Managing Administrative Records in an Era of Cloud Computing: A Study of ICT Companies in Lagos

This study examines the management of administrative records in cloud computing environments among ICT companies in Lagos, within Nigeria's South West geopolitical zone. Cloud-based records management offers significant advantages including remote accessibility, scalability, and cost efficiency, but raises critical concerns about data sovereignty, security, vendor dependence, and compliance with the Nigeria Data Protection Act. Using a professional application design, the study targets records officers, IT administrators, and compliance managers in fifteen ICT companies operating on the Lagos mainland and island. Structured questionnaires and cloud system capability evaluation frameworks form the primary data collection instruments. The Cloud Computing Deployment Model Framework and the ISO 27001 Information Security Management standard provide the professional context, with literature from 2021 to 2024 on cloud records management in Nigeria supporting the analysis. Dimensions examined include cloud adoption extent, data backup protocols, access audit trails, data residency arrangements, and staff compliance training. Recommendations target company boards, the Nigerian Communications Commission, and the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA). Keywords: cloud computing, administrative records, ICT companies, Lagos, data governance