[alerts@infosecnews.org: [ISN] Top Ten Reasons Why Ubuntu Is Best
for Enterprise Use]
Gregory W. MacPherson
greg at netpublishing.com
Mon Nov 19 07:00:48 PST 2007
Perhaps if the *BSD community would mirror some of these behaviors then
*BSD (which technically is superior to an LINUX) would receive this type
of press. Perhaps...but not likely.
-- Greg
----- Forwarded message from InfoSec News <alerts at infosecnews.org> -----
Mark Shuttleworth
founder of the Ubuntu Project
CIO
November 16, 2007
Ubuntu is the darling of the Linux desktop space. Voted No. 16 in PC
World's Top 100 Products for 2007 and now coming as an option for Dell
users straight out of the box, this Linux distribution is increasingly
deployed on corporate networks. With a free server edition, a
professional support organization and a growing band of enthusiasts in
and around the IT divisions of enterprises, there are many reasons to
consider Ubuntu when looking for a Linux solution. Here are the top 10
reasons why Ubuntu is best for enterprise use.
1. Users Love It
Ubuntu has made ease of use a priority. Deploying Linux desktops across
the enterprise was often seen as challenging for users who would balk at
using command shells. Ubuntu brings a fresh but familiar GUI environment
to the Linux desktop experience. Standard applications, easy Web and
wireless access, reasonable resource requirements???the user experience
with Ubuntu is reassuringly straightforward and predictable for typical
tasks.
2. The Platform Has Excellent Support
For those who want commercial support, Canonical offers 24/7 and 8 a.m.
to 5 p.m. support contracts for servers and desktops with strong SLAs.
There is also a global ecosystem of solution providers who work with
Ubuntu, and a very large community of developers and enthusiasts who
will often help to resolve issues online, free of charge.
3. Cost Savings
Many CIOs have already deployed Linux as a cost-effective replacement
for UNIX. But Ubuntu goes further, eliminating per-seat license costs
entirely, on both the desktop and the server, and allowing enterprise
deployments of identical code on developer workstations and production
servers with no license counting required. Companies can purchase
support contracts for the classes of machines where they actually want
access to SLA-based support, rather than being forced to pay a per-seat
cost for every machine regardless of its support requirement.
4. A Superlative Security Record
Security is a top priority for Ubuntu, which has been rated No. 1 for
security update quality and responsiveness in recent studies. Security
updates are freely available to all users of Ubuntu, with no
subscription required. Ubuntu is also conservative with updates; every
change made to the operating system or to the base applications is peer
reviewed for security. And of course, being an open source platform,
Ubuntu inherits the positive security characteristics of Linux in
general.
5. Frictionless Deployment
Whether on the desktop, the server or through a thin client, Ubuntu is
extremely easy to deploy. Single-disk deployment of a functioning system
in half an hour means there is no delay or difficulty in getting users
up and running. Also, since there are no license fees, there is no
reason to have different environments for testing, development and
production, and companies find they can move new infrastructure into
place much more efficiently.
6. A Huge Selection of Applications and Tools
There are more than 20,000 packages immediately available to Ubuntu
users. These include the largest selection of open-source tools and a
growing list of proprietary solutions. With Ubuntu, you can pick and
choose the packages that make sense for your organization and build a
specific system for your company. Ubuntu is not a one-size-fits-all
proposition; companies routinely develop their own in-house system
images, which include additional tools and configurations that are
appropriate for integration into their networks. Of course, the default
Ubuntu installation is a commonsense starting point that meets the needs
of most system administrators and office workers.
7. Thin Client Joy
Thin-client deployments have dramatically lower TCO than traditional
workstation-style software deployments. Ubuntu is a leader in
thin-client technology, supporting more thin-client architectures than
any other enterprise version of Linux. With the Web browser fast
becoming the de facto standard interface to internal corporate
applications, thin-client deployments offer significant advantages to
companies building out new offices. Think of a call center environment
with multiple stations talking to the same Web-based booking
application. With Ubuntu, a central server can run the desktop
environment for up to 30 users, making upgrades and maintenance a matter
of maintaining a single server or cluster.
8. Unleash Your IT Talent
Open source and free software is built on participation, community and
collaboration. With Ubuntu, your IT team has extraordinary visibility
into the design and engineering behind the operating system and has the
opportunity to reshape that infrastructure to suit your needs better.
Increasingly, corporations who use free software like Ubuntu encourage
their IT staff to work directly with the developers of the tools they
use. It's the most empowering opportunity you can present to your teams
and will produce returns in better software, more motivated staff and
improved skill levels within the organization.
9. Access A Whole New Skills Pool
Companies like Google make heavy use of free software and recruit talent
from the free software community, too. Many top IT graduates today list
the ability to work with free software as a significant factor in their
choice of employer. Companies that have good insight into the free
software world and use Linux in appropriate ways are able to attract
those graduates and offer them a more productive work environment.
10. Predictable Releases
Ubuntu makes a new release every six months, which includes full support
for the latest hardware and free software applications. Those releases
are maintained with free security updates for 18 months. Every two to
three years, Ubuntu makes a Long Term Support release which is supported
for three years on desktops and five years on servers. Upgrades from
release to release are fully supported and can often be automated.
Organizations have the freedom to choose the optimal mix of cutting-edge
and long-term releases for their needs.
With such compelling reasons, how can you go wrong with Ubuntu?
-=-
Mark Shuttleworth is founder of the Ubuntu Project, an enterprise Linux
distribution that is freely available worldwide and has both
cutting-edge desktop and enterprise server editions. He founded Thawte,
a company specializing in digital certificates and cryptography, which
he sold to VeriSign in 1999, and founded HBD Venture Capital and The
Shuttleworth Foundation. He also flew in space as a cosmonaut member of
the crew of Soyuz mission TM34 to the International Space Station.
?? 2007 CXO Media Inc.
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----- End forwarded message -----
--
Gregory W. MacPherson
Global Network Exploitation Specialist, CISSP
http://www.netpublishing.com/greg/
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