The Swiss Army will abandon Microsoft products for open-source solutions, citing data security risks.

The Swiss Army has decided to abandon Microsoft products within its cyber defense structures, opting for open-source solutions due to data security risks.

The Cyber Command of the Army will migrate to OpenDesk, a platform developed by the German Center for Digital Sovereignty, by October. The decision was influenced by the expansion of Microsoft cloud services and concerns regarding the protection of sensitive information, considering American legislation, including the Cloud Act. The head of the Cyber Command, Simon Müller, emphasized that Microsoft 365 does not meet the army's confidentiality requirements.

Military information must remain within national infrastructures, and the concept of digital sovereignty is becoming increasingly important in the European security strategy. OpenDesk will provide services similar to Microsoft 365 but will operate on its own servers, allowing for source code adaptation.

This decision aligns with a growing European trend, with other countries, such as Austria and Germany, exploring open-source solutions in the defense sector.