As 2025 confirms the global trend toward diversifying digital environments, Denmark stands out as a remarkable case study in the quest for digital sovereignty. The Danish government’s decision to drastically reduce its reliance on Microsoft Office and Windows in favor of open source solutions such as LibreOffice and Linux represents a significant step, combining security, sustainable economics, and political sovereignty. In a European context where concerns about IT security and data control are accelerating, this transition is part of a broader strategy aimed at strengthening national and regional control over technology. This article explores in depth the triggers, challenges, and practical implications of this bold transformation of the Danish digital landscape, while illustrating how this stance could inspire other nations facing similar challenges.
Denmark’s change of direction was not rushed, but rather was based on a convergence of geopolitical, economic, and security factors that shaped the country’s new digital approach. The stated priority is to ensure strategic independence.
vis-à-vis American tech giants. Fear of excessive control by foreign companies, particularly during times of international tensions or sanctions, has accelerated this desire for sovereignty. To illustrate this issue, the recent crisis involving the International Criminal Court (ICC) case shows that Microsoft reportedly cut off access to its services under political pressure, raising significant concerns about the reliability of foreign service providers at critical times. The catastrophic costs associated with the continued use of Microsoft Office in the public sector have also motivated this break. For example, in five years, the IT bill for the capital, Copenhagen, has climbed from 313 million to 538 million Danish kroner, a 72% increase. This cost explosion has prompted a rethinking of the adoption of expensive proprietary software, which is often locked down and poorly adaptable to local needs. At the same time, the desire to improve data security and confidentiality plays a crucial role. By allowing complete transparency over its code, open-source software offers better control over vulnerabilities and reduces dependence on entities with opaque training and controls. Technical expertise thus becomes an essential lever for combating constantly evolving cyber threats, particularly in the face of the increased sophistication of national and international cyberattacks.
Influence of heightened geopolitical tensions in the European Union
Achieving substantial long-term cost savings
- Reducing dependence on American companies
- Promoting open source for greater transparency and control
- Guaranteeing IT security in the face of regional challenges
- A changing European and global context
- This movement is part of a broader shift, as Europe seeks to redefine its digital sovereignty in the face of the dominance of American players like Microsoft and Amazon. The political dynamic goes beyond simple software adoption; it concerns the desire to assert strategic and economic autonomy. In this context, Denmark is playing a pioneering role by promoting a migration to digital infrastructures controlled locally or by European actors.
Recent political crises, whether related to sanctions or attempted interference, illustrate the urgency of such a strategy. The fear that sensitive data or critical operations could be interrupted or manipulated by foreign companies is driving the shift toward sovereign solutions. The transition to LibreOffice and Linux therefore goes beyond a simple cost; it is a powerful political statement about mastering the digital future. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NeWq4k0_yqo
The Financial Stakes and Technological Challenge of the New Danish Paradigm
The massive decline in the use of Microsoft Office and Windows is not just an ideology; it is also part of an economic logic. The constant rise in Microsoft licensing and technical support costs is prompting an alternative strategy. With annual growth of more than 15% in costs related to the integration of proprietary solutions, profitability is becoming difficult to maintain. Switching to LibreOffice, which is completely free, saves millions of euros each year, while promoting sustainable cost savings.
Criteria
Before migration After migration Annual software cost
$53 million
| Effectively reduced to zero for LibreOffice | Technical support | High costs, dependence on Microsoft |
|---|---|---|
| Community and local support, cost savings | Security | Constant vulnerabilities |
| Better management thanks to open source code | Faced with these challenges, the Danish government is investing heavily in training to support this transition, while developing a new European cloud infrastructure based on tools such as NextCloud and ownCloud. The complexity of this key step remains high, particularly because the transition to Linux environments requires full compatibility with business processes and increased skills among technical teams. The Strategic and Societal Benefits of a Sovereign Transition | Building a robust digital system based on open source software and Linux provides Denmark with several crucial advantages for its sovereignty. In addition to total control of systems and transparency, this involves establishing digital governance adapted to modern challenges. The decentralization of infrastructure, coupled with the use of European tools, provides increased resilience in the face of sophisticated cyberattacks or geopolitical pressures. |
| Tangible benefits also include greater autonomy in the management of public data, thus preventing leaks or manipulation by external actors. Concretely, the country can establish its own rules, adjust its IT security policies, and drive its digital transformation without depending on rules imposed by private sector multinationals. | Strengthened data security and protection | Reduced vulnerability to state or private cyberattacks |
Fostering local innovation and the development of a European ecosystem
Reduced long-term costs for public administration
Improved citizen trust in digital management
In a revolutionary shift, Denmark is abandoning Microsoft in favor of open source solutions like LibreOffice and Linux, marking a significant step towards technological independence and cost reduction. Discover the implications of this bold choice for the country’s digital future. A Local Success Story
- One concrete illustration of this strategy is the city of Copenhagen, which successfully migrated 80% of its public infrastructure services to Linux. After two years of efforts, the city has seen increased stability, significant cost reductions, and improved resilience against cyber threats. This approach has increased citizens’ confidence in the management of their public data and has also raised concerns among some private stakeholders who have seen their influence diminish in the region.
- This model could well become a benchmark for other cities in Europe, not only for its financial benefits, but also for the symbolic dimension of true digital sovereignty.
- Challenges and prospects for implementing the Danish project
- Despite its ambitions, the transition to LibreOffice and Linux is not without its challenges. The first step is to ensure full compatibility of work tools and documents. Data migration must be seamless, without loss or degraded formats. Training staff, often accustomed to Windows and Microsoft Office, requires a significant investment in time and human resources.
- Next, integrating a secure European cloud infrastructure poses new technological challenges. Standardizing protocols, raising awareness of security issues, and managing interoperability between different systems will be the keys to success. Furthermore, this migration must adhere to a strict timeline to limit the impact on the continuity of public services. Major Challenges
File Compatibility
Development of Conversion Tools and Open Standards
User Training
Intensive Awareness and Support Programs
Integration into Existing Infrastructure
Gradual Upgrade, Pilot Phases
| Adherence to the Migration Schedule | Rigorous Project Management with Clear Milestones |
|---|---|
| The future prospects for this approach remain promising. If the migration is carried out effectively, Denmark could become a model for the entire European Union, illustrating how political will, combined with a precise technical strategy, can lead to a real paradigm shift. | |