The Swiss federal administration has launched a pilot project to test openDesk, a German-origin open-source suite, on 3,000 government computers. The initiative emerges as an alternative to Microsoft 365, which was installed on 54,000 Swiss government workstations less than a year ago.
The test is being conducted in partnership with German company openDesk GmbH, developer of the open-source productivity platform. The pilot project involves a limited portion of government computers to evaluate the performance and viability of the alternative solution.
The main motivation for exploring this alternative is concerns about risks of foreign access to sensitive Swiss government data. The issue of digital sovereignty and information security has led several European countries to consider solutions that do not depend on American technology companies.
This is not the first time Switzerland has questioned its dependence on large foreign technology companies. The country has been seeking alternatives that ensure greater control over its data and reduce exposure to possible unauthorized access by foreign governments.
