Businesses are no longer convinced that traditional
proprietary software is any more secure or manageable than open
source code, according to a new survey. As a result, many are
opting for the cheaper option.
The study, conducted by applications vendor Ingres, claimed that
75% of UK businesses have deployed, or plan to deploy,
open source software for
core business systems.
Brian Mort,
Ingres' senior vice president for Northern Europe, claimed this
showed that open source has gained top level acceptance. "It has
moved out of the basement and into the boardroom."
Mort argued that open source software's versatility and
adaptability have been key selling points. However, some critics
say the attraction is not the strength of open source software, but
disappointment with proprietary software suppliers.
"At least with open source you avoid enterprise avoid vendor
lock-in and save money," was a typical response to Ingres's study
of UK public sector and private businesses.
But Mort claimed that open source has raised its standards to
win admirers, rather than mopped up disaffected customers of
traditional proprietary software. "Open source had to grow up and
offer the highest levels of service, support, security and
enterprise-grade reliance," he said.
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