Governments around the world are increasingly adopting open-source software solutions over proprietary software. Open-source software, where the source code is freely available for use and modification, offers several benefits to governments that proprietary software may lack. There are many reasons why open-source software is appealing and even preferable for governments and public institutions.
Cost Savings
One of the most significant benefits of open-source software is reduced costs. Open-source software is free to obtain and use without licensing fees. While governments do pay for technical support and customization of open-source solutions, the overall costs are still lower compared to expensive proprietary software licenses. For governments with limited budgets, the cost savings from open-source software are substantial.
Governments can allocate funds to other important areas rather than spending a significant portion on software licenses.
Customizability
Open-source software allows for a high degree of customizability as the source code is openly available. Governments can modify open-source software and adapt the technology to suit their specific needs. They can add new features, improve security, increase accessibility, and optimize the software for their organizational requirements. With proprietary software, they are dependent on the vendor to make any changes and that too at an additional cost. The ability to customize open-source software gives governments more control and flexibility.
Transparency
Another key reason governments prefer open-source software is increased transparency. Since the source code is freely available to view and audit, there are fewer concerns about backdoors or undisclosed security flaws as in proprietary software. Governments can inspect the code to ensure there are no vulnerabilities before deploying open-source software. Transparency also leads to increased public trust in the technology. Citizens feel more confident when governments use open-source software versus opaque proprietary software.
Security
Though open-source software may seem more vulnerable at first glance, it can provide enhanced security in some ways. Thousands of programmers around the world review and test open-source software continuously. This widespread scrutiny helps identify security flaws and vulnerabilities quickly so fixes can be issued promptly. Proprietary software does not receive the same level of peer review and testing, so fewer vulnerabilities may remain undetected for longer. The transparency and accessibility of open-source software also give governments direct control over security matters. They can implement extra layers of security to suit their needs.
Interoperability
Open-source software is designed to be highly interoperable, meaning it can work well with other open-source and proprietary software systems. The open standards and modular architecture of open-source software allow for easy integration with a variety of hardware, applications, and other tools. For governments, the interoperability of open-source software solutions for local government means that existing technology investments and infrastructure can still be used. They do not have to overhaul entire systems to accommodate new software which reduces costs and complications. The interoperable nature of open-source software provides more choices and flexibility for governments.
Independence
Open-source software allows governments to avoid vendor lock-in. They can switch between open-source solutions easily or move from an open-source solution to a proprietary solution without complications because there are no licensing restrictions. This independence means that governments do not have to rely on a single vendor for technology, support, or service. They have more control over their software choices.
Community support
A large community of open-source contributors and users provides support for open-source software. Governments can tap into the knowledge and experience of the community if they run into issues with the software. They can benefit from the solutions and workarounds discovered by other members of the open-source community. The level of community support for popular open-source software rivals or even surpasses proprietary software support. Governments have more options to resolve technical problems that arise.
