Open source software is software with a license that gives you a right to copy and modify the source code to suit your needs. Having the source code is a tremendous advantage because even if the original vendor has dropped the product or gone out of business, you can hire another programmer to fix or maintain your software. With open source software, you have more rights and a reduced risk for your business.

 Reduced Risk

Another advantage of using open source software is that since anyone can look at the source code, bugs are found quicker than if only the original authors have access to it. Having many eyes reviewing the code can catch bugs and security issues that might slip past a developer who is too deeply involved in the software to see the big picture.

Security

How do you know that you mission critical software is as secure  as your vendor claims it to be? Security experts agree that the only real way to ensure the security of a product is to use  well known standard encryption techniques and to subject the source code to peer-reviewed verification. That's exactly the open source process.  Many people have a chance to review a code base, so there's a smaller risk that a security hole will make it into production, and if it does the process of releasing a security update is usually much faster.

Caveat Emptor 

Like most things, not all open source software is created equal. The best is solid, reliable, and full featured software that has a user base in the tens of thousands and the option of paid, professional, support. The worst is two kids in the basement who are very impressed with themselves because they've written their first program. Our 20 years experience in dealing with open source software, freeware and shareware enables us to pick the good from the rest, the wheat from the chaff. We make sure that you get only the best, most dependable software that fits your needs.