An open source policy, when properly implemented, would save a business time, money and human resources while allowing it to work effectively with the best minds in the industry.

FREMONT, California: During times of massive disruption, open source technology thrives, and this pandemic was no exception. Businesses are leading their digital transformation and DevOps initiatives at all levels, leveraging open source technologies to streamline their operations. While the use of open source software (OSS) in DevOps can help companies save money and escape vendor lock-in, the tools are not always backed by an ecosystem that allows them to be portable to across the enterprise, resulting in interoperability issues and haphazard workflow. Here are four ways to help businesses create an open source DevOps strategy:

Consolidate

Fewer suppliers mean fewer problems. When evaluating potential partners, remember that partnering with a few primary partners (rather than several) will save time and money in the long run by ensuring that applications work together seamlessly and preventing providers to point the finger if they don’t. Examine potential partners to see what bundles, program stacks, and infrastructure they are funding, as well as the flexibility you have to swap out different components. Avoiding vendor foreclosure is crucial, as moving vendors is an expensive endeavor if you want to take a different direction later.

Invest in security

In open source enterprise software, safety is a big concern, and making sure you can react quickly to potential issues and vulnerabilities is essential. Consider working with a vendor that specializes in OSS protection and keeping customers up to date with the latest security changes and bug fixes to make sure your software is secure. Organizations should have a security expert on standby so that if security is compromised it can be remedied immediately.

Choose the right tools

Not all tools are created the same. Test the open source tools you choose at each stage of your pipeline to make sure they will work together across the larger toolchain and at any layer in your software stack, including databases, networks and monitoring solutions. If you have any doubts about their compatibility, talk to a professional who knows how the program will perform in different settings, or use free apps that help developers determine if their tools are compatible across the stack. This will help companies select the right open source technology early on, saving time and money.

Adapt

To stay relevant, maintain a competitive advantage, and take advantage of emerging technologies, open source implementation in DevOps requires more than a one-size-fits-all approach. Make sure that your open source approach can be improved to include new offerings and services that the organization can introduce in the future and that your vendors or internal team can easily change the platform as needed.

See also: Leading GRC Technology Consulting / Services Companies