What does "vendor lock-in" mean?

Vendor lock-in refers to a situation where a customer becomes dependent on a specific vendor's products or services, making it challenging to switch to a different provider without incurring significant costs or disruptions. This dependency can arise from various factors, such as proprietary technologies, contract terms, unique features that do not easily translate to other systems, and the investment in training or integration specific to that vendor’s platform.

The implications of vendor lock-in can be substantial, influencing business agility and costing organizations the flexibility to adapt to new technologies or pricing models. It is essential for organizations to assess the potential for vendor lock-in when selecting cloud services and consider strategies to mitigate such risks, ensuring they retain the ability to move between providers as business needs evolve.