Schleswig-Holstein Says Goodbye to Microsoft: A Bold Leap Toward Digital Independence
Schleswig-Holstein Pushes for Digital Independence by Ditching Microsoft Tools
Schleswig-Holstein, one of Germany’s 16 federal states, has taken a major step in its mission to free public administration from reliance on Microsoft software. The state recently migrated 40,000 mailboxes—containing over 100 million emails and calendar entries—from Microsoft Exchange and Outlook to the open-source platforms Open-Xchange and Thunderbird.
Digitization Minister Dirk Schrödter hailed the move as a key milestone toward achieving digital sovereignty. “We want to become independent from big tech companies and ensure digital sovereignty,” he stated.
This is part of a larger, gradual shift to open-source tools. The state has already started replacing Microsoft Office with LibreOffice, and plans are underway to swap out SharePoint with Nextcloud. The Linux operating system is also being tested as an alternative to Windows.
While the state sees this as a bold path toward transparency and IT independence, not everyone is satisfied. Judiciary officials and the police have criticized the move, citing software inefficiencies and productivity loss. “The technology still does not work perfectly,” said Michael Burmeister of the New Judges’ Association.
Despite these concerns, Schleswig-Holstein’s efforts echo broader European trends, with countries like Denmark and cities like Lyon also moving away from Microsoft in favour of open-source solutions.
References:
https://cadeproject.org/updates/german-state-pushes-digital-sovereignty/?utm_source
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