Summary

Federal Chancellor Viktor Rossi calls for greater courage toward digital sovereignty in his opening speech at the Swiss Cyber Security Days 2026. Switzerland is dependent on foreign corporations in critical IT areas – a known problem since 1999 that remains unresolved. The Federal Council pursues a gradual reduction of dependencies through control of critical systems and trust-building with the population, not complete autarky.

Persons

Topics

  • Digital sovereignty
  • IT security and dependency reduction
  • Open-source software
  • E-ID and digital trust
  • Federal coordination

Clarus Lead

Switzerland remains dependent on Microsoft and other providers despite known risks – a problem documented since 1999. Federal Chancellor Rossi emphasizes that digital sovereignty does not mean autarky, but rather knowing dependencies, creating options, and deliberately reducing them. The Federal Council pursues a pragmatic strategy: With the feasibility study BOSS (Office Automation with Open-Source Software), the Federal Chancellery is testing alternatives to Microsoft 365. The example of Schleswig-Holstein shows that a transition is possible – but takes years and costs considerable resources.

Detailed Summary

Rossi outlines three reasons for persistent dependency: First, administrations cannot independently develop all IT services. Second, established systems work well and the pressure to change is low. Third, reducing dependencies requires lengthy, expensive projects with strong political will. The Digital Transformation and IT (DTI) department of the Federal Chancellery has advanced this issue since 2021; in 2022 it became a focal theme of the Digital Switzerland strategy.

The Federal Council defines digital sovereignty as self-determined action and decision-making in the digital space. This should produce two effects: control over critical systems for operational capability and trust-building with the population and business. The narrow voting result on the E-ID shows that the state has not yet convincingly demonstrated how digital security is ensured.

Rossi appeals to software manufacturers to develop interchangeable products – this could be a strategic advantage. At the same time, he emphasizes that existing partners should be included openly. Sovereignty arises not through isolation, but through conscious management of dependencies at all federal levels, in companies, and among citizens.

Key Messages

  • Digital dependencies have been known since 1999 but have not been systematically reduced
  • Digital sovereignty does not mean autarky, but rather control of critical systems and creation of options
  • The BOSS feasibility study tests open-source alternatives to Microsoft 365; Schleswig-Holstein demonstrates feasibility, but at high costs and over a long duration
  • Trust-building with citizens and business is central, especially for E-ID and E-voting
  • Success requires coordinated action by authorities, companies, and society

Critical Questions

  1. Evidence: What specific security risks arise from Microsoft dependency, and how have these been quantified or documented since 1999?

  2. Data Quality: How is the success of the BOSS feasibility study measured, and what metrics operationally define "digital sovereignty"?

  3. Conflicts of Interest: To what extent do existing contracts with Microsoft and other providers influence the speed and seriousness of the transition to open-source?

  4. Causality: Is the slow transition rate primarily technical or is it due to lack of political will and budget?

  5. Feasibility: How realistic is the gradual reduction of dependencies when Schleswig-Holstein has only reached 80 percent after 7 years?

  6. Side Effects: What productivity losses and training costs arise for federal employees when switching to open-source systems?

  7. Trust Deficit: How is the narrow E-ID voting result concretely addressed to strengthen trust in digital sovereignty?

Source Directory

Primary Source: Opening Speech Federal Chancellor Viktor Rossi – Swiss Cyber Security Days 2026 – https://www.news.admin.ch/de/newnsb/w2JCOQ40ENfaxMWzoiDrA

Verification Status: ✓ February 17, 2026

This text was created with the support of an AI model. Editorial Responsibility: clarus.news | Fact-Checking: February 17, 2026