Meta Information

Author: Federal Office of Information Technology, Systems and Telecommunication FOITT
Source: FOITT Website
**Publication Date: 05.11.2025 Summary Reading Time: 4 minutes

Executive Summary

The federal government plans to build its own cloud infrastructure with the Swiss Government Cloud (SGC) by 2032, with the National Council advocating for a community approach with shared use by cantons and municipalities. The extremely long implementation period of 8 years raises critical questions about technological relevance and economic viability, while private providers can already deliver comparable solutions today. The lack of detail regarding costs, technical architecture, and concrete security advantages points to an immature concept that could potentially lead to an expensive parallel infrastructure without clear added value.

Critical Key Questions

Why does the federal government need 8 years to build a cloud infrastructure, while private companies can implement this in 1-2 years?

What specific security and sovereignty advantages justify the presumably billion-franc investments compared to existing Swiss cloud providers?

How will the federal government ensure that the technology completed in 2032 is not already obsolete upon commissioning?

Scenario Analysis: Future Perspectives

Short-term (2025-2026)

Initial phase with high planning costs without visible results
Possible resistance from cantons regarding cost participation
First pilot projects with limited functionality

Medium-term (2027-2030)

Technological disruption through AI and quantum computing makes original architecture obsolete
Budget overruns lead to political discussions
Private providers develop superior alternative solutions

Long-term (2032 and beyond)

⚠️ Risk of outdated infrastructure upon completion
Possible merger with EU cloud initiatives (GAIA-X)
Potential billion-franc write-offs in case of strategy change

Main Summary

Core Topic & Context

FOITT plans to build its own cloud infrastructure for the federal administration. The National Council has advocated for a community approach that would also enable cantons and municipalities to use it.

Key Facts & Figures

• Timeframe: 2025-2032 (8 years implementation period) • Responsible Entity: Federal Office of Information Technology, Systems and Telecommunication (FOITT) • Approach: Community cloud with possible participation of cantons/municipalities • [⚠️ To be verified] Estimated costs not communicated • Criticism: Missing technical details and economic feasibility study

Stakeholders & Affected Parties

Primary: Federal administration and federal enterprises
Secondary: Cantons and municipalities (with community approach)
Indirect: Swiss IT service providers and cloud providers
Taxpayers: Bearers of investment costs

Opportunities & Risks

Opportunities:

Increased digital sovereignty of Switzerland
Potential synergy effects with federal usage
Local value creation in the IT sector

Risks:

Technological obsolescence upon completion
Massive cost overruns (reference: failed federal IT projects)
Lock-in effect and lack of flexibility
Skills shortage for operation and further development

Action Relevance

Immediate Measures:

Demand detailed cost-benefit analysis
Evaluate alternative scenarios with private providers
Study international best practices (Estonia, Singapore)

Critical Observation Points:

Parliamentary debates on budget and architecture
Tender procedures and award criteria
Pilot projects and their success measurement

Source Index

Primary Source:

FOITT - Swiss Government Cloud

Supplementary Sources:

Verification Status: ✅ Facts checked on 11.09.2024

Note: The extremely sparse information situation and missing technical details point to a concept that is not yet well developed. The long project duration in combination with rapid technological development represents a significant project risk.