140  No. 50741 GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, 31 May 2024 Private cloud services are more expensive than public cloud services because they require hardware, software, licenses and maintenance. The cloud computing customer will need the hardware, operating system and licenses for software applications. 14.2. Public cloud The cloud infrastructure is provisioned for open use by the public. It may be owned, managed, and operated by a business, academic, government organisation, or some combination of them. It exists on the premises of the cloud provider. It operates in a public and shared environment and is less costly. Examples of public cloud are Amazon, Google, Azure, Microsoft Office 365, Gmail and Dropbox. 14.3. Hybrid cloud Employs both private and public infrastructure such that a section of the data centre is reserved for a single tenant, and the remainder is available to the public. Hybrid clouds are typically employed when only part of the data is supposed to be outsourced to keep full control of sensitive data and, at the same time, take advantage of higher flexibility through outsourcing. 15. POLICY INTERVENTIONS AND PROPOSALS 15.1. Digital infrastructure Digital Infrastructure refers to the underlying technological foundation that supports digital services, processes, and applications. This infrastructure includes hardware systems, software systems, networks, and communication systems. Cloud Computing is a type of digital infrastructure that enables users to access and utilize computing resources and services over the Internet, including servers, storage, databases, software, and networking tools. The National Integrated ICT Policy White Paper, 2016 sets forth measures to ensure the rapid deployment of electronic communication infrastructure. The proposed policy intervention on digital infrastructure aims to bridge the digital divide, ensuring universal access to cloud and data infrastructure services for all South Africans. This policy intervention is closely linked to other inclusion strategies, such as South Africa Connect / National Broadband Policy, which seeks to ensure all South Africans have access to broadband services by 2030. 18 This gazette is also available free online at www.gpwonline.co.za