Using Open-Source Software in Government Agencies

• Activity Number: 544 - Government Statistics Section P.M. Roundtable Discussion (Added Fee)
• Type: Roundtables
• Date/Time: Wednesday, August 1, 2018 : 12:30 PM to 1:50 PM
• Sponsor: Government Statistics Section
• Author(s): Wendy L Martinez*
• Companies: Bureau of Labor Statistics
• Keywords: R; Python; Open-source; Cybersecurity; IT

Abstract

IT costs in government agencies continue to grow, and it is imperative that agencies explore all options to cut costs. One option is to expand the use of open-source software, such as R and Python. However, the use of open-source software is often problematic due to security issues and lack of commercial support. In this roundtable, we will discuss these issues and how we might deal with them to further the use of open-source software.