Germany’s Schleswig-Holstein state is making a significant move towards digital sovereignty by transitioning from Microsoft Office to LibreOffice and planning to switch from Windows to Linux on the 30,000 PCs used for local government functions. The decision was announced by the state’s Minister-President Daniel Gunther, with a key motivation being independence and security concerns over data that may be shared with other countries.
This shift towards open source software is part of Schleswig-Holstein’s larger open source strategy that includes email servers, directory services, and telephony software all moving to open source platforms. While other German states like Munich and Lower Saxony experienced difficulties with previous transitions between Linux and Windows, Schleswig-Holstein’s top-to-bottom approach may help avoid compatibility issues that plagued earlier efforts.
While cost overruns and compatibility challenges arise in large-scale IT transitions, Schleswig-Holstein’s comprehensive strategy and commitment to digital sovereignty set it apart from previous cases. The state aims to be a digital pioneer region and could pave the way for other regions to follow suit in prioritizing open source solutions for increased security and independence in the digital realm.
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