Commercial Off-The-Shelf (COTS) is a term referencing non-developmental items (NDIs) sold in the commercial marketplace and used or obtained through government contracts. The set of rules for COTS is defined by the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR). A COTS product is usually a computer hardware or software product tailored for specific uses and made available to the general public. Such products are designed to be readily available and user friendly. A typical example of a COTS product is Microsoft Office or antivirus software. A COTS product is generally any product available off-the-shelf and not requiring custom development before installation.
Compared to COTS, a custom designed product is typically more expensive and not as dependable. This is because the product was industrialized from scratch in minimal time and from a limited budget. COTS modified by the purchaser, vendor or other party to meet the requirements of a customer become modified off-the-shelf (MOTS). Generally once a COT is modified, it is the responsibility of the consumer to manage the product changes.
Procuring COTS products has largely become a necessity for several big businesses. It is typical for a large organization to incorporate various COTS products into their system for better functionality, as well as being a relatively risk-free investment. This has shaped a larger market for COTS products.
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