Five Reasons Why Open Source Software Is Perfect For Enterprise Solutions:

Here’s just a couple of facts to prove that Open Source Software is running the tech industry as we know it:

The most popular web server is currently Apache (OSS).

• Open source web browsers (Mozilla Firefox and Google Chrome) gain great popularity among web users.

• GNU/Linux is the number one server operating system on the public Internet.
  Linux-based Android smartphones have become a powerful market force.

• Three of today’s top five most popular database management systems are open source: MySQL, PostgreSQL and MongoDB.

Why is OSS worth investing in? Here’s a couple of reasons…

1. Security and Reliability

Once you open your code to developers, you can be sure that they will find bugs you never saw in the first place. More eyes on the source code will only increase its security and reliability - that is why OSS vulnerabilities are often addressed and fixed immediately.

OSS development is also the driver behind a strong community of developers maintaining and testing the code. This automatically ensures the quality of the code and its longevity. When a closed software company goes out of business you’re suddenly left alone with no support whatsoever. OSS guarantees that you have access to the code, can contact its maintainers for support and you can hope for future bug fixes and security patches.

2. Freedom of Operation

Open source gives you a greater freedom of operation. You’re no longer dependent on particular software vendors and their internal processes and politics. You’re free to innovate at your own pace and adjust your software to future needs as they appear.

This freedom is also a big commercial advantage - it speeds up your development process significantly, decreasing your product’s time to market.

3. Cost and Time Effectiveness

Speaking of time - imagine how much it would take you to develop a particular software component from scratch? Not to mention the money you would need to invest in it.

A ready-made OSS saves you a lot of effort and makes sure that you won’t be reinventing the wheel. It gives you access to a customizable out-of-the-box solution, developed by a team of top-notch programmers who are experts in their field. Using a stable ready-made software component shifts your focus towards other business-specific priorities and goals.

4. Support Channels and “Try Before You Buy”

OSS development leaves behind a trace of tangible knowledge about the product. Regularly maintained software is accompanied by rich documentation and any issues regarding its implementation and configuration are often discussed online.

The “Try before you buy” factor of OSS is also a great advantage. You’re often encouraged to try the product out before you decide to buy it or ask for its customized version.

“Wait a minute… Buy? I thought Open Source is free…” Yes it is, but let’s face it - the added value for using OSS in your enterprise comes with the additional services provided by the OSS author.

For businesses that want to be sure they receive the professional support they need, there are paid support options which are often far below the costs of what most commercial vendors would charge for similar services. These include custom development, assistance packages, Service Level Agreements, trainings, audits etc. These services add an extra layer of reliability and security in both legal and technical terms.

They also mean that you get great value for your money. What would you rather do: invest large amounts of money into a closed software which is non-customizable and upgraded from time to time or spend the same amount of money on a fully customizable, regularly maintained piece of software that you completely own?

5. Fully Owned and Customizable Software

When choosing a commercial license for your Open Source Software you obtain absolute freedom to customize the code without making your changes publicly available. This way you can keep your commercial software solutions secret and at the same time fully enjoy all the benefits of OSS mentioned above. In practice, this means that you will be able to distribute or sell your software with the OSS component inside in a completely legal and legitimate manner.

Since quality OSS is maintained and developed regularly, it’s also easily customizable.