By Radarr Africa
United States-based cloud engineer, Oluwafemi Okunlola, has advised organisations, IT leaders, and technology stakeholders to adopt more advanced security models like Zero Trust to effectively protect sensitive data in an increasingly digital world. He issued the advisory in a statement made available to the press, warning that the growing dependence on cloud infrastructure demands tougher, smarter, and more adaptable cybersecurity frameworks.
Okunlola, who specialises in designing and securing cloud computing environments, said the traditional security approach, which focuses on perimeter defence, is no longer sufficient. According to him, the current structure of cloud computing—where users, data, and applications are dispersed across different locations—requires a major shift in how organisations handle digital security.
“As cloud computing has become a cornerstone of modern IT infrastructure, the need for secure, scalable models has intensified,” he explained. “The Zero Trust paradigm operates on the principle that no user or device—whether internal or external—should be automatically trusted.”
He described the Zero Trust framework as a modern cybersecurity model that relies on strict access control, continuous monitoring, and strong identity management. This method assumes that every access request must be verified, regardless of where it originates, making it harder for cybercriminals or even insider threats to breach systems.
Okunlola stressed that organisations must fully understand both the technical and compliance aspects of adopting a Zero Trust model. “While the framework offers enhanced protection, it also introduces challenges in terms of resource allocation, policy enforcement, and regulatory alignment,” he noted.
According to him, sectors like finance and healthcare, which are heavily regulated, stand to gain the most from the Zero Trust approach. These industries deal with highly sensitive data and are under pressure to meet strict global standards such as the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA).
“In highly regulated environments, Zero Trust ensures users are granted access strictly based on role and necessity,” Okunlola explained. “This significantly reduces unauthorised access and supports compliance goals.”
He pointed out that the granular access controls and least-privilege policies offered by Zero Trust help organisations limit internal data breaches and manage who can access specific systems or documents.
Despite the benefits, Okunlola acknowledged that implementing the Zero Trust model comes with real challenges, particularly in sensitive sectors like healthcare. He said healthcare organisations must carefully balance security with speed, especially during emergencies.
“Healthcare organisations must strike a balance,” he advised. “They need to comply with data protection laws while ensuring that Zero Trust protocols do not hinder timely access to patient data.”
For example, strict access controls could slow down the process of retrieving medical records during emergency treatment, leading to delays that may affect patient outcomes. Hence, healthcare providers must work with cybersecurity experts to fine-tune their systems for both security and responsiveness.
Okunlola added that as Nigerian and African companies continue to adopt cloud infrastructure, the responsibility of managing data securely now falls heavily on IT departments and technology leaders. He said organisations must shift from reactive security models to proactive frameworks that can evolve with changing digital threats.
He described the Zero Trust model as not just a security upgrade but also a foundation for long-term digital growth. “As organisations continue to embrace cloud infrastructure, a well-implemented Zero Trust model can be a catalyst for secure innovation and operational resilience,” he said.
With cyber threats becoming more sophisticated and common across Africa, many experts believe it is time for companies to rethink their digital security strategies. They argue that as cloud adoption grows, especially in sectors like e-commerce, fintech, health, and education, security frameworks must be modernised to ensure data integrity, user privacy, and business continuity.
Okunlola’s warning comes at a time when more Nigerian firms are shifting critical operations to the cloud, sometimes without a corresponding investment in security. His call for a Zero Trust architecture is seen as part of a broader push for African digital transformation to be matched with world-class protection.
United States-based cloud engineer, Oluwafemi Okunlola, has advised organisations, IT leaders, and technology stakeholders to adopt more advanced security models like Zero Trust to effectively protect sensitive data in an increasingly digital world. He issued the advisory in a statement made available to the press, warning that the growing dependence on cloud infrastructure demands tougher, smarter, and more adaptable cybersecurity frameworks.
Okunlola, who specialises in designing and securing cloud computing environments, said the traditional security approach, which focuses on perimeter defence, is no longer sufficient. According to him, the current structure of cloud computing—where users, data, and applications are dispersed across different locations—requires a major shift in how organisations handle digital security.
“As cloud computing has become a cornerstone of modern IT infrastructure, the need for secure, scalable models has intensified,” he explained. “The Zero Trust paradigm operates on the principle that no user or device—whether internal or external—should be automatically trusted.”
He described the Zero Trust framework as a modern cybersecurity model that relies on strict access control, continuous monitoring, and strong identity management. This method assumes that every access request must be verified, regardless of where it originates, making it harder for cybercriminals or even insider threats to breach systems.
Okunlola stressed that organisations must fully understand both the technical and compliance aspects of adopting a Zero Trust model. “While the framework offers enhanced protection, it also introduces challenges in terms of resource allocation, policy enforcement, and regulatory alignment,” he noted.
According to him, sectors like finance and healthcare, which are heavily regulated, stand to gain the most from the Zero Trust approach. These industries deal with highly sensitive data and are under pressure to meet strict global standards such as the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA).
“In highly regulated environments, Zero Trust ensures users are granted access strictly based on role and necessity,” Okunlola explained. “This significantly reduces unauthorised access and supports compliance goals.”
He pointed out that the granular access controls and least-privilege policies offered by Zero Trust help organisations limit internal data breaches and manage who can access specific systems or documents.
Despite the benefits, Okunlola acknowledged that implementing the Zero Trust model comes with real challenges, particularly in sensitive sectors like healthcare. He said healthcare organisations must carefully balance security with speed, especially during emergencies.
“Healthcare organisations must strike a balance,” he advised. “They need to comply with data protection laws while ensuring that Zero Trust protocols do not hinder timely access to patient data.”
For example, strict access controls could slow down the process of retrieving medical records during emergency treatment, leading to delays that may affect patient outcomes. Hence, healthcare providers must work with cybersecurity experts to fine-tune their systems for both security and responsiveness.
Okunlola added that as Nigerian and African companies continue to adopt cloud infrastructure, the responsibility of managing data securely now falls heavily on IT departments and technology leaders. He said organisations must shift from reactive security models to proactive frameworks that can evolve with changing digital threats.
He described the Zero Trust model as not just a security upgrade but also a foundation for long-term digital growth. “As organisations continue to embrace cloud infrastructure, a well-implemented Zero Trust model can be a catalyst for secure innovation and operational resilience,” he said.
With cyber threats becoming more sophisticated and common across Africa, many experts believe it is time for companies to rethink their digital security strategies. They argue that as cloud adoption grows, especially in sectors like e-commerce, fintech, health, and education, security frameworks must be modernised to ensure data integrity, user privacy, and business continuity.
Okunlola’s warning comes at a time when more Nigerian firms are shifting critical operations to the cloud, sometimes without a corresponding investment in security. His call for a Zero Trust architecture is seen as part of a broader push for African digital transformation to be matched with world-class protection.