As we honor Free Open Source Software Month, IT Group Inc. (ITG), a leading IT solution partner in the ASEAN region, alongside its trusted partner Red Hat, shares five essential insights on how open source software can enhance your IT infrastructure and business growth.

1. Open and Secure: Why Transparency Strengthens Security

Many ask why open source software is considered more secure. According to Ryan Ching, ITG’s Head of Enterprise IT Infrastructure Solutions, “It’s open and transparent, which means more eyes scrutinize the source code. This leads to faster identification of vulnerabilities, better software development, and ultimately, more secure enterprise solutions.”

Red Hat, a pioneer in enterprise open source software, echoes this belief. Their commitment to open source principles “unlocks the world’s potential” by providing secure, scalable infrastructure and developer solutions. For over 20 years, ITG and Red Hat have partnered to deliver robust open source software solutions that push technological boundaries.

EnterpriseDB, ITG’s enterprise open source database solution based on PostgreSQL, exemplifies this by offering reliable, scalable data management tools that empower businesses to handle large volumes of data securely and efficiently.

2. Collaborative Work: Driving Innovation Through Open Source Communities

The open source principle fosters a collaborative environment where developers globally contribute ideas, fix bugs, and add features. This community-driven model accelerates innovation and produces widely-used software like WordPress, Mozilla Firefox, and Linux.

ITG offers Red Hat Linux Enterprise, connecting businesses to an extensive ecosystem of hardware, software, and cloud partners, backed by 24×7 support. This collaborative approach ensures enterprises benefit from continuous improvements and expert assistance.

3. Solid Community: The Backbone of Open Source Software

The strength of open source software lies in its vibrant community. Thanks to Stallman and advocates of the Free Software Foundation (FSF), a nonprofit dedicated to promoting user freedom and defending software rights, open source software thrives under licenses like the GNU General Public License.

The FSF’s efforts to register copyrights and enforce licenses ensure that software remains free from proprietary restrictions, enabling organizations to share, study, and modify code freely.

ITG and Red Hat further support this community by offering training and certifications, equipping your team with industry-ready skills to maximize open source software benefits.

4. Transparency: Open Source Code You Can Trust

Transparency is a core open source principle. Open source codes are freely accessible, allowing anyone to review, audit, and improve them. As Ryan Ching explains, “No hidden codes, no surprises—just plain, accessible software.”

Red Hat champions this transparency by fostering open collaboration among customers, contributors, competitors, and partners. This inclusive engagement brings diverse perspectives, ensuring the best ideas are integrated into upstream repositories, enhancing software authenticity and reliability.

5. Customization: Tailor Open Source to Your Business Needs

Open source software offers unparalleled customization. Instead of building software from scratch, enterprises can leverage existing open source solutions and tailor them to specific requirements. This approach saves time and resources while enabling organizations to focus on innovation and gain competitive advantages.

Ryan Ching highlights, “Open source allows businesses to build on readily available software, customize it, and free resources to develop other innovative solutions—keeping them ahead in their industry.”