Every SaaS (software-as-a-service) provider talks about how simple it is to use their app; it just works like magic. They never talk about the cost of simplicity. You can't make informed technological decisions for your family if you don't even have a high-level understanding of how technology you use is working, how your data is being handled, and what the risks are. You may feel that don't know how to start protecting your family from cyber threats because you've been abstracted so far away from the process that it seems impossible to catch up.

The simplicity that comes from cloud services is in many ways a detriment to you as much as it is a help. What you gain in the short term from not having to worry about the infrastructure for running that service, you lose in the long run when issues arise, when you want to move to a new service, or when you want to be able to customize your workflow. In many ways, it is similar to always renting a car or living in a hotel. In the short term, it would be nice to not have to change the oil yourself or flush a hot water heater, but under the surface you are becoming increasingly dependent on others and less able to handle situations as they arise.

Confidence comes from facing and overcoming challenges. At OYCS, we hope to make our ecosystem simple to get started on and our products easy to use. However, due to the nature of self-hosting, you may experience some challenges along the way. While we will always be available to help, our goal is to guide you along the path to a solution, as much as we can, so that eventually you can learn how to face that category of challenges on your own. This will increase your ability to utilize technology to it's fullest extent and to help to your family and community, and help your family to be more digitally self-sufficient.