In order to provide national authorities with good and functioning software solutions in the long term, it is worth relying on open source applications. Because the code is publicly accessible, it is subject to a constant improvement process. With proprietary systems that are not used as a cloud, however, the software quickly becomes outdated. With large OSS projects, the continuous development cycles ensure that the version is always up-to-date and in line with the latest technical standards. Since everyone can see the further developments, the developers are also inclined to deliver good and as error-free code as possible. After all, there is a reputation to lose. The publishers also usually do not have a company breathing down their necks with a deadline, so they can do their work to the best of their knowledge and belief. The freely accessible code also makes it easier to find errors. Automatic reviews for each new application scenario also ensure that the software is of high quality .
Open source can also offer an advantage in terms of innovation. You don't have to develop what a particular company specifies, but what the developers think is interesting and important. This means that trends can be responded to much more quickly. Another advantage is that the public code means that users can continue to develop the software even if the original publisher of the software is no longer available. This means that public code can continue to exist independently of the initial developer. If an authority commissions or carries out development itself, it can also help determine the direction and there is no need to wait for updates or new features. The public institution can therefore exert direct influence.
Security
At first glance, the exposed code appears to be a security risk, but that is deceptive. Because theoretically everyone has access to the open code, security gaps are quickly identified and can be closed. Of course, there will always be hackers who find some kind of vulnerability, but on the other hand, there is always a large community that is committed to eliminating the vulnerability quickly. In many cases, these are not just a few hobby programmers, but highly professional developers. For example, there are highly qualified experts for the CMS Drupal and entire security audits by independent authors.
Another security-related advantage is that with a self-used kuwait number dataset and hosted open source solution, all data is stored on your own server , making it much more difficult for outsiders to access highly sensitive information. With commercial applications now almost exclusively stored in the cloud, comprehensive data protection is almost impossible to guarantee, especially since the large tech companies such as Microsoft and Oracle are mainly based in the USA.
Authorities often have the reputation of being rigid organizations that rarely develop further. But with a constantly changing IT landscape, no authority can afford to stand still. This means that even a current version from a software manufacturer quickly becomes outdated, at least if it is not a cloud solution with regular updates. With open source, on the other hand, the code is constantly being developed and adapted to current circumstances .
In addition, the use of resources should not be neglected. Once an authority or other institution has decided on a software, changing it is very time-consuming. In addition to the high acquisition and implementation costs, there are usually also costs for the company's own IT and training employees, who generally have little desire to familiarize themselves with new systems. If the systems, once understood, keep changing, the willingness to even deal with new applications and processes dwindles. With OSS, an authority can always build on the existing system and continually adapt it to the respective requirements . Employees can therefore develop further in their familiar system and do not have to completely reorient themselves every few years because there is a better solution on the market.
For example, our own open source solution OpenEMM has been around for 15 years. Since the free version of the E-Marketing Manager is developed together with the commercial version and there are regular releases, OpenEMM is always up to date.
Open interfaces
In addition to the code, database and file formats are of course also freely accessible . This makes it easier for an OSS to be compatible with external applications, because systems can and should rarely exist on their own. The exchange with other systems via natively open interfaces across different locations and IT systems therefore brings a great advantage in the internal and external communication of authorities. This enables them to exchange data with each other and also to merge data from different sources, interpret it accordingly and reuse it. Simple and open interfaces ensure that different authorities can network with each other and thus have comprehensive decision-making bases for assessments and planning processes, for example.
Another example is the comparison of databases in the fight against crime, for example between different police departments and with other authorities such as the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution. Good and functioning communication with the support of appropriate interfaces is also in the interest of the citizen, as processing is faster and a separate application does not have to be submitted to each authority.