Security continues to top the list of concerns for organizations as we end 2024 and head into 2025. As cyberattacks grow in sophistication and scale, businesses are rethinking their strategies to protect critical systems and data. Open-source technology, often perceived as a double-edged sword in terms of security, is proving to be a powerful tool in building secure, resilient infrastructures. 

SUSE, a global leader in enterprise-grade open-source solutions, is at the forefront of this revolution. According to Vishal Ghariwala, Chief Technology Officer at SUSE Asia Pacific, “SUSE provides solutions that are secure, interoperable, and empower enterprises to innovate, ultimately delivering value-added services to end consumers.” This ethos has driven SUSE’s success across industries, from finance to automotive, proving that open-source technologies aren’t just about openness—they are about building stronger, safer and more resilient systems. 

Breaking the Myths Around Open Source Security 

One of the most pervasive misconceptions about open-source technology is that its transparency makes it inherently insecure. The logic follows that, since anyone can view the source code, it becomes more vulnerable to exploitation. However, as Ghariwala explains, this openness is precisely what strengthens its security. 

“If you hide things, you may think you are safe, but once compromised, you might not even know it. Open-source projects leverage the power of a global community, with many eyes constantly reviewing the code. This collaborative scrutiny allows for faster identification and resolution of vulnerabilities,” he says. 

Open-source projects are frequently reviewed and analyzed by a broad community of developers, security experts, and organizations, making them inherently resilient against security vulnerabilities. Unlike proprietary systems, which rely on a limited internal team for updates, open-source systems benefit from the collective knowledge and efforts of a global network. This transparency accelerates the identification and resolution of security flaws and minimizes the risk of undetected vulnerabilities. 

The Security Framework of Open-Source Technologies 

SUSE has built its security framework around best practices in open-source governance and proactive risk management. One of the pillars of SUSE’s security is code auditing. Every update or change to SUSE’s open-source software goes through a rigorous code audit process. Developers and security experts in the community conduct continuous reviews to ensure that any potential vulnerabilities are quickly addressed before they can be exploited. 

Additionally, vulnerability management within SUSE open-source platforms involves tracking and analyzing emerging threats. SUSE’s security teams regularly patch and update the software to address newly discovered vulnerabilities, ensuring that users are always operating with the most secure versions. 

Incident response is another vital aspect of SUSE’s approach to open-source security. In the event of a cyberattack or security breach, SUSE’s dedicated security team is responsible for handling all SUSE product-related security incidents. This allows for rapid containment and recovery. This decentralized, transparent approach to security provides organizations with greater visibility and control over their systems compared to traditional proprietary solutions. 

SUSE’s Commitment to Secure Open Source 

SUSE has built its reputation on providing enterprise-grade open-source solutions that ensure organizations can innovate securely. SUSE’s solutions are designed to support highly available, secure, and scalable systems across a range of industries. Some of SUSE’s flagship offerings include: 

1. SUSE Linux Solutions: Robust Linux operating system solutions tailored for enterprise needs, providing the foundation for secure, mission-critical workloads. 

2. Cloud-Native Solutions: These include SUSE Rancher Prime, a leading enterprise container management platform, with centralized authentication, access control, observability, and built-in security across the entire stack.   

3. Edge Computing Solutions: SUSE’s Edge solutions bring computing power to remote or edge locations, enabling secure operations even in challenging environments. 

SUSE’s commitment to open-source transparency and support for its solutions ensures that its users benefit from the same features regardless of whether they choose the open-source or enterprise version of the software. “We don’t create paywalls or separate proprietary versions,” Ghariwala asserts. “The features you get in the open source version are the same as what you get with our enterprise-grade products. The major difference is that our enterprise products are backed by support, patches, and certifications.” 

This unique approach gives organizations the flexibility to adopt cutting-edge open-source technologies without compromising on enterprise-level security and performance. 

Comparative Analysis: Open Source vs. Proprietary Systems 

One of the critical advantages of open-source technology over proprietary systems is the reduced vendor lock-in. Open-source solutions enable organizations to avoid being tethered to a single vendor, which can limit flexibility and innovation. By leveraging open-source tools like SUSE’s Linux Enterprise and Rancher, companies can seamlessly integrate various technologies into their infrastructure, creating a more agile, future-proof system. 

Another advantage is the transparency of open-source systems. In proprietary systems, vulnerabilities may remain undetected for extended periods, leaving organizations exposed to cyber threats. With open-source, vulnerabilities are more quickly identified, allowing for faster patching and reducing the window of exposure. 

In contrast, proprietary solutions often limit access to source code, making it challenging for security experts outside of the company to perform audits or contribute to improvements. Open-source solutions, by their nature, encourage collaboration, which strengthens the overall security and reliability of the system. 

Enhancing Resilience Through Security Innovations 

The rise of cloud-native architectures has transformed how applications are developed and deployed. However, this shift has also expanded the attack surface, requiring new approaches to security. SUSE has embraced this challenge with the SUSE Security (formerly NeuVector) platform. 

SUSE Security provides comprehensive container security, scanning code for vulnerabilities, ensuring compliance with industry standards, and continuously monitoring for potential threats. “Modern threats like zero-day attacks and ransomware require solutions that are proactive, not just reactive,” Ghariwala explains. “NeuVector SUSE Security employs behavioral-based security to anticipate and mitigate potential vulnerabilities.” 

