Switzerland shifts to open source to shield data from US
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The Swiss federal government and the Swiss Armed Forces are moving away from Microsoft 365 to use openDesk, an open-source platform developed in Germany.
The decision stems from concerns about protecting Swiss data from potential American espionage and maintaining digital sovereignty. The Federal Chancellery plans to roll out openDesk to around 3,000 of its 47,000 employees by the end of 2027, focusing on critical operational processes.
The Swiss government views this transition as an exercise in digital resilience and independence, rather than a complete replacement of Microsoft 365. They intend for openDesk to serve as a reliable backup for central processes should Microsoft 365 become unavailable. The initial program is budgeted at 9 million Swiss francs (9.5 million euros) and will focus on building the platform and assessing the cost of wider deployment.
However, the transition will require significant customization, security evaluations, and the development of internal expertise. The Swiss Armed Forces’ Cyber Command is moving much faster, aiming to equip all its personnel with openDesk by October, citing concerns over US legal access to data held by American tech companies through laws like the CLOUD Act. They believe openDesk will reduce exposure to foreign technical and legal dependencies.
Several other European public administrations are also abandoning Microsoft 365 and Windows in favour of open-source office suites and Linux. OpenDesk combines open-source components for office work, communication, collaboration, and file management, offering a European alternative to US-based hyperscalers.
