NaN-tic bets on the disappearance of "lock-ins" as a technological trend of 2018
Quick summary
The article examines how cloud services can lock customers in through incompatible formats and contractual conditions that make changing providers more expensive. It highlights open technology models, such as Docker’s container platform, as a route to greater independence and flexibility. It also discusses growing concern about security and the role of employee training in preventing cyber threats.
Contents
For second year in a row, NaN-tic contributes to OpenExpo Europe's study of open source technology. This is a document in which 80 experts have participated this year and who want to point out and share the main trends that are being detected in the growing open source technology business.
"Docker in 2018 or the disappearance of lock-ins in the cloud" is the title of the article released by Albert Cervera. NaN-tic's founder focuses on the fact that in recent years many of the companies offering cloud services have incorporated so-called lock-ins or tolls into their business models. These are strategies and/or clauses in contracts that aim to retain customers and discourage potential changes of supplier or even product. Using own formats not compatible with third parties, for example, is one of the most used tactics to trigger the price of any migration to other platforms.
It is no coincidence that according to Bain Cloud Computing Survey, the concern about lock-ins went from 7% to 22% between 2012 and 2015. Nor is it that Gartner has predicted that lock-ins will surpass cybersecurity as main concern of companies in terms of services in the cloud.
Given this scenario, Albert Cervera focuses on companies that offer open and toll-free technology. This is the case of Docker, a company that offers an open source platform based on a container system to guarantee companies absolute technological independence. For Cervera, these new models of providing powerful, flexible services without hidden ties will end dominating the market.
Safety, successful forecast
In the OpenExpo report of the year 2017, NaN-tic placed computer security as one of the aspects to be underlined. The reality ended up giving all the reason to the forecast, with massive attacks to all type of multinational companies and public organisms. In this article, Albert Cervera celebrates that these episodes have served to raise awareness and to encourage the emergence of interesting initiatives to help companies in this topic. One of the most outstanding is SafeUser, an online training platform that explains to the employees of the companies how to adopt preventive measures facing cybersecurity threats.
SafeUser is a company based, as NaN-tic, at Infinitum, a hub highly specialized in the development of technology and communication services for companies.
Frequently asked questions
What is a lock-in in a cloud service?
It is a strategy or contractual condition intended to retain a customer and discourage switching provider or product. Using proprietary formats that are incompatible with third parties is one example discussed in the article.
How can lock-ins make migration more expensive?
When data or services use proprietary formats that are not compatible with third parties, moving them to another platform can become more expensive.
What does open technology offer in response to this risk?
The article highlights models designed to avoid lock-in and provide greater technological independence through powerful, flexible services without hidden restrictions.
Why is employee training relevant to cybersecurity?
Because online training can teach employees preventive measures to adopt against cybersecurity threats, an approach the article presents as a useful initiative.
Related articles
Open Source and Trends
The definitive guide to choosing your business management software - CHAPTER 5
This chapter examines whether free software is a suitable option when choosing an ERP and weighs its main advantages and drawbacks. It highlights cost, flexibility and transparency, while also noting technology changes and the reservations an open-source choice may raise; the advice is to assess it without prejudice.
Tryton
Safety in Tryton (video in catalan)
This session presents Tryton’s security capabilities and explains how the ERP and its data are protected against cyberattacks and user errors. The article provides access to both the video and the presentation from the security event held in Sabadell.
Open Source and Trends
Nobody will steal my company data
Attacks affecting the Washington Post, Tesco Bank, Yahoo and a university show that data theft is not limited to large multinationals. The article introduces a free information-security event covering mobile devices, ERP systems, human resources and infrastructure, while encouraging organisations and users to reduce their exposure to risk.