Open Source in Finance Forum London 2025

In the highly regulated world of financial services, trust is paramount. This talk explores how internal teams can trust open-source software (OSS) to provide a compliant financial infrastructure, using romantic comedies as analogies. Just as trust in relationships is built over time, so too is trust in technology, especially where compliance, security, and risk management are critical. We'll cover the basics of OSS, its transparency, and community-driven development, likening it to the openness seen in films like 'You've Got Mail.' We'll address the trust deficit in regulated industries, highlighting cybersecurity risks and compliance with regulations like GDPR. By adopting OSS, financial institutions can gain greater visibility into their software, allowing for more rigorous security audits and compliance checks. The talk will explore building trust through visible code and peer reviews, and leveraging OSS in industries like healthcare and finance. We'll discuss overcoming adoption barriers, emphasising data privacy, incident response, and community support. Looking to the future, we'll explore how AI and blockchain can enhance OSS security.