Difference between revisions of "Dominant platforms (hardware/software)"
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==Description== | ==Description== | ||
The market for operating systems and computer processors is structured as an oligopoly. A handfull of companies produce the processors and operating systems, that is the platform, that most of the people use today. | |||
Microsoft is the big player in the market of operating systems with its Windows series, holding a share of more than 90% of the market for desktop systems. In the server market, however, linux distributions manage to get a more significant share of a bit over 12% of the overall market. | |||
In the processors market, Intel dominates the overall market with an 80% share. The x86 architecture prevails in the market for desktop processors, especially now that Apple has adopted the architecure, while in the server market it holds a share of around 80%. | |||
The result of having dominant hardware/software platforms is that these platforms are easily available and widely used around the world. This means that rival countries may be using the same platform for some of their services. Taking into account the fact that in most cases the operating systems used are closed source, there are some interesting implications. | |||
The discovery of a security vulnerability or exploit by a party (e.g. the security agency of a government) presents the opportunity to use it as means of cyber-attack against another party that uses the same platform, if the need arises. Since the operating system is closed source, only the company that has produced it can fix the exploit, but then the party that has discovered it would lose the advantage that it has. So, in order to be able to use an exploit as a cyber-weapon, it has to be vulnerable to it as well. | |||
Open source software resolves this problem because it offers the possibility to easily check for security issues and fix them. | |||
Sources: | |||
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Usage_share_of_desktop_operating_systems<br> | |||
http://www.linux-watch.com/news/NS5369154346.html<br> | |||
http://news.zdnet.com/2100-9584_22-6108453.html<br> | |||
http://www.news.com/Intels-market-share-rises-on-AMDs-problems/2100-1006_3-6178921.html<br> | |||
http://blogs.zdnet.com/ITFacts/?p=14086&tag=rbxccnbzd1<br> | |||
http://www.informationweek.com/news/hardware/windows_servers/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=170100570<br> | |||
==Enablers== | ==Enablers== | ||
Revision as of 19:55, 18 May 2008
Description
The market for operating systems and computer processors is structured as an oligopoly. A handfull of companies produce the processors and operating systems, that is the platform, that most of the people use today.
Microsoft is the big player in the market of operating systems with its Windows series, holding a share of more than 90% of the market for desktop systems. In the server market, however, linux distributions manage to get a more significant share of a bit over 12% of the overall market.
In the processors market, Intel dominates the overall market with an 80% share. The x86 architecture prevails in the market for desktop processors, especially now that Apple has adopted the architecure, while in the server market it holds a share of around 80%.
The result of having dominant hardware/software platforms is that these platforms are easily available and widely used around the world. This means that rival countries may be using the same platform for some of their services. Taking into account the fact that in most cases the operating systems used are closed source, there are some interesting implications.
The discovery of a security vulnerability or exploit by a party (e.g. the security agency of a government) presents the opportunity to use it as means of cyber-attack against another party that uses the same platform, if the need arises. Since the operating system is closed source, only the company that has produced it can fix the exploit, but then the party that has discovered it would lose the advantage that it has. So, in order to be able to use an exploit as a cyber-weapon, it has to be vulnerable to it as well.
Open source software resolves this problem because it offers the possibility to easily check for security issues and fix them.
Sources:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Usage_share_of_desktop_operating_systems
http://www.linux-watch.com/news/NS5369154346.html
http://news.zdnet.com/2100-9584_22-6108453.html
http://www.news.com/Intels-market-share-rises-on-AMDs-problems/2100-1006_3-6178921.html
http://blogs.zdnet.com/ITFacts/?p=14086&tag=rbxccnbzd1
http://www.informationweek.com/news/hardware/windows_servers/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=170100570