Source URL: https://it.slashdot.org/story/25/06/13/1538236/were-done-with-teams-german-state-hits-uninstall-on-microsoft?utm_source=rss1.0mainlinkanon&utm_medium=feed
Source: Slashdot
Title: ‘We’re Done With Teams’: German State Hits Uninstall on Microsoft
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AI Summary and Description: Yes
Summary: Schleswig-Holstein is transitioning from Microsoft’s proprietary software to open-source alternatives to gain data control and enhance digital sovereignty. This significant move affects thousands of public servants, including teachers and civil officials, marking a notable shift in governmental software usage.
Detailed Description: The report outlines a major decision by the state of Schleswig-Holstein in Germany, wherein public servants, including police officers and judges, will cease using Microsoft software, replacing it with open-source solutions. This shift is driven by a desire to regain control over data and promote digital sovereignty.
– **Key Points:**
– **Open-Source Adoption**: The state is making a deliberate shift towards open-source software to ensure that data storage and management remain under their control.
– **Impact on Employment**: The move impacts approximately 60,000 public employees, with a notable number of teachers expected to transition to these new software solutions in the coming years.
– **Phases of Implementation**: The abandonment of Microsoft products begins with a broad replacement of commonly used applications:
– Microsoft Word and Excel will be exchanged for LibreOffice.
– Microsoft Outlook will be replaced by Open-Xchange for email and calendars.
– **Digital Sovereignty**: The shift reflects growing concerns over data privacy and sovereignty, emphasizing the importance of maintaining control over governmental digital resources.
– **Feedback from Officials**: The digitalisation minister, Dirk Schroedter, emphasizes this change as a commitment to enhancing digital sovereignty and reliability of digital tools, indicating a growing trend in public sectors.
This transition could serve as a case study for other governments and organizations considering similar moves towards open-source software, highlighting the broader implications for information security, data governance, and organizational compliance in an era increasingly focused on privacy and data sovereignty.