For many companies, the question is no longer whether to use open source tools, but rather how to implement them with the appropriate governance and controls. Have security concerns been accounted for? How does one effectively institute controls over bad code? Are there legal implications for using open source software?
Using open source data modeling tools has been a topic of debate as large organizations, including government agencies and financial institutions, are under increasing pressure to keep up with technological innovation to maintain competitiveness. Organizations must be flexible in development and identify cost-efficient gains to reach their organizational goals, and using the right tools is crucial. Organizations must often choose between open source software, i.e., software whose source code can be modified by anyone, and closed software, i.e., proprietary software with no permissions to alter or distribute the underlying code.
The financial industry has traditionally been slow to adopt the latest data and technology trends, and the case of open source software is no exception. While open source has been around for decades, we’re only now seeing its manifestation within the finance and mortgage industries. Many institutions are exploring the viability of open source within the financial industry but hesitate to act because of the potential risks open source can expose them to.