Open source software is very tempting - its low cost and inherent transparency addresses two of the biggest challenges for IT professionals: the high cost of infrastructure software and the limitations a closed stack imposes on the enterprise. IT organizations are typically risk-adverse and have initially shied away from open source projects. With open source technology consistently proving itself in mainstream IT, more and more once-reticent CIOs are embracing and deploying open source technology.

The benefits of open source software include:
- Cost savings—Users do not pay a license fee to adopt open source software nor do they pay for updates, eliminating the large upfront cost typically associated with infrastructure development and significantly reducing the total cost of the project.
- Vendor neutrality—Open source software is developed and owned by the community. Users of the project are not locked in to a vendor’s platform and are not forced to buy proprietary modules or adopt prerequisite technology.
- Access to source code—By definition, open source projects make the source code available. This allows enterprises to inspect the code for safety, edit the code to add unique features, and not be at the mercy of a vendor.
- Innovation—With a large community that includes end users contributing to the project, open source software has proven itself to be a practical vehicle for the latest technological advancements.