Latest Reports

• The Key Advantage of Open Source

  An informal survey of visitors to the Computer Economics website indicates that, in using open source software, "reduced dependence on software vendors" is more important to buyers than low cost. An earlier version of this report first appeared as a free Research Byte on our website. Shortly after publication, the Research Byte was linked by Slashdot, and Computer Economics was deluged by over 50,000 hits in one day. This report includes material originally presented in the earlier Research Byte, along with additional insights gained from the resulting feedback.

  May, 2005

• Data Center Recovery Site Planning: Geographic Considerations

  The U.S. federal government and private industry have developed new guidelines that can be helpful in deciding the optimal distance between the data center and its recovery site. Based on various studies conducted over the past few years, it is clear that the placement of a recovery site too far away from the main data center can be as much of a problem as placing it too close. This research report provides recommendations for the optimal distance, based on U.S. Federal Government guidelines, industry best practices, and the need to balance risk with speed of recovery. (5 pp. with footnotes of sources.)[Executive Summary]

  March, 2005