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| SPOTLIGHT The role of open source in managing and securing IT networks |
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Communications networks are the “lifeblood” of the business in our global economy. IT organisations are continually re-assessing how their networks are deployed, managed and secured in order to ensure the continuous flow of business information. And in today’s complex network environment, this is no easy task. |
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One solution is to employ a selection of “open source” solutions. Open source software comes with limited or no intellectual property restrictions, allowing applications to be adapted and modified to suit different needs.
Increasingly, enterprises are turning to open source tools to boost proprietary technologies and deliver more innovative and flexible solutions, which address their unique business challenges.
A number of open source software tools have emerged in recent years to enhance management, control, security, and visibility of all the network “layers” – from physical connections among devices through to applications and services. Examples include: Wireshark, MRTG and Nagios, which monitor and analyse network traffic; and security tools including Snort®, Nmap and Retina®.
These tools, and many others like them, are developed and supported within the open source community, leveraging expertise from around the world to address today’s challenges.
| Numerous benefits: | ||
| • | Open source tools can be integrated with proprietary software to create custom-made solutions | |
| • | Open access to the ‘source code’ allows open source applications to be modified | |
| • | Faster time-to-market for new technologies | |
| • | Provide a lower cost alternative to “best-in-class” commercial tools | |
Open source tools provide organisations with the flexibility to do what is best for them and for their business – whether that involves minimising costs, filling “gaps” in other network management and security solutions, or customising existing solutions to meet specific needs.
Vendors such as 3Com, who put customer needs first, recognise that, by complementing commercial technologies, open source tools can play an important role in creating complete, user-driven solutions.
Open Services Networking (OSN) from 3Com is an open source initiative for enabling 3Com customers to enhance their networks with emerging technologies that best address their business challenges – simply, cost-effectively and without vendor tie-in. For more information, click here.
