GoKawiilSwitzerland expands open-source pilot to 3,000 federal workstations
The Swiss Federal Chancellery is spending CHF 9 million to test the openDesk open-source suite as a replacement for Microsoft 365 across 3,000 federal employees, roughly 7% of the workforce, with migration targeted for completion by end of 2027. The pilot follows a proof-of-concept with 172 employees that rated document editing and email positively but flagged limitations in large-scale video conferencing, and it will run alongside Microsoft 365 rather than replace it immediately.
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Switzerland is joining a growing list of governments seeking to reduce reliance on US tech giants, citing risks from foreign data access laws, vendor lock-in, and rising licensing costs. A successful rollout could set a precedent for shifting all 54,000 federal workstations away from Microsoft, alongside a parallel fast-tracked migration already underway in the Swiss military.
- 3,000 of roughly 43,000 federal workstations will test the openDesk open-source suite by 2027.
- The pilot builds on a proof-of-concept with 172 staff that praised core office functions but found video conferencing lacking.
- Concerns over foreign legal access, vendor dependency, and cost are driving Switzerland's push toward digital sovereignty.
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Published there as: “Switzerland's Federal Government Is Replacing Microsoft on 3k Computers”
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