Switzerland Begins Pilot to Replace Microsoft 365 with Open Source on 3,000 Federal Workstations

Switzerland's federal government has initiated a pilot program to replace Microsoft 365 with open source software on 3,000 federal workstations, representing about 7% of its workforce. The migration aims to be completed by the end of 2027. This effort follows a successful proof-of-concept involving 172 employees who tested the openDesk suite, a German open-source collaboration platform. While core office functions such as document processing and email received positive feedback, large-scale video conferencing showed some technical limitations.

During the pilot phase, the open source system will operate alongside Microsoft 365 to ensure a gradual transition. If successful, the migration could extend to all 54,000 federal workstations. The move is driven by concerns over data security, operational risks, and rising costs associated with dependence on a single foreign vendor. Specifically, Swiss officials are wary of US cloud legislation potentially exposing government data to foreign authorities, the risks of service disruption from vendor dependency, and increasing proprietary licensing fees.

In parallel, Switzerland’s military cybersecurity unit, Cyber Command, is accelerating its own migration, planning to fully replace Microsoft 365 with openDesk by October 2026 to protect sensitive military data.

This initiative aligns with Switzerland’s broader digital sovereignty strategy, reinforced by the EMBAG Law enacted in 2024, which mandates that government-developed software be published as open source by default. The Federal Council has also emphasized digital sovereignty as a key priority, aiming to reduce reliance on external suppliers and countries.

Similar efforts are underway in neighboring countries like France and Germany. Meanwhile, Microsoft is investing over CHF 325 million to expand AI and cloud infrastructure in Switzerland, partly to address sovereignty concerns. The Swiss pilot program represents a significant step toward greater control over government IT systems and could influence other nations considering similar transitions.