Octopus is an open source MIS platform for microfinance institutions that allows users to manage customer information, loan tracking, accounting, and reporting in a secure online environment. As open source software, Octopus is free to use but users can pay for assistance from the Octopus community or company. The open source model aims to make the software affordable, adaptable to evolving needs, and securely upgradable without relying on expensive proprietary software licenses or consultants.