Solutions facilitating the structured control of alterations to IT systems, infrastructure, or processes, where the source code is freely available and can be modified and distributed, offer organizations flexibility and customization options. As an illustration, a company might implement such a system to track and manage updates to its internal software applications, ensuring each modification is documented, tested, and approved before deployment.
These systems are crucial for maintaining stability, minimizing risks associated with changes, and adhering to compliance requirements. Historically, organizations relied on proprietary platforms for these functions, often facing vendor lock-in and high costs. The advent of freely available and modifiable systems presented an alternative, enabling organizations to tailor the system to their specific needs and leverage community-driven innovation.