In addition to scanning, SUSE Security’s zero-trust approach monitors application runtime behaviours, automatically identifying deviations that may indicate a threat. This ensures that even unknown vulnerabilities can be mitigated before they are exploited. 

SUSE’s Rancher Prime platform enhances resilience by enabling secure deployment and management of containerized applications. Rancher Prime’s application catalog offers trusted software artifacts, ensuring that developers can build with confidence. Furthermore, its Software Bill of Materials (SBOM) provides a clear dependency chain, enabling rapid identification and resolution of vulnerabilities. 

Case Study: Hyundai Motor Company 

Hyundai Motor Company’s transition to becoming a leader in All-Connected Cars highlights the critical role of open-source technology in enabling innovation. By integrating SUSE Rancher Prime, Hyundai achieved a remarkable 99.95% service level agreement for its Kubernetes-based services. This reliability has empowered Hyundai to deliver over-the-air updates for its software-defined vehicles, enhancing features like safety, navigation, and performance. 

The flexibility and scalability of Rancher Prime allowed Hyundai’s development team to focus on creating cutting-edge technologies for connected vehicles, rather than dealing with the complexity of infrastructure management. “Rancher Prime’s intuitive interface has revolutionized how we manage clusters, drastically reducing setup and management time,” said the Head of Hyundai’s Car Cloud Platform Development Team. 

Case Study: IDC Frontier 

IDC Frontier, a subsidiary of SoftBank Group, used SUSE NeuVector to secure its cloud platform, enabling its customers to confidently deploy containerized applications. NeuVector’s comprehensive security features—including real-time monitoring, vulnerability scanning, and compliance checks—have been crucial in safeguarding IDC Frontier’s services against emerging cyber threats. 

As businesses increasingly rely on cloud-native applications, solutions like NeuVector provide the security and flexibility needed to meet the demands of modern, dynamic environments. IDC Frontier’s use of SUSE’s open-source tools demonstrates the strength of open-source solutions in securing cloud environments at scale. 

Case Study: National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) 

Handling over 14 million transactions daily, the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) needed a secure, high-performance solution to meet the demands of India’s growing digital payments ecosystem. SUSE Linux Enterprise Server provided NPCI with the stability and security required to support its complex infrastructure. By leveraging SUSE’s enterprise-grade solutions, NPCI achieved high availability, reliability, and robust data protection, ensuring smooth transactions even under heavy load. 

NPCI’s success story highlights how SUSE’s open-source solutions can support critical financial services, where uptime and security are paramount. 

Emerging Threats and SUSE’s Forward-Thinking Approach 

The cybersecurity landscape is constantly evolving, with new threats emerging regularly. Among the most concerning are AI-generated malware and ransomware-as-a-service, which are reshaping the threat landscape. “Tools like FraudGPT and WormGPT are now available on the dark web, enabling even non-technical users to create sophisticated malware,” Ghariwala warns. These tools make it easier for cybercriminals to launch targeted attacks at scale, bypassing traditional defense mechanisms. 

SUSE’s proactive security measures, including its zero-trust architecture and behavioral-based monitoring, help organizations defend against these sophisticated threats. By embedding security at every layer of the infrastructure, from development to deployment, SUSE ensures that organizations are prepared for both known and unknown challenges. 

Interoperability: The Cornerstone of Digital Resilience 

Digital resilience is more than just surviving a cyberattack—it’s about ensuring continuity and minimizing disruption. Open-source technology plays a critical role in achieving this by promoting interoperability and reducing vendor lock-in. 

“Interoperability is essential for building resilient infrastructures,” Ghariwala emphasizes. “SUSE solutions work seamlessly with other technologies, giving organizations the flexibility and choice to adopt diverse IT stacks. This diversity in choice is crucial for avoiding single points of failure.” 

The recent CrowdStrike incident serves as a stark reminder of the risks associated with single-vendor dependency. Ghariwala points out that “a dual-vendor strategy, incorporating open-source solutions, can significantly enhance resilience by providing fallback options.” 

Compliance and the Malaysian Cybersecurity Bill 

The passage of Malaysia’s Cybersecurity Bill highlights the growing regulatory pressure on organizations to maintain secure, resilient systems. SUSE’s solutions help businesses comply with these evolving regulations, ensuring that critical infrastructure remains protected against cyber threats. 

“Our philosophy emphasizes interoperability, technology choice and resilience, helping customers avoid the risks of software concentration,” Ghariwala explains. SUSE’s open-source solutions are designed to be flexible and adaptable, allowing organizations to meet compliance standards while maintaining operational agility. 

The Future of Open Source and Cybersecurity 

Looking ahead, SUSE envisions open-source technology playing an even greater role in cybersecurity and digital resilience. “We’ll continue to focus on security as a horizontal pillar across all our offerings,” Ghariwala says. 

Open source is not just supporting some of the largest institutions in the world, it’s building security and resilience that most can benefit from. Companies like SUSE continue to prove this with by supporting innovative industries like automotive to safeguarding financial systems. They demonstrate how open-source technologies can drive resilience and security without compromising on innovation.  

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This article was based on an interview with Vishal Ghariwala, Chief Technology Officer at SUSE Asia Pacific.