New research conducted by Professor Henry Chesbrough, in partnership with LF Research, the Linux Foundation‘s research arm, has found that the economic value of open source software is rising in terms of benefits versus costs. The study, which surveyed more than 430 companies, including many from the Fortune 500, found that almost two-thirds of respondents reported that the benefits of open source clearly exceed the perceived costs.
The Linux Foundation, a global nonprofit organization enabling mass innovation through open source, released the report last week. According to the report, the greatest benefits of open source software are cost savings, faster development, open standards, and interoperability.
Additionally, the ratio of benefits to costs appears to be rising for nearly half of the respondents, while only 16% felt that the ratio was declining. The longer companies use open source software, the more value they get out of it, and they also get more value by being more active in contributing to open source initiatives.
Benefits vs Costs Open Source
The survey found that most respondents say it would have cost significantly more to provide software functionality themselves than to use open source software. Almost 21% of respondents said the benefit of using or contributing to open source software was rising faster than the cost, another 21% said benefits were rising somewhat faster than costs, and 7% said benefits were rising much faster than costs.
The greatest perceived costs of using open source software were security gaps, hidden support costs, and those related to reducing legal uncertainties regarding licensing. Only one-fifth of respondents said perceived costs exceeded perceived benefits.
Jim Zemlin, Linux Foundation Executive Director, said, “This research clearly underscores that open source software has substantial economic value to companies and that its value will increase for most organizations the longer and more they use it. By helping to quantify the impact, we help companies understand their own benefits, costs, and the value of supporting and contributing to the open source software that is foundational to the world’s infrastructure and a force for innovation.”
Professor Chesbrough, a noted pioneer and author on the subject of open innovation, said, “It pays to be more open. Software is a technology whose importance is steadily increasing, and we’re seeing companies reap the benefits of embracing the foundational technology of open source software. Adopting open source software allows companies to embrace a more vibrant, surprising, and exciting future.”
Open source technologies, including the ubiquitous Linux operating system, are free to use, making them challenging to value in economic terms. However, the survey dug deep into open source software use and found that the economic value of open source software is rising. This research highlights the benefits of embracing open source software and encourages companies to contribute to open source initiatives, which will lead to a more innovative and exciting future.
Linux OS for Dedicated Servers
As a free and open-source operating system, Linux is widely used in dedicated server hosting. It is highly customizable, scalable, and secure, making it a popular choice for businesses and organizations of all sizes. Debian, Ubuntu, CentOS, Fedora, CloudLinux, and AlmaLinux are some examples of popular Linux OS distributions for dedicated servers.
One of the main advantages of Linux for dedicated servers is its stability and reliability. Linux-based operating systems are known for their robustness and ability to handle high traffic loads and complex applications. Additionally, Linux is highly flexible and can be easily customized to meet the specific needs of a business or organization.
Another advantage of Linux for dedicated servers is its security. Linux is designed to be highly secure, with built-in features that help protect against malware, viruses, and other security threats. This is particularly important for businesses that handle sensitive data, such as financial information or personal customer information. In terms of value, Linux is also highly cost-effective. Because it is open source, there are no licensing fees associated with using Linux-based operating systems.
