4.4 - Open vs. Closed Systems

Open systems are built upon “standards, protocols, and interfaces that have published specifications”. This type of architecture provides multi-operability between computer products created by various vendors. This interoperability is provided by all the vendors involved who follow certain standards and provide interfaces that enable the system to communicate with other systems.

A vast majority of the systems in use today are open. The book states that the reason an administrator can have several different operating systems on computers and they are still able to communicate easily on the same network is because these platforms are open.

Closed architecture systems do not require or follow industry standards. Interoperability and standardized interfaces are not used to create simple communication between different types of systems, these systems are proprietary.

A closed architecture can potentially provide more security to the system because it may operate in a more secluded environment than those of open systems. This is due to, the  proprietary nature of these closed systems. There are few tools to thwart the security mechanisms and not as many individuals who can understand its design, language, and security weaknesses to exploit them.