In today’s business environment, Linux is fast becoming the system of choice for enterprise computing. Using Linux can give your business the range of options and choices that are necessary to remain competitive in times of rapid change. Lower costs, tighter security, compatibility with existing systems, scalability and superior performance are some of the benefits that Linux can offer.
SECURITY
Because Linux is inherently more secure than Windows, many business are choosing to keep their data safe with the Linux operating system. The three top criteria that business cite for choosing Linux are: Reliability, Security, and Performance. Security levels in Linux generally exceed those in Windows, and provide a significantly more secure out-of-the-box environment.
Moreover, Linux systems are rarely the target of attacks, and those attacks tend to be limited in scope because user accounts and server applications do not have access to the facilities that viruses use to infect systems and destroy data. 92% of Linux systems have never been infected by a virus.
POWERFUL PERFORMANCE
Linux used to be found only on the fringes of the business IT world. Not any more! It is fast becoming an integral part of the mission-critical business server, and is becoming the workhorse of the enterprise environment while providing outstanding performance, reliability and manageability. And when Linux performance is compared to other operating systems, Linux consistently comes out on top. Wide-scale support by hardware and software vendors also indicate growing comfort and adoption for Linux.
VIRTUALIZATION
Linux server virtualization is a viable option for customers who want to save money and improve resource usage. Customers will typically use Linux server virtualization to save money on hardware and/or increase the overall use of resources within a physical box. Other benefits include greater flexibility and speed of deployment of new host systems. Consolidating servers has a large impact on the total cost of ownership (TCO) through the life of the server. Not only does consolidation reduce hardware expense, but also reductions in power, cooling, and floor space requirements by up to 50%-70% can be obtained, all while increasing service levels to the business.
SCALABILITY AND FLEXIBILITY
With Linux, you get an operating system that’s scalable, and gives you flexibility. Deploy high-performance Linux servers with your existing systems. Then, as you upgrade, you switch more of your systems over to Linux.
Because it’s so flexible, companies are able to avoid being ‘locked-in’ to one vendor. Choose whichever company you want for your hardware vendor. Plus, employees can continue using their familiar desktops - so there’s no learning curve for your users.
CONSIDERABLE SAVINGS
Many companies are taking another look at Linux because Linux can save them a LOT of money on their IT costs. Linux can be downloaded free of charge on the Internet, or purchased from a vendor for a low subscription price – which typically includes maintenance, patches, security updates, and new releases as part of your subscription fees.
For many businesses, simply saving the costs of license fees for either Proprietary UNIX or Windows systems can more than cover the costs of migrating services to Linux. On average, migrating a single service to Linux can save a company 90% of what the same service would cost under UNIX or Windows license fees. With Linux also moving into the desktop PC market, potentially saving hundreds of dollars per year per desktop, we will be seeing a lot more of Linux.
