The FOITT’s approach to strengthening digital sovereignty – the realistic way

Politicians, businesses, and public administration define digital sovereignty in different ways. Every institution, every company, and ultimately every individual has their own understanding of what the terms means. This can vary from mere data sovereignty to independence from foreign technologies to regulatory autonomy. However, what ultimately defines digital sovereignty is how we actually practice it in the digital world. And this is evolving rapidly. The speed of change has sparked a lot of debate about digital sovereignty in Switzerland, including within the federal administration. The Federal Office of Information Technology, Systems and Telecommunication (FOITT) has a key role to play in this: It is the largest IT service provider for the Swiss federal administration and is driving digital transformation with modern technologies and agile methods. This means it has the expertise needed to keep up with developments in IT.

But how is the FOITT approaching digital sovereignty?

In late 2025, the Federal Chancellery issued binding guidelines on digital sovereignty for the entire federal administration. These guidelines define the concept as follows: Switzerland must have the necessary control and scope for action in the digital space to fulfill its government functions. The guidelines are designed to create a shared understanding. This will then provide a basis for systematically assessing digital sovereignty on all relevant projects. Reaching a common understanding is challenging, but it is also a necessary starting point. Digital sovereignty is a multifaceted concept. It covers everything from data and technical components to the legal framework. The federal administration must consider digital sovereignty as part of its risk assessments for IT projects. However, meeting public expectations – which can be very high – is not always realistic in a small country like Switzerland. This may be due to limited resources, a lack of domestic providers, or regulatory requirements. We therefore have to start where there is realistic room for maneuver within the framework of the guidelines. With this in mind, the FOITT has identified several key components for strengthening digital sovereignty – in a way that is realistic and sustainable.

Open-source technologies and open standards

Using open-source technologies and further developing them is a key pillar: The FOITT has long been committed to open standards and development based on the opensource principle. It releases software that it has developed in-house and makes it available as an open-source solution. By publishing the code, the FOITT promotes transparency, reusability, and quality in administrative IT. The e-ID infrastructure and the COVID-19 certificate system are notable examples of this. Open-source technologies are closely linked to open standards, which ensure interoperability. These standards enable the FOITT to operate independent, transparent, and cost-effective systems. This means it can maintain full control over infrastructure, data flows, and future technology choices.

Swiss Government Cloud

Another important component is the Swiss Government Cloud (SGC). With the SGC, the FOITT is aiming to set up a new hybrid multi-cloud infrastructure by 2032. This infrastructure will be tailored to the federal government’s needs and requirements. It will also combine both public and private cloud offerings. An additional aim behind the SGC is to help strengthen digital sovereignty, particularly with regard to data sovereignty and operational au- tonomy. To ensure this, technical, organizational, and contractual measures will be implemented. Data sovereignty means the control that the data owner – such as government departments or agencies – has over the entire life cycle of their data. This covers everything from collection, storage, and processing to sharing. It also includes ensuring data integrity and protection against unauthorized access. This means that data owners can control and track access at any time. Ensuring operational autonomy is another key aim in this context. It refers to the ability to operate the required systems without being dependent on external partners.

KOBY – the FOITT’s AI assistant

The FOITT is actively involved in research on AI and its applications. For example, it has developed its own AI system, which is operated exclusively in its own data centers within a specially secured zone. This system is also based on an open-source large language model. Known as KOBY, it can process information up to and including confidential level. This solution gives the federal administration a secure alternative to publicly available AI tools. By integrating AI into administrative processes in a targeted way, the aim is to streamline work flows while maintaining data sovereignty. AI will fundamentally change how we work, and the FOITT recognizes this.

An ongoing process

The FOITT’s strategy combines open-source technologies, the Swiss Government Cloud, and a secure AI platform. In this way, it is actively promoting digital sov- ereignty. However, strengthening digital sovereignty is not a static goal but an ongoing process. The key is to allocate limited resources where they will have the greatest impact. The FOITT will maintain with its pragmatic approach. Going forward, it will respect the limits of its scope for action and continually weigh up which measures are genuinely feasible and sustainable.