Open Source Vs. Cloud: What’s Best For Business?

As many open source and cloud computing tools are available today for database management, businesses can face difficulty in deciding on which one to use. But whether you choose to use an open source software or cloud computing should depend on what best suits your team’s needs.

Open Source

Open source or FOSS is not only free to download and use, but it also allows you to change the source code to suit your interests. Moreover, it’s fast to attain as you don’t have to spend hours meeting with software vendors or negotiating contacts and pricing.

As a drawback, though, it may have hidden costs as you must hire and highly pay technical resources to update and maintain the software. Also, when problems arise, you might either have to sort them out yourself, pay a consultant or depend on the benevolence of developers in the community whose response could be untimely, and help could be substandard.

Cloud Computing

With cloud computing, you can rent the application or storage from cloud service vendors like AWS, Microsoft Azure and Google Cloud who do the maintenance, updating of the operating system or applications and disposing of outdated software on your behalf. While the cloud vendors run the operations on your behalf, you can focus on other areas to scale your business.

Furthermore, cloud vendors offer high quality software and expert support as they want to protect their brand and attract more users. They do regular checks to fix bugs and viruses making the cloud a more secure option.

Cloud also offers flexible resources as you just can pay for the services you need-upscale and downscale accordingly- thus, helping to lower your operating costs and to adjust as needs change.

On the downside, you must pay for cloud computing and the price tag can be hefty. However, considering the operations they run on your behalf, the price may be worth it. Moreover, their fees are upfront unlike in open source, which is free, but has many hidden costs that could end up exceeding the cloud.

There is also a downside for developers as cloud computing can restrict the modifying of its source code by the original owners only.  That being said, it is still the best option for most people and companies that lack IT skills or the resources to hire technical staff.

How To Choose The Best Software For Your Business

To choose the best for your business you need to make a precise list of your own requirements, and the true cost of using open source vs. cloud. You need to consider questions such as:

• What are you looking to achieve with this software?
• Which business processes is this software supposed to improve?
• Can this software easily scale when your business grows?

Determine how much time and resources you’re willing to invest in the running and maintenance of the operating system and if you have the right personnel to do it for you. If you do, open source would work, but if not, your best option would be cloud computing.

When it comes to requirements, align yourself with the software that will tackle all your needs even if you must pay for it. Going for the seemingly cheaper and free option might end up becoming expensive in the long run as you have to pay the price of not meeting the overlooked requirements.

Not sure what’s right for you between open source and cloud computing?

Let the specialists at ASB Resources help you make the right choice. As one of the top IT solutions providers in the country we are equipped with the necessary knowledge, experience and expertise to guide you in choosing the right tools for your company’s database management. Schedule a chat with one of our experts today!