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They can inspect the code to find out how functions are performed, can look for potential vulnerabilities and, importantly for security software, make sure that it does not contain any malicious code which performs secret functions. Many cybersecurity professionals prefer open source security software as they feel they can place more trust in the code. Some security software vendors develop commercial security software and release elements of the source code so it can be inspected. In the truest sense of the term, open source refers to software that has had the source code placed in the public domain and is available for anyone to inspect, use, and modify as they see fit. There are two ‘types’ of open source security software. What are the Advantages of Open Source Security Software?
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There are many open source security tools that can be used free of charge which can help better protect networks, identify vulnerabilities before they can be exploited by threat actors, discover cyberattacks in progress, and assist with the response and remediation of cyber threats. Open source security software provides a way to improve security capabilities at little to no cost. 67% of respondents said they have experienced at least one significant security incident in the past 12 months, and a study by Keeper Security suggests 75% of all healthcare organizations have experienced a cyberattack in the past 12 months.Īllocating more funding to cover cybersecurity improvements can certainly help to improve an organization’s security posture and prevent cyberattacks, but there are often competing priorities and budget increases are simply not an option. 40% of cybersecurity professionals said 6% or less of their IT budget is spent on cybersecurity, and 40% said their budget has either not changed or has decreased in the past 12 months. healthcare cybersecurity professionals, cybersecurity budgets have remained static over the past few years despite the increase in cyberattacks on the healthcare industry. There are many open source security software options available to healthcare organizations that can be leveraged to significantly improve security capabilities and better defend networks and data against cyber threats.Īccording to a recent HIMSS survey of U.S.
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