Swiss government tests open-source alternatives to Microsoft

Switzerland’s federal administration is testing open-source software in a project involving 3,000 employees as it seeks to reduce its dependence on Microsoft, SRF reports. The administration says cloud storage and the risk of losing access to its own data create security and political risks.

“Microsoft is increasingly moving its services to the cloud,” Daniel Markwalder, the federal government’s delegate for digital transformation, told SRF. “That means the data is no longer with us, but with the software provider. For certain data, that is a problem.”

Markwalder also warned that access to the administration’s data could be blocked for technical or political reasons. Such a possibility, known as a “kill switch”, would be unacceptable pressure on the government, he said.

The administration has already carried out a successful field trial involving 170 people. It will now expand the project to 3,000 employees who will use open-source programs in their daily work. The software’s source code is publicly available and is developed by a community rather than controlled by a single owner.

The German state of Schleswig-Holstein, which is already 80 percent independent of Microsoft, is serving as a model. Switzerland is in close contact with the state to learn from its experience, Markwalder said.

The administration must still determine whether it wants to replace Microsoft completely or establish an alternative that could be used in an emergency. Thousands of specialised applications used by the federal government are closely linked to Microsoft products, making their interfaces the biggest technical challenge.

Employee habits could also complicate the transition. Even small changes, such as different keyboard shortcuts, could cause frustration in daily work, Markwalder said.

The main goal is to create a viable fallback and reduce the administration’s dependence on Microsoft, rather than necessarily replacing the company’s software entirely. The project will assess whether a full replacement is realistic.

Markwalder said he would formally make the decision, together with his team and the government departments. The Federal Council would also be involved depending on the financial implications.

The administration plans to begin equipping the 3,000 workplaces next year and gather experience from the rollout. A decision on whether a complete replacement is realistic is expected within two years at the latest.