Vendor lock-in, dependence on a single vendor for tech needs, can severely limit an organization's ability to adapt and negotiate better deals. Open-source technology offers a solution by providing cost-effective solutions that are customizable and innovated upon by a global community of developers. To avoid vendor lock-in, organizations should evaluate open-source options, build in-house capabilities, prioritize open-source alternatives over proprietary solutions, assess current vendor dependencies, and develop a plan for adopting open-source alternatives.