At the forefront of this internet age, enterprise infrastructure has been key to providing many business solutions. The enterprise infrastructure market, especially in the IoT space is undergoing a sea change.
Open source middleware has earned its place, because it fuels the rapid growth of the Internet of Things (IoT). Several organizations are now opting for open source middleware to solve their integration challenges rather than relying on conventional proprietary solutions. In a highly distributed environment, businesses encounter new concerns such as data explosion, integrating data between sensors, smart devices and enterprises. The role of a middleware technology cannot be undermined in addressing these issues.
As an unsung hero of technical infrastructure, open source middleware is gaining traction as the future leader for IoT solutions. Essentially, a middleware solution is a layer between two systems that enables seamless connectivity between several layers. Open source middleware is poised to assist IoT vendors, to keep up with the changes in the market and develop their technology at a faster pace.
Here are a few reasons why open source middleware is the right fit for the world governed by IoT:
Flexibility and agility
In the enterprise market, IoT solutions present incredibly complicated requirements that are often not within the capabilities of an IoT platform. Open source software is typically much less resource-intensive than proprietary software so much so that it allows you to run it well even on older hardware. The time for upgradation is therefore left to the business user’s personal preferences.
Ownership and Customizability
One of the rich dividends of adopting an open source software is the ability to own it and tweak the existing code to suit your needs. Owning the source code of your solution enables you to modify and customize it based on your needs and create a distinct solution that sets it apart from other competitors.
Moreover, since it is continually evolving in real time, it is possible to further enhance your solution through integration with third-party software components. This in turn, helps to expand its functional capabilities, thereby adding to its business value.
Cost-efficient maintenance
Open source middleware is generally more cost-effective than a proprietary solution. In an enterprise environment, open source is better equipped to provide superior capability. Additionally, they score a tad better in terms of scalability. Enterprises can start small and then scale up as they evolve, based on their core functions. Considering that enterprises are often constrained by budgets, it makes financial sense to explore open source solutions. Open source middleware is therefore a good investment for the future since maintenance and implementation costs are well within reach.
Support options
Vibrant community knowledge-sharing is a highpoint of using open source software. Online communities with excellent documentation, forum discussions, mailing lists, newsgroups and even live support chat are part of the support options for open source software.
Solid information security
Open-source software has an edge over proprietary system, in that it offers complete visibility into the technology we use. As the name indicates, open source software provides an open platform that does not necessarily trust a third party vendor’s claims. One can see what’s under the hood, amend it in such a way that it fits one’s needs, and add more layers of security if required. In the realm of the IoT, data security has become particularly significant. In this context, transparency gives open-source software a definite edge.
Do send your feedback on this blog to services@suyati.com
Related Posts:
Meet Minoca: The Feature-Rich Open Source OS designed for IoT