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How to manage risk with open-source software

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Open-source software might be free to use, but that doesn’t mean it’s free of obligations. With threats becoming more complex, security must be a top priority.

As the adoption of open-source software continues to grow rapidly, software development teams must go to ever greater lengths to manage risk. Low-code development platforms (LCDPs) have further added to that risk surface by bringing development outside the IT department, potentially resulting in a rise of shadow IT.

Despite this, the use of open-source libraries can deliver tremendous benefits to businesses by delivering specific functionalities without developers having to build them from scratch. Open source is also a natural fit for low code, especially at a time when at least 82% of firms consider custom app development outside IT important for driving growth. Moreover, Gartner predicts that two thirds of all business apps will be created using low-code platforms by 2024.

These developments are among the defining characteristics of modern digital transformation strategies. This is also why open source accounts for as much as 90% of all code in today’s web and cloud apps, with the average software application relying on at least 500 open-source dependencies. As such, the sheer size and proliferation of open source has made it a key target for threat actors, with inevitable vulnerabilities leading to a significant increase in open-source risk. The grouping of open source and low code can, potentially, further expand that risk surface by letting it grow far beyond the auspices of the IT department.

Of course, that’s not to say businesses should scale back their adoption of open-source and low-code – not at all. Together, these innovations are vital for helping businesses adapt and scale rapidly in an era of constant change. But as is always the case with any innovation, new risks arise that need to be managed from the outset. Thus any digital transformation must be secure by design as such that security becomes a driver of innovation rather than a barrier. Here’s what that means for open-source low-code software development:

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How the combination of open-source and low-code enable total data portability

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With a combination of open source software and low code development, organizations can be freed from vendor lock-in and maintain full control over their data.

With the low code revolution now well underway, business leaders are starting to consider its impact on regulatory compliance, privacy, and security. However, vendor lock-in and a general lack of control over where their data resides remain key concerns, especially given that most low code development platforms (LCDPs) are either partially or fully closed source.

Addressing these challenges is a top priority as organizations store ever-greater quantities of sensitive data in the cloud in increasingly disparate environments. That’s why there must be a standardized and universal way for organizations to locate, access, and control their data, without being beholden to their technology vendors.

On the other hand, low code presents the promise of reduced costs and faster development cycles. At the same time, in a closed source environment, the vendor has the final say in how your data is stored, accessed, and transmitted, making it impossible to achieve true digital sovereignty.

This conundrum is exactly what makes low code development a natural fit for the open-source model. Organizations can enjoy the benefits of low code while preserving digital sovereignty and, in doing so, maintain complete control over its availability and the application of universal privacy, security, and compliance policies.

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4 reasons why your business need an open-source support contract

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The benefits of having a support contract for open-source software go beyond fixing issues. It also provides strategic support for your digital transformation.

Nine out of ten the world’s businesses now use open-source software. However, when people think about the open-source licensing model, the first thing that typically comes to mind is that it means free software. In reality, the benefits of open-source go far beyond that. These include a complete lack of vendor lock-in, community-driven support and maintenance, and end users having a stake in the direction of the software’s continued development.

When combined with the low-code approach to software development, open-source becomes the foundation of data democratization and technological innovation. The ultimate goal is for everyone in an organization to have equitable and timely access to the data they need to carry out their day-to-day roles, while giving business leaders the means to control and govern their digital assets in full.

It would be naïve and wholly misleading to claim that all these benefits can be realized without spending a single cent. While reduced costs are an undisputable benefit of the open-source model, getting the most out of it requires a certain degree of expertise and people power. After all, all software needs maintenance, and every solution must be tailored to the unique needs of individual businesses. That includes low-code development platforms (LCDPs).

Taking out a support contract for open-source software might not be necessary for everyone, but in this article, we’ll explore some compelling use cases to help you make a more informed decision.

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3 ways standardization enhances low-code and open-source security

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In simplifying software development, low code can also help reduce cybersecurity complexity, thanks to enhanced standardization and integration.

Over the past couple of decades, the technical footprint of many enterprises has become very complex and difficult to maintain. As business leaders struggle to keep up with the constantly evolving customer demands and all the ancillary challenges that come with it, that complexity is only likely to increase. This has also made it harder to maintain accountability for managing risk. In other words, enterprises are becoming too technically complex to secure.

As enterprises grapple with a rapidly expanding data footprint, with data coming from myriad different sources, the need for standardization and simplified management becomes clearer. Add the unprecedented rise of remote work and the internet of things (IoT) into the mix, and that need is even greater. Organizations are now using an average of software-as-a-service (SaaS) apps, presenting a 14-fold increase over just six years.

