Microsoft 365 Alternative for Swiss Army: Security Concerns Block Cloud Migration

SourceArticle

Author: René Jaun and cbi | Swisscybersecurity.net
Source: Private Cloud or Open Source Solution: Army Chief Wants Microsoft Alternative for Defense Group
Publication Date: October 31, 2025
Summary Reading Time: 3 minutes

Executive Summary

Swiss Army Chief Thomas Süssli rejects the federal Microsoft 365 migration for the Defense Group, as 90% of military documents are classified and cannot be stored in the Microsoft cloud. The army demands a private cloud solution or open source alternative, since M365 offers no added value but causes significant costs. The conflict highlights the tension between digital transformation and data security in critical government sectors.

Core Issue & Context

The Swiss Federal Administration has been migrating comprehensively to Microsoft 365 since 2024, but the Defense Group cannot practically use this cloud solution due to security regulations for classified documents. Army Chief Süssli protests in a letter against the costly but unusable solution.

Key Facts & Figures

• 90% of military documents are classified and cannot be stored in M365 • Migration to M365 started in 2024 across all federal departments • Significant additional financial expenses without recognizable benefit for the army • Feasibility study "BOSS" (Office Automation through Open Source Software) is already running • Federal Audit Office published a critical report on M365 migration in April 2024 • M365 migration is considered a key project of the federal government's digital transformation

Stakeholders & Affected Parties

Directly affected:

  • Defense Group/Swiss Army
  • Federal Chancellery and Federal Office of Information Technology (FOITT)
  • Delegate for Digital Transformation

Indirectly affected:

  • Entire Swiss Federal Administration
  • IT security industry
  • Open source software developers

Opportunities & Risks

Opportunities:

  • Promotion of an independent Swiss IT infrastructure
  • Strengthening the open source community in Switzerland
  • Reduction of dependence on US technology corporations
  • Cost savings with tailored solutions

Risks:

  • Fragmentation of the IT landscape in the federal administration
  • Higher development and maintenance costs for specialized solutions
  • Delays in digital transformation in sensitive areas
  • Compatibility problems between different systems

Critical Key Questions

  1. How can Switzerland strengthen its digital sovereignty without compromising the efficiency of administrative digitalization?

  2. What long-term security risks arise from dependence on American cloud services for government documents?

  3. Can open source alternatives achieve the functionality and user-friendliness of commercial office suites in the medium term?

Scenario Analysis: Future Perspectives

Short-term (1 year): The BOSS feasibility study will be completed and show viable alternatives. The Defense Group receives an interim solution with separate IT infrastructure. Political pressure for more digital sovereignty grows.

Medium-term (5 years): Hybrid IT landscape becomes established: M365 for non-critical areas, Swiss cloud solutions for sensitive data. Other European countries follow the Swiss example. Open source consortium emerges for joint development of government software.

Long-term (10-20 years): European alternative to US tech giants emerges through cross-border cooperation. Complete digital sovereignty in critical areas becomes standard. New business models for secure, decentralized cloud services establish themselves.

Action Relevance

Immediate measures:

  • Evaluation of own cloud strategies regarding dependencies
  • Review of open source alternatives for critical business areas
  • Risk assessment of data storage in foreign cloud services

Time-critical aspects:

  • Growing geopolitical tensions increase pressure on digital sovereignty
  • EU regulation on data sovereignty could create similar problems

Bibliography

Primary source:

Supplementary sources:

Verification Status: ✅ Facts checked on October 31, 2025

BackToOverview