Maximizing ROI with SUSE Linux: How to Lower Your TCO and Drive Innovation

Enterprises are continually searching for ways to optimize their IT infrastructure without sacrificing performance or security. Cost optimization is a top priority for IT managers and CIOs alike, especially in large enterprises with complex environments. But what does it look like to get better ROI from your Linux infrastructure?

IDC recently found that organizations using SUSE Linux achieve benefits worth an annual average of $4 million, leading to a three-year ROI of 317%*. These impressive returns are driven by cost savings, productivity gains, performance improvements and enhanced business enablement. This blog serves as a guide for IT leaders seeking to reduce their Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) while unlocking more value from their Linux infrastructure.

IT Infrastructure Cost Savings

Enterprises face the ongoing challenge of lowering TCO while maintaining the high performance and security standards their business-critical workloads demand. For many, this balancing act has become even more difficult as their IT environments grow in complexity. SUSE’s Linux solutions, including SUSE Linux Enterprise Server and the multi-Linux management solution SUSE Manager, help enterprises reduce infrastructure costs without compromising on performance or security.

According to IDC, customers using SUSE Linux saw a 38% lower TCO over three years, attributed to denser server configurations, reduced OS and tool-related costs and IT staff efficiencies.* These SUSE Linux cost savings allow organizations to invest more strategically in innovation and growth.

A utilities organization told IDC: “In automating provisioning, our adoption of SUSE has really helped my organization retire a large number of servers to support existing workloads.”*

By reducing infrastructure overhead, enterprises can maximize their resources while minimizing IT costs, providing a clear path to achieving significant ROI with SUSE Linux.

Staff Productivity Gains

Operational complexity is one of the biggest barriers to IT productivity. Managing diverse architectures, environments and tools requires time and effort that could be better spent on strategic projects. With SUSE Manager, enterprises can streamline their operations through automation and simplified management, allowing IT teams to focus on higher-value tasks.

IDC research found that organizations using SUSE Linux improved the efficiency of their IT infrastructure teams by 33%, while security teams saw a 26% improvement and development teams increased their efficiency by 22%.* These gains allow IT departments to operate more effectively, reducing the manual effort involved in routine tasks like patching, updating and monitoring systems.

By enabling productivity improvements across IT functions, SUSE Linux solutions help organizations drive greater value from their teams, directly impacting the overall ROI, while also cutting down on the operational costs associated with complex, heterogenous IT infrastructure.

Performance Improvement and Mitigating Business Risk

SUSE Linux cost savings go beyond just reducing infrastructure expenses—they also include lowering the risk of downtime and improving overall performance, which directly impacts business continuity. Poor performance and unplanned outages can result in costly delays, customer dissatisfaction and revenue loss. SUSE Linux addresses these challenges by optimizing performance and mitigating business risk, ensuring that organizations can maintain high availability for their critical applications.

Customers using SUSE Linux experienced a 57% reduction in unplanned downtime and a 36% improvement in Mean Time to Repair (MTTR), according to IDC.* These improvements have a direct impact on reducing business disruptions and ensuring operational continuity. With fewer outages and faster recovery times, enterprises can maintain consistent service delivery and reduce the financial impact of downtime.

For organizations that prioritize reliability and risk mitigation, SUSE Linux provides a robust, secure platform that supports uninterrupted operations while lowering the risk of performance-related revenue losses.

Business Enablement: Unlocking Innovation

The combined benefits of cost savings, productivity gains and improved performance create a ripple effect throughout the organization. With more resources freed up, enterprises can redirect their investments towards innovation and business transformation. This process of business enablement allows IT teams to move beyond the maintenance mindset and focus on driving strategic outcomes.

According to IDC, end users at organizations using SUSE Linux worked with the equivalent productivity level of having an additional 54 staff members.* This improvement is driven by better performance, speed and availability of business-critical applications, allowing enterprises to deliver enhanced services and achieve more with fewer resources. 

Plus, SUSE’s solutions provide insights that contribute to informed business decisions. One healthcare organization told IDC: “My organization has recognized an increase in revenue because we have access to good data that is driving better decision-making.”*

By adopting SUSE Linux, enterprises are not only improving operational efficiency but also unlocking new opportunities for growth and innovation. The flexibility, security and scalability of SUSE’s open source solutions empower businesses to adapt to evolving market demands and drive future success.

Maximizing ROI with SUSE Linux

Maximizing ROI from your Linux infrastructure is not just about cutting costs—it’s about unlocking the full potential of your IT environment. SUSE Linux Enterprise Server (SLES) and SUSE Manager offer the tools necessary to reduce TCO by 38%, improve productivity, enhance performance and enable innovation.

With average annual benefits worth $4 million and a three-year ROI of 317%*, SUSE Linux is the clear choice for enterprises looking to lower costs and achieve greater business outcomes. 

To learn more about how SUSE can help you unlock the full potential of your Linux infrastructure, we invite you to explore the full insights in the IDC white paper: The Business Value of SUSE Linux Enterprise Server and SUSE Manager.

* IDC Business Value White Paper, sponsored by SUSE, The Business Value of SUSE Linux Enterprise Server and SUSE Manager, August 2024 | IDC #US52392824