Before it was founded, ZenDiS was given a clear mandate by the IT Planning Council and the BMI: To strengthen digital sovereignty at federal, state and local level. As a competence and service center, we support the administration in freeing itself from critical dependencies on individual technology providers. We advise, empower, support and provide access to modern, powerful and scalable alternative solutions.
A state capable of acting in a digitally networked world
We enable the administration to free itself from critical dependencies on individual technology providers.
Whether operating systems, workstations, databases, virtualization, AI, or cloud computing: figures from the federal administration show that dependencies are particularly critical when it comes to software. 96 percent of all PC workstations use Office, 75 percent of all data is stored in Oracle databases, and 80 percent of data centers use VMWare virtualization solutions. This leads to lock-in effects, technical and commercial dependencies, and a massive loss of control over data, processes, operating logic, data protection, and system security.
ZenDiS's task is to eliminate critical dependencies on software and to develop and train the framework conditions for effective digital sovereignty. In close cooperation with players in the digital economy, we are paving the way for the administration to procure and use sovereign software with sustainable operating models. Other areas of technology will follow later as building blocks of sovereign IT (infrastructure, networks, etc.).
ZenDiS builds its offerings on existing solutions, some of which have been proven millions of times over, and develops them further in collaboration with professional partners so that they permanently meet the requirements of public administration in terms of operation, performance, security, sovereignty, and user-friendliness.
Open source is an effective tool for more digital sovereignty in all relevant fields of technology: Applications, infrastructure, cloud, databases and AI. Open code, open standards and interfaces make the administration independent of manufacturers, make it possible to influence functionalities and operating logics and ensure the interoperability of systems. They make it possible to switch providers and commission experts to close security gaps.
Eckpunktepapier Stärkung der Digitalen Souveränität (IT-Rat & IT-Planungsrat, März 2020)
Strategie zur Stärkung der Digitalen Souveränität (IT-Planungsrat, Januar 2021)
