In order to get business we like to give a little. After all, everything that we use to bring value to our customers was given to us by way of the Open Source. It's only right to return the favor. Here are some of the key areas where the OpenSource can save you right now.
Database savings
Mainframe alternatives
Security applications
Website retooling
Network server enhancements
Network security improvements
Database savings:
Any of your databases can be migrated to the OpenSource. Take a look at what you're spending on databases and database support. You'll find it is a lot, depending on the database type: DB2, Oracle, and others. You can greatly reduce these costs by looking at things like postgresql and MySQL on linux. Google, Sabre, and Nasa all use MySQL in place of their other solutions for great savings. If you take a look at the MySQL website you'll find that some organizations are saving as much as 90% with no problem at all.
Mainframe alternatives:
If you've been investing in high end hardware, mainframes, big iron, whatever you call them, you need to consider Penguin computing. With their cluster solutions, you can experience the same overall performance with much much less expensive hardware. After all, Linux is on the mainframe now. It's there because it's good. It's so good that you can move beyond the mainframe. It's being done today.
Security applications:
Investigate what your network administrators will tell you that you'll ultimately need an ssh client on your desktop to keep pace with security. You'll find that putty works very well. It has the reputation and the product strength to be a quick fix no matter what you're using today. No real effort involved. We can provide you with the names of the people who are doing it today. Once you hear the names, you won't hesitate.
Website retooling:
Examine what your e-commerce outsource provider is charging you. You'll find you don't need to outsource e-commerce. You'll find it's not complicated to do it yourself. All you need is a Merchant Account, an ssl certificate, and LAMP or Linux Apache, MySQL, and Perl. If you haven't got time for all of this just check out Drupal -- an indeed.com search for employees with Drupal experience will show you that the market is doing it today. Whether you use Drupal or not to shortcut the process, you'll find the money you save will be worth the very little effort and you'll be able to cost justify a better overall presence on the web with the savings.
Network server enhancements:
If you're a medium-sized business and would like to move your enterprise services such as e-mail, web service, ftp, backup, all under the same vendor, then look at Linux. Your enterprise people will agree that it's a smart move. In fact, you'll find they'll encourage the move. Good IT people want to keep up to date with their skills and Linux at the network server level is keeping up to date. If you don't have skilled people in-house you can look at Open Source solutions like egroupware. Dell offers PowerEdge servers at a great cost with full hardware support and software updates for a year directly from RedHat Linux. All you need is a little motivation to change.
Network security improvements
If your security people are starting to bother you with paranoia, and procedure, ask them what they think of going toward RHEL. With the special defense build, they'll just be happy to see you from then on. No more bother. Linksys actually uses Linux on their home based router/DSL modem/firewall devices. iptables offer the most customizable firewall settings available today. Cross reference this claim with your senior security people. Ask them if they've found a way of securing internal employees from making external ssh connections. It's not that hard with Linux.
These are a few of the reasons that the OpenSource can save you a lot of money, headache and worry. You can explore more for yourself and discover new improved solutions for the Open Source. If you'd like to see why and where, then we'll be happy to show you. We'll show you how to do it for yourself. We'll help you build the confidence to do it. It's not just talk.
We're here to say that migrating to the OpenSource can be headache free. It's being done every single day to realize great savings.
We help you see the business logic in it for you and your organization. OpenSource vision through simple project management.
We're changing the IT world holding nothing but the OpenSource in our hands.
Sincerely,
We are the Open Source Sun. The Sky is the limit.
