Switzerland is betting on open source as it seeks to strengthen its digital independence. The country’s federal government has launched a pilot project aimed at exploring the possibility of replacing the Microsoft 365 software suite with open-source alternatives. The initiative, which will initially cover 3,000 computers out of more than 54,000 used by public servants, is part of Switzerland’s broader strategy to ensure digital sovereignty.

By the end of 2027, about 7% of federal government computers are expected to be switched to open-source software. This is not Switzerland’s first step of this kind. Results were recently released from a previous pilot project in which 172 federal employees tested the openDesk platform, developed in Germany. The platform is designed for documents and email, but its functionality proved to be much broader.

It is important to note that the government does not plan to completely push Microsoft 365 out. Instead, employees are being given the option to use openDesk in parallel, which is intended to minimize the risk of work interruptions. This strategy allows new solutions to be integrated gradually without creating significant inconvenience for users.

The drive for digital sovereignty as a key force

Switzerland’s main motivation for this shift is not so much the desire to abandon a specific vendor as the pursuit of digital sovereignty. The country aims to reduce the dependence of critical government functions on foreign technology giants, especially given current geopolitical tensions. U.S. legislation that allows American government agencies access to data held by U.S. companies raises concerns about the confidentiality of Swiss government information. For this reason, Microsoft 365, as a product of an American company, has come under close scrutiny.

Switzerland is not the only country moving in this direction. France and Germany are also actively exploring and implementing open-source alternatives, moving away from American technology vendors in favor of solutions that provide greater independence. This trend reflects growing concern among governments about data security and control over their own digital infrastructure.

Microsoft, for its part, is not standing still. The company has announced major investments of $400 million in Switzerland to expand its cloud and AI infrastructure. Special attention is being paid to the needs of customers in the public, financial, and healthcare sectors. This shows the company’s efforts to adapt to rising demands for data sovereignty.

The current project, covering 3,000 devices, is expected to cost the Swiss federal budget $11.1 million. These funds will be allocated as part of initiatives aimed at strengthening the country’s digital sovereignty.

Testing openDesk: functionality and challenges identified

During the earlier testing of the openDesk platform, Swiss public servants were able to evaluate a wide range of its capabilities. In addition to basic functionality such as document handling and email, the platform supports calendars, contacts, tasks, cloud file storage, audio and video conferencing, chat, as well as identity and access management systems. Test participants highly rated document handling, file storage, collaboration tools, and email and calendar functions.

This project is strategically important for Switzerland, especially from the perspective of system resilience. As experts note, the tested solution is capable of keeping key government processes running even in the event of major technical failures or the unavailability of Microsoft 365. However, fully leaving the Microsoft ecosystem is a difficult task, as a large number of government applications are already tightly integrated with the technologies of this American giant.

The experiment also revealed certain challenges that could make it harder to scale the use of openDesk. The Federal Chancellery acknowledged that the browser-based solution is generally suitable for basic standard operations, but noted technical, operational, and organizational obstacles to its broader rollout. In particular, some video conferencing features and certain security aspects still require improvement. This underscores the need for further investment in software development and adaptation so that it fully meets the security and functionality requirements of government systems.

The issues identified show that the transition to open source is not an immediate process, but a gradual implementation that requires careful planning, testing, and continuous improvement. However, the strategic advantage of digital sovereignty and the potential for lower costs in the long term make these efforts worthwhile for Switzerland and other countries seeking independence in the digital sphere.