German Federal Government: The Race for a Sovereign Cloud
In the race to establish a sovereign cloud for the German federal government, tensions are running high. Recent developments have raised questions about the viability of the project, and the future of Delos, the SAP subsidiary tasked with operating the cloud.
On June 20th, Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz met with the ministers-presidents of Germany’s federal states to discuss the cloud project. According to sources familiar with the matter, Scholz made a strong case for the Delos cloud, emphasizing its high level of data security and sovereignty. However, the meeting ended without a clear decision from the federal states.
Scholz’s push for the Delos cloud is not surprising, given his previous role as Finance Minister and his familiarity with the project. Microsoft and SAP have been working together to provide a cloud solution for German authorities since 2021. The proposal suggests that SAP’s subsidiary Delos will operate the cloud, while Microsoft will provide the necessary infrastructure.
However, the project has faced numerous challenges, including concerns about data security and sovereignty. Some federal states have expressed reservations about the project, citing issues with the cost and the fact that it is not a truly sovereign solution. Additionally, the recent departure of Delos CEO Georges Welz has raised questions about the future of the project.
SAP’s Chef Christian Klein has also been silent about the project, which could indicate that the company is not fully committed to the initiative. The fact that some federal states are considering alternative cloud solutions, such as Microsoft’s Public Cloud, further highlights the uncertainty surrounding the Delos cloud.
Despite these challenges, the German federal government remains committed to establishing a sovereign cloud. The Federal Office for Security in Information Technology (BSI) is currently conducting tests to determine whether the cloud solution meets the state’s requirements for data security and privacy. If the results are positive, the federal states will be able to book cloud services through Delos at a lower cost than previously thought.
Hamburg, for example, is already working on introducing Microsoft 365 in the state administration, and Niedersachsen has negotiated special data protection regulations with Microsoft for the use of Teams. Other federal states are also considering alternative cloud solutions, such as Open Source, which could further complicate the Delos project’s future.
In conclusion, the race for a sovereign cloud in the German federal government is ongoing, with tensions running high and the future of Delos remaining uncertain. While Scholz has made a strong case for the Delos cloud, the project faces numerous challenges, including concerns about data security, sovereignty, and alternative solutions. The outcome of these developments will have significant implications for the future of German authorities’ cloud computing strategies.