1 day Ago
Dirk-Peter van-Leeuwen is the CEO of SUSE , a global leader in innovative, reliable and secure enterprise open source solutions. getty Monoculture has drawbacks—not just in agriculture but also in IT. Monoculture is often the default when choice isn't possible.
However, ecosystem diversity is vital in fostering innovation, strengthening security and ensuring long-term resilience in IT. As a developer, I've seen the value of open-source technologies in encouraging flexibility and collaboration. Relying on a narrow set of solutions can leave organizations vulnerable to stagnation and outdated systems, let alone at the mercy of a single particular vendor.
Although tech acquisitions and consolidations can bring benefits like expanded product portfolios and streamlined operations, it's important to weigh these against the risks of reduced diversity and overdependence on specific technologies. Closed, consolidated ecosystems may have perceived benefits such as seamless integration and more control over access and environments. Realistically, they also have serious drawbacks in innovation, collaboration, costs and flexibility.
Without options, customers are locked into a specific vendor and may find their budgets consumed when vendors increase prices. Vendor strategies of bundling offerings can also clash with customer needs by providing unnecessary capabilities for which they must still pay. Consider the VMware-Broadcom deal.
Since acquiring VMware, Broadcom has consolidated its virtualization tools product line and moved customers from a perpetual license to a subscription model. According to Gartner, since the December 2023 announcement that Broadcom was ending perpetual licenses, many Gartner clients are expecting their costs to at least double at renewal for their VMware spend. The freedom of choice enabled by open source is similar to the evolution of cell phones.
In the early days of the mobile phone, you got a number assigned to you by your provider. If you wanted to switch, you needed a new number and probably a different phone. Now, switching is possible within seconds via eSIM, and you take all your data with you.
Open source can provide that same experience for software. Open source drives innovation, enabling collaboration for developers to freely experiment, share ideas and build upon existing solutions. The open nature of the code promotes interoperability, allowing for seamless integration with a wide range of technologies and platforms and preventing vendor lock-in.
This flexibility empowers organizations with the freedom to choose the best tools and solutions that align with their specific needs, while code transparency and accessibility ensure openness and encourage community-driven development. Flexibility is also key when budgets are under pressure. According to Harvard Business School researchers, companies would spend about 3.
5 times more on software if open source was not an option. Additionally, using open source frees up time and budget for companies to prioritize modernization and innovation over legacy investments. Open source can also help improve DevOps efficiency and collaboration, accelerating the development process.
As they say, many hands make light work. As for security, allow me to debunk the myth that open-source solutions are more vulnerable to cyberattacks. It may seem counterintuitive, but by making source code publicly accessible, developers and security experts worldwide can quickly identify and fix vulnerabilities, ensuring transparency and quality.
Compared to the closed-source model, the open-source model doesn’t operate in isolation nor allow only a few people to decide. Kubernetes, an open-source, cloud-native container orchestration platform, is a prime example of open source’s strength. Since its inception 10 years ago , Kubernetes has become the backbone of modern IT infrastructure— 66% of consumers of cloud services and 71% of Fortune 100 companies now use Kubernetes, with adoption still growing.
Gartner predicts more than 90% of organizations (subscription required) will run containerized applications by 2027. Furthermore, edge solutions, AI, virtualization and others have started building on top of Kubernetes, making this open-source platform even more important in the age of AI. While there are distinct benefits, there may also be growing pains when transitioning from an IT monoculture to open-source.
To overcome these hurdles and see the long-term benefits pay off, let's look at some of the key steps to making the successful shift to open source: 1. Assess organizational needs. Evaluate current IT infrastructure and identify areas where open-source solutions can help reduce costs, improve scalability and enhance performance.
Map out how your applications interact and depend on each other to determine compatibility requirements. 2. Plan your IT transition.
Conduct research on which open-source solutions suit your organization’s needs, considering your technical requirements, budget and business goals. Then develop a transition plan with mapped phases to ensure a structured approach that is efficient and reduces downtime and risks. 3.
Invest in training and support. Skill gaps and friction for your teams in using new solutions may exist, so equipping them with the right skills is critical to ensuring a smooth transition and overall ongoing operational efficiency. Provide training and support resources to help staff understand the tools and technologies they’re using.
You can also consider working with open-source consultants or vendors that provide enterprise-grade support if in-house support is limited. 4. Address security and compliance.
As with any software, security is as integral a part of open-source implementation. Risk assessments, automated vulnerability monitoring and regular patching are all key to robust security. Meanwhile, establishing governance policies and procedures, providing compliance training and implementing automated compliance checks help ensure compliance.
5. Foster an open-source culture. Culture is foundational for long-term success.
Embracing open source isn’t just about the technology—it’s also a shift in mindset. Encourage your teams to contribute to open-source projects and communities and provide opportunities for continuous learning. Open ecosystems can bring many benefits to organizations, such as flexibility, cost-effectiveness, efficiency, stability and security.
More companies should consider embracing open, community-based standards in IT and understand how to do so strategically. Open source’s new front lies with edge and AI as innovation in this space takes off. As edge computing and AI technologies rapidly evolve, transparency and collaboration are more critical than ever—and open source offers an important path forward.
Forbes Technology Council is an invitation-only community for world-class CIOs, CTOs and technology executives. Do I qualify?.
