Security Strategies in Linux Platforms and Applications, 3rd Edition

Identifying Your Support Options

The companies behind Linux distributions have found a way to make money: by selling their expertise. Organizations that purchase this type of expertise can expect some level of support with respect to updates, hardware certification, and certain core applications. Because these are the people who put together and tested these distributions, they are qualified to help you put their software to work. Given the open-source nature of this software, others may have similar levels of expertise. In fact, other companies also sell similar levels of support.

Some corporate officers are opposed to using software developed by volunteers. Many of these managers recognize that free software requires people with the skills ...