It started with shareware and freeware. PKZip® was on every desktop, and it solved the vital problem of getting all our data on to a 1.44MB diskette. The cleverly named "AsEasyAs" was a very capable and innovative alternative to Lotus®-123. However, corporations were reluctant to adopt these tools as an integral part of the information technology infrastructure. Fears about licensing, viruses, spyware and copyright infringement limited the deployments of these kinds of technologies.

The concerns of two decades ago about software that could be freely copied and installed still exist today. This whitepaper explores the role of Open Source in modern IT organizations, offering advice on where it can be exploited safely and where caution is necessary.