Written by
Lorina Balan
, Digital Marketer
On June 27, 2024, the IT Planning Council of Germany held a special meeting to decide on adopting Delos Cloud, a variant of the Microsoft Azure Cloud operated in Germany. Despite immense pressure from the Federal Chancellery to immediately conclude contracts, no decision was made. This pause raises significant concerns about data protection, procurement law, security, and strategic implications of using Delos Cloud.
The next regular meeting of the IT Planning Council is set for November 13, 2024, giving stakeholders time to reconsider their options and explore alternatives that better align with Germany's goals of digital sovereignty and security.
- Data sovereignty: the core issue
- Final thoughts
Data sovereignty: the core issue
Germany's current IT strategy emphasizes digital sovereignty, security, and innovation through several initiatives:
- National security strategy: This strategy focuses on protecting critical infrastructure, enhancing cybersecurity, and reducing dependencies on foreign technology, particularly in light of geopolitical tensions and security threats.
- AI strategy: Germany aims to promote human-centric AI development and application, supporting innovation while ensuring ethical standards and data protection.
- Cyber security strategy: The 2021 Cybersecurity Strategy outlines measures to strengthen digital sovereignty, support key enabling technologies, and apply a security-by-design approach to emerging technologies.
Based on these, Germany aims to modernize its public administration through cloud technology, with Delos Cloud presenting itself as a strong candidate. However, its reliance on Microsoft Azure technology creates a fundamental conflict with data sovereignty:
- US Cloud Act: This law permits US authorities to access user data stored by American companies, even if it's located outside the US. For German institutions that prioritize data privacy, this is a non-starter. The sovereignty of German data cannot be guaranteed as long as it relies on US-based technology (DW) (The Diplomat).
With open-source software, the source code is available for scrutiny, ensuring there are no hidden backdoors or unauthorized data access. This level of transparency is crucial for maintaining true data sovereignty.
Benefits of public code
A strong case for open source
Open-source software offers numerous advantages that make it an excellent choice for public administration. These benefits extend beyond mere cost savings and include fostering collaboration, serving the public, encouraging innovation, and supporting fundamental freedoms. Here's an in-depth look at why open-source software is the superior option.
Budget
The cost-effectiveness of open source
One of the most compelling arguments for adopting open-source alternatives to proprietary software in public administration is the significant tax savings it offers. Governments can avoid the hefty licensing fees associated with proprietary software like Delos Cloud. In contrast, open-source software is generally more cost-effective because it eliminates these licensing fees. Also, instead of programming similar applications from scratch, open-source alternatives like XWiki are extensible and customizable, allowing reuse and adaptation. This flexibility means public institutions can allocate their resources more efficiently, tailoring the software to their specific needs without being locked into costly vendor agreements.
By investing in open-source software, public administrations reduce their dependency on expensive proprietary software, freeing up budget to invest in other crucial areas of digital transformation and innovation, and maximizing the return on investment for taxpayers.
Transparency
Building trust through openness
Trust in public administration hinges on transparency. Open-source software embodies this principle by allowing public access to inspect, modify, and enhance the software. This openness ensures that security measures and data handling practices are verifiable and accountable. In a democratic society, such transparency is not just desirable—it’s essential.
When software is funded by public money, it should be open for public scrutiny and improvement. This not only builds trust but also ensures accountability and fosters a collaborative environment where software continuously evolves to meet the public's needs. Publicly funded software that is open source empowers citizens and strengthens democratic processes. It makes government operations more transparent and accessible, allowing everyone to see, understand, and improve how their government works.
Collaboration
Open-source projects inherently promote collaboration. Governments and institutions can share expertise and costs, pooling resources to develop more robust and feature-rich solutions. This collaborative approach leads to higher quality software that meets the diverse needs of multiple stakeholders.
A prime example of successful collaboration is the LibreOffice project. Initially a fork of OpenOffice, LibreOffice has thrived due to contributions from a global community of developers, including substantial input from public institutions.
For instance, the French city of Toulouse saved around €1 million over three years by switching to LibreOffice. Similarly, the Italian Ministry of Defense decided to deploy LibreOffice on 150,000 computers, aiming to save €26-29 million over the next few years. In Germany, the city of Munich migrated its administrative staff to LibreOffice as part of its broader LiMux project, which reduced software licensing costs and demonstrated the feasibility of large-scale open-source adoption in public administration.
