Quantitative Analysis of Information Security and Privacy Challenges in Government Cloud Service Adoption

The government’s adoption of cloud computing is critical for digital transformation, but it faces persistent concerns over information security, privacy, governance, and risk. This study examines the factors influencing a government’s intention to adopt cloud services, adapting the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT) with constructs tailored to the public sector. A cross-sectional survey was conducted across 90 Nigerian government organisations, producing 230 valid responses from IT professionals, administrators, and policy personnel. The statistical analysis of the data was conducted using SPSS and structural equation modelling in AMOS. Validity and reliability were confirmed through composite reliability, Cronbach’s alpha, and discriminant validity measures. Findings show that privacy (β = 0.11, p < 0.05), governance framework (β = 0.34, p < 0.001), performance expectancy (β = 0.38, p < 0.001), and information security (β = 0.10, p < 0.05) significantly influence government intention to adopt cloud services. Performance expectancy emerged as the strongest predictor. Contrary to expectations, perceived risk did not significantly moderate the relationships, and interaction terms were non-significant. The final model explained 45% of the variance in adoption intention (R2 = 0.45). The study highlights the importance of strengthening governance frameworks, emphasising tangible performance outcomes, and positioning information security and privacy as an enabler of adoption rather than a barrier. By adapting UTAUT to the government context and disentangling the role of perceived risk, the study offers both theoretical refinement and practical guidance for policymakers aiming to accelerate digital transformation and secure cloud adoption.