As organizations increasingly adopt cloud services and rely on sensitive data for decision-making, the demand for robust data protection measures has surged, particularly in Africa, which is experiencing rapid digital adoption and expanding its regulatory framework.

Spirion LLC, a U.S.-based data discovery, classification, and remediation company, announced on January 8 the opening of its first data center in South Africa. This marks the company’s third international expansion in just five months, following new facilities in Frankfurt, Germany (September 2024) and Sydney, Australia (October 2024).

“We’re thrilled to open our third global data center in just a few months. Protecting what matters most —sensitive data— requires accurate data discovery and classification,” said Spirion CEO Kevin Coppins.

The Cape Town data center is designed to support Spirion customers migrating to its Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) platform, enabling businesses to achieve automated and effective data security while adhering to South Africa's Protection of Personal Information Act (POPIA) and other data sovereignty regulations.

Spirion’s advanced solution allows organizations to uncover hidden data, classify it, and remediate risks to ensure compliance. The new facility will cater to growing local market demand while equipping South African companies with robust tools to secure sensitive information.

The launch aligns with Spirion’s recent enhancements to its Sensitive Data Platform (SDP), enabling businesses to manage massive data volumes with greater precision and scalability. The company’s advanced scanner node architecture now allows data analysis at petabyte-scale, offering unmatched visibility and control over critical data assets.

The move comes as South Africa’s data center colocation market experiences rapid growth. According to Research and Markets, South Africa's data center colocation market, valued at $330 million in 2023, is projected to grow to $780 million by 2029, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 15.42%. The projected growth of South Africa's data center colocation market signifies the increasing demand for digital infrastructure in the region, driven by rising data usage, cloud adoption, and the need for secure data storage. It highlights a strong trajectory of investment and expansion, reflecting the country's growing role as a digital hub in Africa.

Hikmatu Bilali