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ZDNET’s key takeaways
- Austria’s navy has switched from Microsoft Workplace to LibreOffice.
- The transfer was all about digital sovereignty, not value financial savings.
- Different governments are shifting away from Microsoft to guard their residents’ privateness.
Austria’s navy has accomplished a serious IT overhaul, replacing Microsoft Office with the open-source LibreOffice suite throughout all its desktop methods. The change, finalized this month, impacts roughly 16,000 workstations within the Austrian Armed Forces.
This transfer will considerably cut back Austria’s software program invoice. At $33.75 per person monthly, a Microsoft 365 E3 subscription for 16,000 workstations prices roughly $6,480,000 per yr, in comparison with LibreOffice’s zero value.
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However this transfer is not about saving cash. The actual motivation is to realize digital sovereignty and management over essential information. As Michael Hillebrand of Directorate 6 data and communications expertise (ICT) and Cyber Protection, defined: “It was crucial for us to point out that we are doing this primarily to strengthen our digital sovereignty, to keep up our independence when it comes to ICT infrastructure and to make sure that information is simply processed in-house.”
Austria has loads of firm
This concern shouldn’t be distinctive to Austria. Many EU governments are dumping Microsoft to guard their information. The German state of Schleswig-Holstein is replacing all Microsoft software with Linux and LibreOffice in authorities places of work.
Austria’s transfer comes shortly after Danish officials said they’d be leaving Microsoft behind for a similar causes. The French metropolis of Lyon is also moving to Linux and LibreOffice from Home windows and Workplace to guard its residents’ information.
Not too long ago, digital sovereignty has develop into a contentious situation for nations outdoors the US which were counting on American corporations. Many European governments not belief their information or software program to US-based corporations underneath President Donald Trump.
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They worry their information might be learn or that Microsoft may kill their companies on Trump’s behalf. Whereas Microsoft chairman and normal counsel Brad Smith dismissed such considerations and promised that the corporate would stand behind its EU customers against political pressure, others do not belief Microsoft.
Their considerations will solely be infected now that The Guardian studies that Microsoft has cut off Israel’s access to Azure, which the nation had been utilizing to retailer information for a Palestinian surveillance system. Whereas some folks could help this determination, it additionally serves as a pointy warning that US corporations can and can reduce IT assets from their prospects for political causes.
In Austria’s case, the federal government began to fret that such strikes have been forthcoming when, in 2020, the navy recognized the dangers of dependency on exterior cloud companies, notably these from the US. Austria wasn’t the one one. The German Inside Ministry warned in 2019 that Germany had become overly dependent on Microsoft software.
Years within the making
Austria’s transition planning quickly kicked off, with staff being allowed emigrate voluntarily beginning in 2022. By 2023, exterior builders joined to supply coaching and bolster LibreOffice with options wanted for navy workflows. Many of those options have since been contributed again to the bigger LibreOffice mission for the advantage of all customers.
Austria is not simply changing Microsoft software program. In contrast to typical public-sector and company migrations, Austria’s navy has closely invested in LibreOffice growth itself. The armed forces have been funding the creation of latest options and enhancements that are actually included in public releases. These additions, starting from improved slideshow enhancing to higher dealing with of pivot tables, have been rolled into the most recent model of LibreOffice.
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Whereas Microsoft Workplace 2016 was deeply embedded in legacy workflows, it has now been purged from all navy methods as of September 2025. Nonetheless, personnel with specialised wants should request entry to Workplace 2024 LTSC modules on a case-by-case foundation. Some applications, similar to Microsoft Entry and particular font licenses, proceed for use underneath restricted situations.
Austria’s swap highlights a rising pattern amongst European governments to prioritize information independence, open collaboration, and native management over reliance on overseas cloud companies. European corporations, similar to Linux energy SUSE, are additionally providing companies to EU nations and firms to assist them transition to European-based open-source software program, clouds, and companies. I anticipate this motion to proceed to realize energy quickly.