Open source software can be obtained by businesses for little or no cost. Developed and supported globally by IT professionals it provides an alternative to more traditional forms of proprietary software. Open source software is available for most business needs, including content management systems, databases, office tools, operating systems, internet related applications and IT security.

Unlike proprietary software, open source gives you access to the source code, providing you with the opportunity to develop the software for your own business requirements. Whilst most open source solutions lack the customer support and legal protection provided by proprietary software, open source can provide businesses with powerful, secure, well supported and cost effective solutions.

Cost benefits of open source software

Many business owners choose to use open source software because it has little or no up-front cost. This is obviously a huge benefit, especially to new businesses, but you need to consider budgeting for support, training, and in the case of more complex applications, consultancy.

You should take time to assess the total cost of ownership for any software you intend to deploy. Will it require additional hardware, or will it need specialised technical staff? As with proprietary applications the vast proportion of the total cost of any open source software will be the cost of operations and of maintenance.

One key advantage of open source over the proprietary alternatives is that it simplifies your licence management issues. There's no need to ensure that all your servers and desktops have the right type or number of licences - you just need to download the software once and install it as many times and places as you want or need.

It's important to comply with the license restrictions, as these have the same legal basis as proprietary software licences. It's also important to read licences carefully, as there are many different open source licences, with as many different requirements.

Our Expertise:

The Digital Group has adequate capabilities in designing and deploying Solutions on Open Source systems. We have a team of programmers, solutions designers and architects who could assist in developing an Open Source technology roadmap for all your IT needs.