A survey conducted by the Standish Group has trained the spotlight on open-source adoption levels and how open source is reshaping the software industry.

The Standish report says that open-source software reduces initial costs of launching new projects as also helps rescue companies from 'hidden costs' associated with packaged software upgrades. One of the main advantages of open-source software is enhanced security. More than 70 percent people surveyed said they found Red Hat Linux less vulnerable to security issues than Microsoft's operating system. On issues like quality and reliability, 22 percent of those surveyed found Red Hat Linux as offering higher quality than Windows while 66 percent found the two products more or less on par. One of the most significant drivers of adoption, as enlisted by the report, is the ability to adapt existing open-source applications to meet specialized needs.

In the words of the report: "Using open source creates an instant baseline for any project. This baseline not only includes working programs, but also requirements, documentation, support procedures, and education material. In many cases, especially in infrastructure software, the baseline is a fully-developed and working system." For the rest, the Standish report highlights some of the weaknesses that impede the adoption of open-source. However it concludes on a positive note saying open-source software is a big win for businesses that are saving billions and passing them on to customers.