German State Dumps Microsoft in Tech Sovereignty Push

Shift to Open Source Gains Momentum Amid Geopolitical Concerns

A growing number of governments are reassessing their reliance on American tech giants, driven by both economic and security considerations. The German state of Schleswig-Holstein is leading the charge, embarking on a comprehensive plan to replace Microsoft products with open-source alternatives.

Digital Independence Takes Root

The move, initiated last year, is already underway with the phasing out of Word and Excel, replaced by LibreOffice. Outlook is being superseded by Open-Xchange for email and calendar functions. The long-term goal includes a complete transition to the Linux operating system, abandoning Windows altogether.

Volker Schroedter, the state’s chief information officer, explained that the geopolitical landscape has accelerated this initiative. The war in Ukraine revealed our energy dependencies, and now we see there are also digital dependencies, he stated.

This isn’t simply about cost savings, though those are significant. According to a recent report by Statista, global spending on open-source software is projected to reach $36.4 billion in 2024, demonstrating its increasing viability and adoption. Statista

Economic Incentives and Potential Pitfalls

Experts like Benjamin Jean from consulting firm Inno3 highlight the financial benefits of open-source solutions, particularly avoiding the escalating costs of Microsoft licenses and mandatory updates. He noted that organizations often feel taken ‘by the throat’ when faced with unexpected expenses.

However, the transition isn’t without challenges. Francois Pellegrini, an IT professor at Bordeaux University, cautions that If people aren’t guided through it, there’s an outcry and everyone just wants to go back to how it was before. The city of Munich experienced this firsthand, reversing its open-source push in 2017 due to a lack of sustained political support and compatibility issues.

Global Trend and EU Support

Despite setbacks, other entities are forging ahead. France’s gendarmerie has utilized Linux since the early 2000s, and India’s defence ministry reportedly launched its own operating system, Maya OS, in 2023. Neighboring Denmark, with Copenhagen and Aarhus leading the way, is also exploring a similar shift away from Microsoft.

The EU’s Interoperable Europe Act, enacted last year, further encourages the adoption of open-source software. Jean predicts that within the space of two or three years several pioneering administrations will provide valuable insights and inspire wider adoption.

Schleswig-Holstein anticipates substantial savings—potentially tens of millions of euros—through this transition. The state also plans to move its data storage to a cloud system independent of Microsoft, prioritizing German-owned digital infrastructure.