Switzerland Launches Pilot to Swap Microsoft 365 for Open-Source Tools Across 3,000 Government Workstations
The Swiss federal government is testing a migration away from Microsoft 365 to open-source alternatives on 3,000 computers, representing about 7% of its workforce, with plans to complete the transition by the end of 2027.
Switzerland's federal administration has initiated a pilot initiative to transition away from Microsoft 365 toward open-source alternatives, affecting 3,000 workstations across the government. This represents approximately 7% of the country's federal workforce. The administration aims to finish the transition by the conclusion of 2027.
The effort builds on a successful feasibility study and new legislation focused on digital sovereignty. Concurrently, Switzerland's military has begun its own accelerated migration process.
Pilot phase underway following proof-of-concept
The Federal Chancellery is committing CHF 9 million toward deploying open-source workplace infrastructure for 3,000 government workers.
On September 3, 2026, the Federal Council released findings from "PoC BOSS," a feasibility study in which 172 federal employees evaluated openDesk, a German-developed open-source collaboration platform. The assessment found that routine office functions including document creation and electronic mail performed well, though large-scale video conferencing capabilities still presented technical challenges.
Drawing on the positive results from the feasibility phase, the administration is now expanding the initiative to encompass 3,000 employees. During this pilot stage, the open-source system will operate alongside Microsoft 365 rather than replacing it immediately, allowing for a gradual rather than abrupt transition.
Should the pilot demonstrate success, the migration could extend to all 54,000 workstations operated by federal administrations.
Motivations behind the shift
Matthias Stürmer, a professor at the Bern University of Applied Sciences, identifies three concerns driving this transition away from Microsoft's dominance in government institutions.
- Foreign access risk: U.S. cloud legislation could potentially grant foreign authorities access to Swiss government information.
- Service continuity risk: Reliance on a single external vendor creates vulnerability in operational stability.
- Cost escalation: Proprietary licensing expenses continue rising without any negotiating power for Switzerland.
Military accelerates its own transition
Switzerland's Cyber Command, the military's cybersecurity division, is not waiting for the civilian pilot to conclude. The unit plans to fully replace Microsoft 365 with openDesk by October 2026. The rationale mirrors the civilian effort: preventing foreign governments from accessing sensitive Swiss military data.
Broader digital sovereignty strategy
This migration effort sits within a larger framework of Swiss policy. The EMBAG Law, which took effect in 2024, mandates that all Swiss federal agencies release government-created software as open source by default. The legislation also seeks to strengthen digital sovereignty and foster innovation and cooperation within the public sector.
In December 2025, the Federal Council established digital sovereignty as a central strategic priority. The government defines this concept as "the federal government being able to fulfil its essential mission without depending on an external supplier or country."
France and Germany have pursued comparable initiatives. Microsoft, however, is investing over CHF 325 million to build out artificial intelligence and cloud infrastructure within Switzerland, partly as a countermeasure to the sovereignty argument.