SUSE and the open source dilemma

At the Open Source Policy Summit 2026, SUSE reiterated the importance for companies to adopt FOSS (Free and Open Source Software) solutions. However, during the event, a company executive inadvertently revealed that SUSE itself relies on proprietary groupware for its internal operations.

This episode raises a fundamental question: how much do large open source solution vendors actually use their own products and services? The discrepancy between the advice given and the internal practice calls into question the authenticity of the commitment to open source and the trust that companies can place in such recommendations.

The SUSE story is not necessarily an isolated case. Many companies, while promoting open source, may prefer proprietary solutions for certain specific needs, balancing the advantages of both models. Transparency in these cases becomes crucial to maintain credibility and trust in the industry.