German state replaces Microsoft Exchange and Outlook with open-source email
Digital sovereignty isn’t a phrase you often hear in the US, but it’s a big deal in Europe. Here’s why.
The German state of Schleswig-Holstein has dumped its government email and calendar systems for open-source software. The six-month migration has replaced Microsoft Exchange and Outlook with Open-Xchange and Mozilla Thunderbird. The transfer covered more than 40,000 mailboxes and over 100 million messages and calendar entries.
Digitalization Minister Dirk Schrödter declared, “Mission accomplished. From the State Chancellery and ministries to the judiciary, police, and other state authorities, our roughly 30,000 employees have embarked on a new path together. We want to become independent of large tech corporations and ensure digital sovereignty. Now we can also say: mission accomplished when it comes to email communication.”
Schrödter praised the employees who helped make the transition possible: “The past weeks and months have shown that such a transition is no small feat. We are true pioneers. There is hardly a comparable project of this magnitude worldwide. Our sincere thanks go to all employees. Without their support, this transition would not have been possible.”
