SaaS solution for Open Source

OpenLogic, Inc., a provider of enterprise open source software solutions encompassing hundreds of open source packages, today announced the availability of OpenLogic Exchange (OLEX) Enterprise Edition, the industry’s first Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) solution for comprehensive sourcing and governance of open source in the enterprise.

“Global 2000 organizations want to govern the use of open source in much the same way that they’ve managed commercial software packages,” said Steve Grandchamp, CEO of OpenLogic. “Managing the legal and compliance risks associated with using dozens, if not hundreds of open source packages, is a real headache for many organizations. OLEX Enterprise Edition, provided as a SaaS offering, makes it even easier for companies to mitigate these risks, and ultimately encourages broader, more strategic use of open source across the organization.”

The proliferation of open source combined with mixed environments presents multiple management, compliance, legal and risk challenges. On average, OpenLogic’s Global 2000 customers have deployed nearly 100 open source packages. However, because open source software often bypasses traditional procurement and approval processes, enterprises find it difficult to ensure compliance with open source licenses, internal policies and industry regulations. In order to effectively manage open source, IT managers and legal and compliance teams need a centralized point of access to manage the use of open source software. OLEX Enterprise Edition provides a centralized repository with built-in governance capabilities to:

Streamline internal request and approval processes;
Ensure compliance with open source policies and open source licenses; and
Provide an audit trail of open source usage.

"The widespread availability of open source solutions makes adoption and version control very difficult to manage," said Clay Leeds, user of the OLEX Enterprise packaged version of the Apache FOP XSL Formatting Objects (XSL-FO) engine. "OLEX Enterprise provides a reliable library of enterprise-ready open source packages that we can count on, enabling greater flexibility in software development and increased communication and collaboration across our business."

Built on top of OpenLogic Exchange (OLEX), a free web site where companies can find, research, and download certified, enterprise-ready open source packages, OLEX Enterprise Edition provides:

· Secure corporate accounts: Enable enterprises to securely track and govern open source usage;
· User roles and permissions: Control open source activities by technical staff, managers and administrators;
· Audit reports: Track and analyze open source downloads; and
· Open source approval system: Automates internal processes to approve the use of open source for internal projects. The system allows technical staff to make requests for open source usage; and enables managers and legal staff to review and approve requests. Participants can also monitor progress and disposition of the approval process.

Pricing & Availability
OLEX Enterprise Edition is available now. The open source approval features will be available in December of 2007. Pricing is by subscription, based on the number of users.

http://www.openlogic.com