Information Security: Open vs. Closed Systems for Businesses

This report delves into the comparison between open and closed systems within the realm of information security. It begins by contrasting open source and closed source systems, highlighting differences in cost, data collection methods, and security features. The report provides a comparative table outlining the key distinctions between open and closed source systems, emphasizing aspects such as cost, data collection, source code availability, and security levels. Furthermore, it explores the ramifications of utilizing open versus closed systems, particularly for business applications. The analysis indicates that closed systems are often preferable for businesses due to their enhanced functionalities, robust security measures, and user-friendly interfaces. Closed systems offer improved customer experiences, integration capabilities, and dedicated technical support, making them a more suitable choice for operational and functional applications. The report also references the role of APIs and the absence of licensing concerns with closed systems. The report concludes by summarizing the advantages of closed source systems for business, including round-the-clock services and customization options.

Running head: INFORMATION SECURITY
Information Security
Name of the Student:
Name of the University:

1INFORMATION SECURITY
Difference between open and closed systems
Code modification is not possible every time but users who are interested to make such
code modifications must possess either open or closed system. The differences between the open
and closed system are elaborated in a tabular format:
Factors Open source system Closed source system
Cost The open source systems are
free, only voluntary people
donations are done. In order to
install such system
CD/UBS/DVD are used.
Closed source system are
always costlier than the open
systems
Data collection In order to collect user data
open source system are not
useful.
Closed system offers strong
security for the users
Availability of sources Any viewer can see the open
system codes or theoretically
anyone can view the open
system codes (Rosenkranz et
al., 2015).
The programming codes of
closed system are never
available to the third parties.
Even though the
vulnerabilities are also
identified by the owner
companies.
Security As open source codes are
available to everyone without
any user restrictions therefore,
Only the vendors can fix
closed source system related
problems. Fixing problems for

2INFORMATION SECURITY
it can be modified by anyone.
Open source software gives
ability to change needful
source codes.
this system is time consuming.
Source code availability for
the system is completely
restricted.
Difference between open and closed sources
Open sources are mostly free of cost, thus it can be identified as a best suited source.
Whereas; closed sources are costlier than others and designed according to user requirements.
The services provided by open sources are better than open sources because closed sources holds
dedicated service team. For using closed source software professional training is needed but for
using open sources always training is not required. In order to upgrade the open sources users
may not require paying additional amount but for closed sources additional payment would be
required. Closed sources are always user friendly than open sources. Closed sources are stable,
customer band product focused. Needful technical supports for the open sources are not available
every time.
Ramification for using Open Systems/Source versus Closed Systems/Source for a business
In order to fulfill operational and functional applications in business instead of open
sources the users should use closed sources because it helps improving the functionalities,
security, and support and user friendliness (Lovelace et al., 2017). The customer experiences get
improved with combination of other programs. Closed system technically supports the business
application and restricts the user’s access as a result unwanted users will not be able to access
data from the server without permission. It gives ability to integrate system with API. The

3INFORMATION SECURITY
business owners will not require fixing any component while anything will run wrong. The users
will not have to think about the terms and conditions of licensing. Closed system gives 24X7
services to their users. Based on user requirements the closed source system can be created and
customized to fulfill the tailoring needs which is not absent in case of open sources. The source
codes of the closed systems are not shared to the third party associates.

4INFORMATION SECURITY
References
Lovelace, R., Goodman, A., Aldred, R., Berkoff, N., Abbas, A., & Woodcock, J. (2017). The
Propensity to Cycle Tool: An open source online system for sustainable transport
planning.
Rosenkranz, P., Wählisch, M., Baccelli, E., & Ortmann, L. (2015, May). A distributed test
system architecture for open-source IoT software. In Proceedings of the 2015 Workshop
on IoT challenges in Mobile and Industrial Systems (pp. 43-48). ACM.