Open Source vs. Closed Source Software

We are often asked why we use a Closed Source CMS in designing and developing websites for our clients.  Let us start by first providing a brief explanation of the differences.

Open Source means there are a lot of people working on the software.  Documentation is usually easy to find and there are plenty of people out there offering their support input, which may make development a little easier, depending on your skill level.  Regular updates may be provided that are on-going attempts to improve and secure the product.  Open Source systems let you see all the internal components of the software, and, if you have the skills, you can often change it to suit your needs.

However, because many people have access to Open Source code, this access creates a higher risk for hacking.  If you choose to design in an Open Source system, your development team is going to need to put continual time and work into preventing third-party tampering.  This difficulty of this effort is dependent on many factors such as how many people need to have access to sensitive areas of the site, how frequently are security patches updated, and where is your website hosted.

Closed Source software usually equates to better security and support.  For an e-commerce site, it isn’t necessarily more secure to go with a closed source system, but unlike open source systems, developers don’t have to spend as much time securing code.  If a developer runs into any issues using a Closed Source software, providers are readily available to offer you support.  This is a true convenience, because it cuts down on the development time and cost.

With Closed Source, the barrier to entry may at times be higher.  Although this is not always the case, you may have to pay for the software or service.  On the other hand, using a Closed Source CMS quite often eliminates the need for on-going support or website maintenance.

Bottom line, it all boils down to the abilities of your in-house tech staff, if you have one, and your budget.  Some enterprise companies design with open source because they have qualified developers.  If you don’t feel that your team is ready to take on extra challenges of working with an Open Source software, then Closed Source (and its built-in support) typically is the best route.

Reference: Mashable

Terradon CommunicationsGroup selected to work with the Kentico CMS because of its reputation for security, ease of use, quicker development time, and lower development costs.  In addition, TCG has licensed the Kentico CMS source code and can provide our clients with any custom programming requirements.  TCG does not charge our clients a licensing fee for the use of the closed source Kentico CMS and offers our clients exceptional website design, development, and on-going support services. 

Source: Brent Pauley