledge to build and manage their own data centers.

Conclusion

For entrepreneurs in Uganda, building an in-house data center could be the key to long-term savings, enhanced security, and greater business continuity.

Toshiba’s initiative provides the resources and education needed to make this a reality, ensuring that businesses can scale their data storage solutions as they grow.

With data generation expected to rise exponentially in the coming years, now is the time for businesses to invest in reliable, cost-effective data centers that will support their future success.

As Toshiba leads the charge in this new wave of data storage solutions, Ugandan entrepreneurs have the opportunity to gain a competitive edge by building their own data centers, optimizing their operations, and preparing for a data-driven future.