WASHINGTON, D.C.-Security is becoming one of the main drivers behind the adoption of open-source software in the enterprise and government, say security experts and CIOs gathered here for Red Hat Inc.'s Open Source Security Summit.

Much of the early enthusiasm for Linux and other open-source operating systems was sparked by the software's low cost and adaptability. But, with a growing emphasis on security in the overall IT marketplace, many customers are looking at open source as a more secure alternative to proprietary software.