Empowering Higher Education in Sudan Through Cloud Computing: Benefits, Challenges, and Opportunities Review paper

Abstract

The Higher Education (HE) infrastructure in Sudan has suffered considerably from ongoing armed conflict, creating a dire need for systems that ensure academic continuity. This paper presents a systematic review of Cloud Computing (CC) potential in modernizing Sudanese universities to mitigate the impacts of physical destruction and mass displacement. Utilizing the TOE (Technology-Organization-Environment) Framework, this study synthesizes research from 2014 onwards to evaluate the benefits, challenges, and strategic opportunities of cloud adoption in resource-constrained environments. Findings confirm that cloud migration offers transformative advantages, including shifting IT costs to operational expenditures and enhancing resilience through disaster recovery. However, unstable connectivity, power outages, and data sovereignty concerns remain critical barriers. The paper proposes pragmatic pathways, including Hybrid and Community Cloud models, to secure the future of Sudanese higher education.