Free as in a puppy : The hidden costs of open-source

Open-source software is often perceived as "free" in terms of cost, but as the saying goes, it’s "free as in a puppy"—not "free as in beer." While there are no licensing fees, adopting open-source solutions comes with hidden costs that organizations must account for.

In this session, we will uncover the true cost of open-source adoption, beyond just the initial setup. We’ll discuss key challenges, including:

Training & Skill Development – Ensuring teams are equipped to manage and maintain open-source tools.

• Infrastructure & Hosting – Managing the costs of self-hosted vs. managed solutions.
• Security & Compliance – Handling vulnerabilities, audits, and regulatory requirements.
• Support & Maintenance – The trade-off between vendor-backed support and community-driven solutions.
• Bug Fixes & Customization – The reality of investing engineering hours to adapt open-source to specific needs.

By the end of this talk, attendees will gain a realistic perspective on open-source adoption, helping them make informed decisions about when and how to integrate open-source technologies effectively.

Who Should Attend?

• DevOps Engineers, Platform Teams, and Software Architects
• IT Leaders and Decision-Makers
• Anyone considering open-source tools in their tech stack

Let’s rethink what "free" really means in the open-source world!