When strategizing to protect business assets, don’t forget the source code beneath the surface level of the software applications.
The source code is the computer programming language software developers use to create the tools that workers, management, and other authorized parties use at your company. You’ll have virtually no control over the source code of proprietary off-the-shelf solutions. While you may have some flexibility when using open source software, you’ll have full control if you’re using custom software designed specifically for your company. At that point, the software and its source code will be a corporate asset you’ll want to protect.
Keep reading to learn why source code is one of your company’s most valuable assets and is worth safeguarding.
The Foundation of Your Product or Service
Source code is the blueprint of software applications. Some go as far as to consider source code as the DNA of software. If your business has custom software for CRM, accounting, e-commerce, or other platforms, you should care about the source code. In fact, the quality of these tools is only as good as the quality of the source code used to develop them.
Source code directly impacts the end-user experience since it defines how the software works. If it’s messy or flawed, the software will be too.
Intellectual Property and Competitive Advantage
Source code, specifically well-developed source code, is intellectual property. And it can hold significant commercial and legal value. According to the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), IP is an essential driver of innovation.
Quality source code can provide your company with a competitive advantage that fuels growth. For instance, if your business is seeking investors, these investors will consider things like intellectual property assets. So, source code is something that will factor into the overall value of your business. WIPO notes that the valuation of IP isn’t a fixed tally. It’s a calculated tally based on the possibility of generating income going forward, the competitive advantage it offers, and its ability to enhance other corporate holdings.
Because of the value of your company’s source code, you need to protect it. Hackers can trigger sequences of events leading to data breaches that help them seize unlawful control of source code and other IP assets. That’s why your business needs to safeguard the source code by, among other things, implementing effective security protocols and putting in place proper licensing pacts with contractors.
Security and Legal Implications
Another way to appreciate the importance of source code is to consider the security and legal implications. Software vulnerabilities, particularly those exploited by hackers, can jeopardize company operations, expose client data, and lead to regulatory penalties.
It’s essential to implement security measures to reduce, if not eliminate, the odds of cybercriminals exploiting software vulnerabilities that wreak havoc on your business.
Enables Innovation and Agility
If the source code is on point, your company will be able to adapt fast when market shifts emerge. You can add more features, for instance, in response to changing needs.
Whether you perform software development in-house or hire a software development firm, having control of your source code can be a game-changer. You won’t have to depend on off-the-shelf software or antiquated legacy systems — and that can give your business a decided advantage in the marketplace.
Your company’s source code is a valuable asset that should be protected as much as any valuable physical asset. If you have any questions and need good answers about source code and how to protect it, a source code expert can help.
Source code is out of sight and, for many people, out of mind. But it’s important to know what it is, appreciate its value, and safeguard it. A source code expert will help you make sense of your company’s source code and how it factors into the bigger corporate picture.
