Almost 80% of businesses are running open-source software

While open-source software makes up a disappointingly small portion of the software consumer by individuals, that portion is nearly 80% for businesses. That’s the good news. The bad news is that the vast majority of those companies do an absolutely abysmal job of managing that software. This all according to Black Duck Software, a provider legal solutions and logistics relating to open-source software. 

The good news is that open-source software is used in the vast majority, 78 percent, of businesses. The bad news is that far less do even a half-way decent job of managing it. Black Duck Software, the open-source software (OSS) logistics and legal solutions provider, and North Bridge, a seed-to-growth venture capital firm, have announced the results of the ninth annual Future of Open Source Survey. They found that the enterprise is adopting open source like crazy, but they’re not managing it worth a darn. Lou Shipley, Black Duck’s CEO, said in a statement, “In the results this year, it has become more evident that companies need their management and governance of open source to catch up to their usage. This is critical to reducing potential security, legal, and operational risks while allowing companies to reap the full benefits OSS provides.”