Swiss authorities are aiming to reduce their dependency on Microsoft products. According to the NZZ am Sonntag newspaper, the federal administration plans to shift away from using Microsoft 365 on its 54,000 workstations. This comes despite concerns about data security and previous internal resistance to exploring alternative solutions.
A feasibility study has shown that replacing Microsoft with open-source software is possible. The German state of Schleswig-Holstein has already switched to an independent open-source solution, which the Swiss are also interested in. Open-source software allows for free use and can be developed independently of corporations.
The switch to open-source software may be motivated by concerns about data security and the potential access of US authorities to data stored on US technology companies' servers. The 2018 Cloud Act allows the US government to request access to data stored with US tech corporations, regardless of its location. Users typically have no idea which authority is accessing their data.
The Swiss federal government and cantons have spent over CHF1.1 billion ($1.4 billion) on Microsoft licences in the past decade. The move towards open-source software would require a significant investment, but could potentially reduce dependence on US tech corporations.
