A Guide to Open Source in the Enterprise

Teams everywhere are adopting open source technology. But there's a difference between open source and enterprise open source. 

Here, we break down the considerations for open source in the enterprise. And we share best practices for leveraging the benefits of open source with the stability of enterprise support.

Consider this your guide to open source in the enterprise.

Read along or jump to the section that interests you most:

• What Is Enterprise Open Source?
• Consider Your Strategy for Enterprise Open Source
• Common OSS Technologies That Work Well Together
• Migrating to Open Source Technologies
• Open Source as a Service: Getting Enterprise Support

What Is Enterprise Open Source?

Enterprise open source means open source software that is backed by enterprise support for quality, security, and the software lifecycle. If you are dealing with quality, security, and lifecycle support on your own, it's not enterprise open source. 

Enterprise Open Source vs. Open Source

The difference between enterprise open source and open source in general is support and services.

Enterprise open source is open source software backed by enterprise support and services.

Open source software (OSS) is software with source code that is open to the public to learn from and edit. The software is released with a license that gives users the right to manipulate how the program works and runs. It can also be freely redistributed after being altered.

More on Open Source Software>>

Considerations For Enterprise Open Source Solutions

Security

Security is a major concern in enterprise open source. It's critical to have a security team behind your open source software to stay on top of security issues and vulnerabilities. Without it, your open source software could be open to security risks that could harm your organization.

As part of this, open source in the enterprise usually requires implementing safety measures, such as single sign-on. There may also be audit and compliance concerns that an enterprise will face with open source. 

Complexity

There is also additional complexity to enterprise open source that a general open source user doesn't need to consider. This includes migrations, storage capacity, and other technical considerations.

Building a Successful Enterprise Open Source Strategy

There are several benefits to open source software can such as cost savings, increased agility, and innovative technical capabilities.

To reap these benefits in open source in the enterprise, you need to implement a set of best practices. Establishing your open source strategy will help you overcome and mitigate the risks that come with adopting open source resources.

What kind of support do you need? How can you avoid vendor lock-in? 

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Prefer to connect with an expert architect to establish your enterprise open source strategy? The team at OpenLogic by Perforce is ready to help you. Talk to an open source expert.

Quick Note on Open Source Licensing

Open source licenses set the conditions of how software code can be shared and the level to which the authors are protected. If your enterprise is going to use any open source software, you must be aware of the liabilities you will be held to. 

Common Enterprise Open Source Technologies That Work Together

As you consider various open source solutions in the enterprise, it is beneficial to consider the technologies that will work together. The goal is to choose technologies that best meet your needs for every layer of your software stack (e.g., your databases, middleware, platforms, application runtimes, and monitoring).

For many organizations, their current software stacks have extensive vendor lock-in requirements. The idea of migrating to another solution is daunting. The good news is, it doesn’t have to be this way. Below are some of the most common technologies we recommend. Learn why and how to migrate to save on costs and free your team up to innovate.

Get Expert Help For Enterprise Open Source Solutions

Switching to new technologies is tough. And dealing with multiple vendors for support is even tougher. But you can get everything — enterprise support, software creating freedom, and cost-savings — from one open source support provider.

OpenLogic by Perforce delivers comprehensive support and guidance for hundreds of free community open source projects. You can confidently adapt them to boost agility, efficiency, and savings.

It’s time to take advantage of open source in the enterprise. Looking for guidance or enterprise support for your open source projects? Connect with one of our expert architects from the team at OpenLogic.

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