Is Open Source or Hosted Technology Better for Your Company?

Is Open Source or Hosted Technology Better for Your Company?

When it comes down to finding a technology for your organization, you have to choose between open source and hosted solutions. What are some of the benefits of these two systems and how can these influence you as you choose the right one you and your company? Let’s take a closer look.

Automation

One of the key advantages of a hosted software is that many of the processes will happen automatically. You can request a piece of data and it will arrive to you in a manner that you can understand.

With an open-source solution, things might be a little trickier. You will have to manually parse and normalize your logs in one language so you can see errors for yourself. A system like the ELK log analysis tool can be great but it requires a lot of infrastructure to initialize. For those who are not so technically-minded, you need to ensure that the software you choose has the support in place for you to get the most out of it. An automated software like those procured through a hosted system will always be a better choice for you. 

Customization

Open source solutions require a little more development on the customer’s end. This is the bare bones of a software system that you can then develop into your own program. It is often a free solution and there will be many other users on the internet who develop tools and add-ons for you to use with it.

If you have a technical need that cannot be addressed by solutions you have so far looked at, an open source platform might be the right option for you. They are far more flexible than hosted solutions could ever hope to be. While a managed solution might not offer this flexibility, it will have a team dedicated to bringing you the latest updates.

Which is Right for My Company?

The question of whether a hosted platform or an open source one is better for your company can only be answered by the needs of your business. If you need something that works specifically for you, and might not work for another company even in the same industry, you are going to find that an open source platform is what you need.

However, you might also just need the program to watch over one small but important aspect of the business. Therefore, it might not be worth it to pour resources into developing a program for this one area. Likewise, you might want the support of a professional developer who is able to make recommendations based on your needs. In this scenario, a hosted solution is always going to be better.

Look into the merits of both an open source and hosted solution now. One might stand heads and shoulders above the other in terms of suitability. No matter what you choose, your company will no doubt benefit from the software you have invested in.

Image: Pixabay

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