The Linux operating system, driven perhaps by concerns of Microsoft security vulnerabilities and orphaned software as well as the appeal of open platforms, continues to make inroads into corporate America. If they're to be taken as a leading indicator, the experience of 140 large North American companies surveyed by Forrester Research shows that credit union managers should not be surprised if the people they entrust IT to at their shop start talking about making a switch. According to the new Forrester report, 53% of the companies surveyed now are running mission-critical applications on Linux, and 52% are choosing it for new applications. Networking among people who build networks – in the form of advisory groups and the like – also is a factor in driving the adoption, Forrester analysts say.