Cloud Data Hosting and Organizational Performance Among Insurance Firms in Kenya

Abstract

This research focused on cloud data hosting and organization performance among insurance firms in Kenya. The research was directed by four objectives, to establish the extent to which insurance firms in Kenya have hosted data in the cloud, to establish the drivers for adoption of cloud data hosting by the insurance firms, to establish the opportunities for the insurance firms from cloud data hosting and to determine the relationship between the extent of cloud data hosting and organization performance among insurance firms in Kenya. Descriptive research was adopted targeting all insurance firms in Kenya. The respondents were ICT managers, assistant managers, and other IT staff in the firm. The mode of data collection was questionnaire forms. The data was analysed using descriptive data and regression analysis and outcome presented by use of tables. The study found that to a great extent big data analytics was adopted by the insurance firms. It was also established that the hosted cloud solutions were managed by both third party provider and the insurance firm. The study further found that to a great extent cloud data hosting is relevant to the insurance firms. The study revealed that competitive advantage has been realized by the firms through cloud data hosting. The study concluded that big data analytics is hosted in the cloud to a great extent followed by data recovery. With 5% level significance level and 95% level of confidence, data recovery, data storage, email services, web services, applications, backup, and big data analytics were all significant in determining organizational performance amongst insurance establishments in Kenya. In conclusion, the study suggested that in an effort to promote cloud data hosting amongst firms, cloud hosting providers should avail successful case scenarios and statistics to help the firms appreciate the potential benefits.