These examples are to confirm that collaborative development in open-source projects not only enhances software quality and functionality but also leads to significant cost savings and strategic autonomy for public institutions.
Serving the Public
Applications funded by public money should be available to everyone. Public code ensures that taxpayer-funded software development benefits the entire community, fostering transparency and trust. When the public has access to the code, they can see exactly how their money is being used and benefit from the software themselves.
The “Public Money? Public Code!” initiative advocates for this very principle. It argues that software produced with public funds should be open to the public, allowing for greater accountability and civic engagement. By making software publicly available, governments can ensure that it serves the needs of their citizens more effectively.
Security
The clear advantage of transparency
In an era of growing digital surveillance and frequent data breaches, transparency is paramount for protecting citizens' privacy and securing data. Open-source software inherently provides this transparency by allowing anyone to inspect the code, identify vulnerabilities, and propose enhancements.
Security incidents involving Microsoft have repeatedly highlighted the security risks that proprietary software pose. From leaked sensitive data on public servers to cyberattacks exploiting vulnerabilities, the track record is troubling. With OSS, the code's transparency means more secure and resilient systems, as any weaknesses can be quickly identified and addressed by a global community of developers, as it is the case with the XWiki forum. Such a proactive approach to security is far superior to the opaque processes of proprietary software vendors.
Supporting fundamental rights
Open-source software embodies the principles of democracy by promoting an open and accountable government. When governments use open-source software, they invite public participation in scrutinizing and improving the digital tools used in public administration. This process builds public trust, as citizens can see how their data is managed and protected, ensuring that government operations are transparent and accountable.
Open-source software also supports fundamental rights by giving everyone the right to use, study, share, and improve it. These freedoms align with democratic values and help protect other essential rights, such as freedom of speech, press, and privacy. By allowing anyone to modify and enhance the software, open-source promotes innovation and adaptability, ensuring that digital infrastructure can evolve to meet changing needs and threats.
Fostering innovation
Leveraging open source for accelerated progress
Open-source software encourages innovation by allowing developers to build on existing solutions rather than reinventing the wheel. Transparent processes and open access to the codebase enable rapid advancements and improvements, accelerating technological progress and efficiency.
For instance, the development of the Linux operating system has been driven by a diverse community of contributors who continually enhance its capabilities. This collaborative innovation has made Linux a leading platform for servers, supercomputers, and even desktop computing, demonstrating the power of open-source development to drive technological advancements.
Schleswig-Holstein’s success with open source
Schleswig-Holstein, a state in Germany, has taken significant strides towards digital sovereignty by adopting open-source software. The state's government has decided to use LibreOffice as the standard office solution, marking the first step towards complete digital sovereignty. This move ensures that citizens' data remains secure and under the state's control, avoiding potential data outflows to third countries.
The state’s Digitalization Minister, Dirk Schrödter, emphasized the importance of digital sovereignty, linking it to energy sovereignty. By adopting open-source solutions, Schleswig-Holstein is not only ensuring better IT security and data protection but also fostering local innovation and economic growth by investing in domestic digital services instead of paying for expensive proprietary software licenses.
Final thoughts
Germany's current IT strategy emphasizes the need for digital sovereignty, security, and innovation. However, reliance on Delos Cloud, based on Microsoft Azure technology, creates dependencies on foreign tech giants, raising significant concerns about data sovereignty and security.
The debate surrounding Delos Cloud brings Germany to a pivotal decision point. The nation can either continue down the path of dependency on foreign technology providers or seize the opportunity to lead in digital sovereignty by adopting open-source software. By choosing open-source, Germany can ensure that its digital transformation is resilient, transparent, and fully under its control, setting a powerful example for Europe and the world.
For those interested in exploring open-source cloud solutions, here are some resources:
- OpenStack- An open-source cloud computing platform.
- European open source Cloud providers:
- Cloud&Heat — A German provider.
- OVHCloud — A French provider.
For more open-source software, you can check this alphabetized list.
As an open-source supporter, I believe the benefits of open-source software are clear: significant cost savings, enhanced collaboration, public service, innovation, and the support of fundamental freedoms. These advantages make OSS the superior choice for public administration, aligning with the principles of transparency, efficiency, and sovereignty.
By prioritizing open-source solutions, governments can build a robust, secure, and cost-effective IT infrastructure that truly serves their citizens.
