There is an ongoing debate about the virtues of business software products and their ability to be deployed in heterogeneous environments. The argument continues because certain platforms, at an operating system level, are claimed to be more secure, more stable or inherently more reliable than others.
From a business software point of view it is, however, frivolous to enter into a discussion about the virtues of one operating system over another. The simple fact is that the computer world we live and work in is populated by a variety of platforms, each with its own list of strengths and weaknesses.
As in all things, a little forethought can save a lot of pain later.
Jeremy Waterman, MD, ACCPAC Africa
As we can see from the continuing wave of viruses, worms, trojans and other malicious code, it is inevitable that weaknesses will be exploited wherever found. And since no one platform can claim to be totally secure, it is equally inevitable that IT management may sometimes be forced into a situation of having to replace one platform with another.
Of course, the reason for wanting to change a platform could also be something as elementary as growth - a server may be struggling under a load and the only option is to deploy a larger system that, perhaps, requires a different operating system.
While this is, in itself, not too big an issue, a problem does often arise when applications need to be moved from one server to another - because all applications do not run on all platforms. For this reason it is incumbent upon management to be more responsible when selecting the applications the business will ultimately depend upon.
Apart from the more obvious requirements of functionality, due care and attention should be given to the range of platforms the application choices can be deployed upon, with a view to ensuring flexibility in the event that an alternative platform need be deployed at a later stage. Called multi-platform functionality, it means simply that replacing the underlying platform does not have to mean replacing applications, which can lead to all sorts of problems, including converting data, downtime while this is happening and the need to train staff on the use of new applications.
As in all things, a little forethought can save a lot of pain later. For this reason, management should look at the available technology, consider company growth prospects and make its decision with a view to supporting expansion with a scalable system able to grow with the business and, if the need dictates, switch platform or database with a minimum of fuss.
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