German State Shifts 30,000 Employees to Open-Source Software

Schleswig-Holstein aims for digital sovereignty and cost savings by moving from Windows and Office to Linux and LibreOffice.

Schleswig-Holstein, Germany's northernmost state, announces a comprehensive shift to open-source software, moving 30,000 government employees from Windows and Microsoft Office to Linux and LibreOffice.
The move aims to enhance IT security, ensure digital sovereignty, and improve cost efficiencies by reducing reliance on proprietary software.
The state government plans to replace other Microsoft services, including Sharepoint and Exchange/Outlook, with open-source alternatives like Nextcloud, Open-Xchange, and Mozilla Thunderbird.
Digital sovereignty is highlighted as a key motivation, with the government seeking to prevent user data from being accessed by non-EU companies and to support local digital economies.
This initiative follows previous unsuccessful attempts by other German states to transition to open-source software, with Schleswig-Holstein aiming for a more inclusive and gradual implementation to avoid past pitfalls.