Buy What We Can and Build What We Must

Buy What We Can and Build What We Must ()
5.1.	Buy what we can and build what we must

Name: 	Buy what we can and build what we must.
Statement:
Implement cloud services/COTS by default, open source where practical, and reserve custom development for unique requirements; adopt shared services and common government solutions where available.  

Rationale:
•	Procuring commercial solutions (Cloud Services, COTS or open source) for common applications allows ESDC to focus its resources on application with Unique Requirements related specific configurations, customizations, and as a last resort custom development.

Implications:
•	When deploying new workloads, Departments must consider cloud service models in the following order:
    o	Cloud Services (SaaS)
    o	Open source
    o	COTS 
This means that the preference will be given to subscribing to SaaS solutions rather than buying or developing new solutions that can be hosted on a PaaS or IaaS infrastructure.
•	When SaaS is not available, ESDC will explore availability of packaged solutions, both commercially available (COTS) and open source. Only if no appropriate solution is available on the market (commercial or open sauce), development of a custom solution would be considered.
•	Proprietary solutions restrict reuse, reduce asset management flexibility and can prevent government organizations from switching suppliers.
•	Open source will be fairly assessed against proprietary solutions alternatives. Exit, rebid and rebuild costs will be taken into consideration during procurement decisions for best value for money comparisons between open source and proprietary solutions.

References:
•	Government of Canada Information Technology Strategic Plan 2016-2020
•	GC Cloud Adoption Strategy (2016)
•	Accenture Paper on Technical Debt
•	Correctional Service Canada (CSC) Enterprise Architecture Principles