Naturally, achieving a sufficient degree of information security becomes exponentially harder the larger and more diverse the software stack and data footprint. While many cloud vendors are now embracing open-source standardization to reduce complexity, problems like vendor lock-in and a general lack of digital sovereignty persist. This results in reduced control which, in turn, can lead to compromised security and a lack of compliance with industry standards.

For established enterprises, the challenge is even greater. Even if they have a robust digital transformation strategy in place, most are still grappling with legacy technology which, in turn, means data sources that are difficult to adapt for modern, cloud-based apps and architectures. This often results in enterprises not knowing exactly where all their data physically resides or which controls are in place to protect it. After all, you can’t protect what you don’t know about.

By embracing a combination of low-code software development and open-source licensing, enterprises can democratize development and achieve greater control over their data assets. Low-code simplifies and standardizes the creation of business apps, while the open-source model helps maintain digital sovereignty and control. With the right strategy and support, this powerful combination can greatly enhance an enterprise’s security posture. In this article, we’ll find out exactly how.

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Why Is Open-Source The Right Choice For Software Vendors?

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Open-source software is defined as any computer software that enables individual end-users to freely utilize, modify and redistribute its source code. As open-source technology continues to evolve rapidly, many businesses are beginning to adopt the use of open-source platforms in day-to-day business functions. According to Red Hat, 75% of IT leaders stated that open-source software is extremely important.

Open-source software can help software vendors create high-quality, secure software by providing them with a secure and tested code base. Many people collaborate on open-source projects, and that makes the discovery of bugs and errors more efficient. Hence, in most cases, open-source is more secure and reliable than closed-source code.

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Why Do People Contribute to Open-Source Projects?

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An open-source project is software that anyone is free to use, modify, study, and distribute. The copyright owner of an open-source project grants the public free, all-purpose access to the source code.

Open-source project development is the future. For the users, open-source is a blessing since it is free to use, safer and time-effective. However, one can wonder why developers who write open-source code contribute it to projects for free.

The answer is in community and experience. Let’s explore a few reasons why companies and developers open-source their projects.

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What Is An Open-Source Hardening Project?

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With the evolution and increasing integration of digital technology, the use of open-source technology has also increased exponentially. Open-source software is defined as any computer software that allows and enables users as well as the general public to utilize, modify and redistribute its source code freely. A recent study conducted by Red Hat concluded that 75% of IT leaders felt that enterprise open-source software was extremely important.

Although many users may question the reliability of open-source software, the open-source industry has and will continue to prioritize the security and reliability of open-source technology.

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Why Software Vendors Should Use An Open-source Low-code Platform To Develop Their Apps

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Digital platforms have provided businesses with a whole new dimension of business expansion opportunities. All of a sudden, a small business startup from a small town can reach the world with a digital platform like a website or mobile application. These platforms have also enabled us to work faster, increasing efficiency and productivity through various automations and processes at the tap of a button.

Accordingly, we use apps all the time. There are millions of apps out there, and yet the growing use-cases of apps still continue to grow. So people now look to low-code development platforms as a way to gain access to services they need most. It’s no wonder why low-code development is now set to become a $39.79 billion industry by the time 2027 rolls in.

But what is low-code development and what are the advantages of using an open-source option? You’ll learn that and more in this article.

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What Is The Advantage Of Cloud-Running Software?

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Cloud computing is a technology through which users can access computing resources, including applications, databases, servers, networking channels, and more via the internet. A cloud-running software allows you to use its tools and services online.

It retains all your data on servers owned by internet companies rather than your own device. It hence allows you to access that data from any other internet-enabled device in the world.

While cloud computing has been a part of the digital landscape for over twenty years, its popularity has increased exponentially in the past few years. In 2020, the total cloud market was worth over 371 billion US Dollars with a CAGR of 17.5%. According to Cisco, over 94% of all workloads in 2021 will be processed by cloud data centers.

The surge in demand for cloud services can be attributed to the number of benefits cloud technology provides its users. From universal accessibility to data protection, the most salient advantages of cloud-based software are listed below.

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Why do universities prefer to teach low-coding rather than coding?

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Low-code technology is a modern-age invention that lets anyone develop complex and functioning apps. This includes people who have had no traditional coding knowledge. Low-code has not only benefited several hundred organizations across the globe, but its easy-to-learn format has allowed many people to upskill themselves and land better jobs.

75% of IT leaders have claimed that low-code is a trend they cannot afford to miss. The new-age invention that is low-code has swiftly taken over the digital world. Hence, it is no wonder that many universities are now offering low-code as a part of the curriculum. Some universities have even been known to prefer low-code education over coding classes. Various reasons that attribute to this are listed below. Read more