CEO Letter - November

As 2025 draws to a close, I want to take a moment to reflect on what we’ve learned, what we’ve built, and - most importantly - where we’re headed.

This year, cloud became more than just a platform for innovation. It became a financial battleground.

Across Africa, the conversation has shifted. Organisations are no longer just asking “How do we get to the cloud?” - they’re now asking “How do we scale in the cloud without losing control of our costs - or our options?”

And it’s the right question, especially here in Africa.

Because in addition to rising cloud bills, businesses across the continent are navigating a uniquely complex environment:

• Data sovereignty laws that vary across borders
• Limited local infrastructure in some markets
• Currency volatility that affects cloud pricing overnight
• And multi-provider sprawl, as teams adopt tools from AWS, Google Cloud, Azure, Huawei Cloud and more - often without a clear consolidation strategy

Add all of that together, and one thing becomes clear: cloud success in Africa requires more than just good technology. It requires financial discipline, architectural clarity, and local context.

That’s where FinOps - financial operations for the cloud - comes in. And that’s where Deimos is investing heavily.

Here’s what we’ve seen this year - and what we’re excited to bring to you in 2026:

1. Cloud Costs Are No Longer Just A Technical Issue

What stood out this year was just how broad the conversation around cloud spend has become. Finance teams, operations leads, and CTOs are sitting at the same table - not to debate platforms, but to align on business outcomes.

What’s working best? A shift in mindset. Teams that do well aren’t just reacting to high bills - they’re building cost thinking into every cloud decision. We’ve helped them:

• Introduce FinOps practices during early architecture planning
• Improve cross-team visibility into where cloud money is going
• Create internal accountability for spend - without slowing innovation

The goal isn’t to spend less for the sake of it. It’s to spend where it matters.

2. Many Businesses Still Aren’t Clear On What Cloud Architecture They Need

We often meet teams that have made significant investments in cloud, but still aren’t sure whether they’re in the right setup - or if a single, hybrid, multi or hybrid/multi-cloud model is best for their goals.

That’s exactly why we built CloudFit™. In under 3 minutes, this simple Cloud Strategy Assessment will help you understand: 1. Your current cloud maturity stage, 2. Recommended architecture model 3. Key risks and optimisation opportunities.

It won’t replace a full infrastructure review - there are always nuances. But it gives you a good starting point and some food for thought.

3. Spreadsheets Are Not a Finops Strategy

Too many businesses still rely on static reports and siloed billing portals to manage what’s now one of their biggest line items. And in a multi-provider, multi-currency environment, that just doesn’t scale.

In 2026, we’ll officially launch Deimos One - our cloud financial management platform, built for African organisations.

It’s designed to give you:

• Real-time visibility into all cloud usage and spend
• A single hub for subscriptions, alerts, and reporting
• Automated insights that highlight waste and recommend savings
• Support for local currencies and usage-based billing models
• Carbon tracking, to align cost with sustainability goals

It’s not just a product. It’s the foundation of our mission to make cloud cost management simple, transparent, and actionable.

4. We Want To Be Your Hybrid And Multi-Cloud Partner Of Choice

We know that choosing the right cloud platforms is only part of the story. The real value comes from working with a partner who can help you navigate all of them - together.

Here’s something many don’t know: with Deimos, you actually save as you scale. Our Client Rebate Program rewards you with deeper savings as you bundle and grow your cloud and technology solutions - turning scale into tangible value.

The more technologies you manage with us, the more value you unlock:

• Exclusive discounts across cloud and SaaS platforms
• Currency flexibility, so you can pay in the way that works for your business
• A single partner to support your entire cloud estate

It’s one of the many ways we’re helping African businesses get more from every technology investment.

5. SaaS is now Part of the FinOps Conversation, Too

While infrastructure spend gets most of the attention, we’re seeing growing waste in SaaS tools - from unused licenses to duplicate subscriptions and orphaned accounts.

In 2025, we helped clients right-size tools like Google Workspace, Office 365, and Cloud M, using automation to deprovision unused accounts and track actual usage per team.

If you haven’t reviewed your SaaS stack in a while, now’s the time. It’s an easy way to find savings without compromising productivity.

Looking ahead to 2026

Our focus for the year ahead is clear: make it easier for African businesses to grow in the cloud without losing control of costs. Here’s what you can expect from us:

• The launch of Deimos One: a FinOps control plane, built for Africa
• More advanced cloud cost optimisation and cloud security architecture services
• A better bundling experience through rebates and unified support
• Continued investment in tools that help teams build smarter, not just faster

To every client, partner, and friend of Deimos - thank you.

You’ve helped us shape a year defined not just by innovation, but by intentional growth. And as we enter 2026, our mission is clearer than ever: to help you unlock the full value of your technology stack, without losing control of it.

On behalf of the entire Deimos team, I wish you a restful break and a high-performance, cost-optimised new year.

Let’s build smarter, together.

Sincerely,
Andrew Mori
CEO, Deimos