Benefits of Using Open Source for Your MSP
Managed service providers (MSPs) are constantly looking for ways to save money and improve their profitability. In line with this, some are considering using open source MSP software to improve their technology stack without breaking the bank.
Selecting open source software can provide benefits but there are some trade-offs to think about. That said, when getting a solution, you need to carefully consider what kind of solution you’re signing up with before finally committing to one. After all, when a company bets on the wrong tool, it often results in high costs and reduced flexibility – which nobody wants.
As the adoption of open source software flourishes, more businesses discover the considerable benefits they bring, just like their proprietary counterparts. Here are some of the advantages of utilizing open source MSP software.
1. Community
Open source MSP software usually has robust communities surrounding them. They are united by the same desire – to support and grow a solution that benefits both the organization and the community.
Having a big community rallying behind them can develop these solutions further, faster. They can introduce new concepts and functions more effectively than internal teams working on solutions delivered by a specific company.
2. The power of the crowd
Many brains deliver multiple, amazing results. The collective power of a united community of talented individuals can produce greater ideas, quicker development, and better troubleshooting in the event of complications.
3. Transparency
When you use open source code, you gain full insight into the code base, as well as any discussions about how the community develops features and fixes bugs. In contrast, secretly developed proprietary code may have unanticipated limits and other unpleasant shocks. You're safe from lock-in dangers and can see exactly what you're getting with open source MSP software.
4. Reliability
With more people working on the open source MSP software, you can expect high reliability. Since there is a global community supporting the code base instead of a single team employed by a specific company, you can rest assured that various experts oversee it.
The output is usually an extremely stable, working code. Because of this, the use of open source software among enterprises is rising. Both IT departments and specialists agree that open source has become strategically essential in the dynamic environment we have today.
5. Healthier security
The code of open source MSP software is often more secure since it is checked and vetted thoroughly by a community of programmers. Should issues arise, they can be patched right away. The issue of security isn’t much of a concern at the moment.
6. Better functionalities
What drives programmers for making decisions about a solution's direction is to create the best product possible. On the other hand, companies making proprietary code normally prioritize the bottom line, which isn't always ideal. When selecting a technology that is critical to your business, make sure that its objective aligns with your own.
7. Faster time to market
Time to market is the period it takes for a company to get a product or service into the hands of its customers. It's often a deciding factor whether a solution succeeds or not. This time covers the period when the idea came about, as well as the complete design cycle, development, and launch. It's a lot easier to investigate and get solutions off the ground using open source solutions because they're openly available to the public.
8. Cost effective
Open source MSP software is more than just free software. It does not require license fees, which helps cut down the entire cost of deployment.
9. You’re not tied-in to a certain product
Using proprietary software for your main infrastructure heightens the risk of becoming locked in to a specific vendor or technology. If this happens, your business would have no choice but remain in the partnership despite price increases or lack of flexibility. Enterprises should take note, however, to adopt actual open source solutions rather than repackaged open source software with proprietary hooks.
10. Becoming the norm
Many large organizations that deploy open source solutions deliver high quality resources to the whole community.
Final Thoughts
Open source MSP software is at the forefront of advancing technology, supporting organizations' needs as they evolve. Thanks to supportive communities that are energized to continually propose improvements, you can scale your business and generate revenue without having to spend a lot for a piece of software.
ITarian can streamline your workflow by managing your IT assets efficiently. Contact us now to fill in the gaps in your technology and outrank your competitors.
