Open Source vs Propriety – Getting What You Pay For

Written by Bryan Soltis with Kentico.

Sometimes paying for a service is worth every cent.

Building a robust, enterprise application is a tough job. Integrating systems, changing requirements, and volumes of content push companies to their limits, while squeezing their revenue ad time in the process.  Walking into the project without the right tools can lead to disaster, not to mention creating a risky endeavor. Companies need to have the right skills, direction, and support to be successful. Isn’t that security worth something?

Commercial products come at a price, but with them come security, stability, and peace of mind. For over 16 years, I have been coding sites and portals, dealing with nearly every requirement you can think of. I have used open source, closed source, home-grown solutions, and commercial products. Through all of it, I’ve found that having a company I can turn to for support and assistance is invaluable. Not having that support isn’t worth the risk when it comes to large projects with tight budgets.

Don’t get me wrong, I definitely don’t hate the open source world. Every platform has its place, and there are certain situations that don’t require the backing of a commercial product. Businesses with limited budgets and the ability to assume some risk can certainly benefit from low-cost, open source platforms.

When it comes to enterprise projects, I firmly believe proprietary solutions are king. A financially-backed company with dedicated resources can make or break a project by providing solutions and assistance to their clients. Combine that with published updates and teams dedicated to improving the product, and companies have a solid foundation to build their solutions. And that is why more and more enterprise companies are leveraging commercial CMS products for their applications. They recognize the value of having a partner they can depend on to help them achieve success.


I’m looking forward to upcoming CMS-Connected show on 06/30/2015 where I will be talking with Arje Cahn of Hippo. Come hear my thoughts on this eternal debate and get the information you need to be successful with your projects. And maybe we’ll arm wrestle or something if we can’t crown a winner!
 

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