How do enterprises adopt open-source software?

Enterprises adopt open-source software (OSS) by first evaluating projects that align with their technical and business needs. This involves assessing factors like the project’s license, community activity, security practices, and long-term viability. For example, a company needing a distributed streaming platform might evaluate Apache Kafka’s documentation, GitHub activity, and compatibility with existing infrastructure. Legal teams review licenses (e.g., MIT, GPL) to ensure compliance with obligations like code redistribution. Technical teams test the software in proof-of-concept environments to verify performance and scalability. If a project meets these criteria, it moves into formal adoption.

Once a project is selected, enterprises integrate it into their systems, often customizing it to fit specific workflows. This might involve writing extensions, integrating APIs, or optimizing configurations. For instance, Netflix uses Linux-based OSS tools but adds custom kernel patches and monitoring agents to handle massive streaming workloads. Enterprises also contribute code back to the community when possible—such as fixing bugs or adding features—to maintain alignment with upstream updates. Internal documentation and training ensure teams understand how to use and modify the software. This phase requires balancing customization with the need to stay updated, as diverging too far from the main project can create maintenance challenges.

Post-adoption, enterprises focus on governance and long-term maintenance. This includes setting up processes for security patching, version upgrades, and dependency tracking. Many organizations use tools like GitHub Advanced Security or GitLab’s dependency scanning to automate vulnerability detection. For example, Red Hat’s OpenShift provides enterprises with a supported Kubernetes distribution, combining OSS flexibility with enterprise-grade SLAs. Internal teams often manage OSS alongside proprietary tools, using centralized registries or artifact repositories to track versions. Regular audits ensure compliance with licenses and internal policies. By establishing clear ownership and processes, enterprises mitigate risks while leveraging OSS for innovation and cost efficiency.