Open Source Cloud Stack: Architekturprinzip für digitale Souveränität in regulierten Umfeldern

Digital sovereignty has become a question of architecture in Switzerland – not just for governments, but for any organization that wants to retain control over data, infrastructure, and dependencies. Enterprises, public authorities, and critical infrastructures face the challenge of operating their digital resources independently, securely, and in a controllable manner. Proprietary cloud platforms offer efficiency and scalability but often result in lock-in effects. This is where an Open Source Cloud Stack comes in – as a technical foundation for sovereign, interoperable, and extensible infrastructures.

A deeper dive into these architectures reveals that it’s no longer just about open source code, but about fully auditable systems, modular orchestration, and freedom from vendor lock-in. But what exactly characterizes such architectures – and how can Open Source Cloud Stacks be systematically built and operated in practice?

What Is an Open Source Cloud Stack?

An Open Source Cloud Stack consists of open, modular components for delivering IaaS, PaaS, and optionally SaaS functionalities. Well-known projects like OpenStack (infrastructure), Kubernetes (orchestration), Ceph (storage), Prometheus (monitoring), Keycloak (IAM), or Terraform (IaC) form the technological backbone. These components enable the setup and operation of complete cloud environments independently from proprietary providers.

Key features include:

• Full API availability for integration into existing systems
• Infrastructure automation using GitOps or IaC paradigms
• Multi-cloud and hybrid support via standardized interfaces

Unlike proprietary solutions, Open Source Stacks give organizations complete control over data, policies, access, and configuration – an essential foundation for digital sovereignty.

However, technological independence alone is not enough. In regulated environments, security architectures and governance mechanisms deeply integrated into the infrastructure are equally crucial.

Security, Compliance, and Governance by Design

In regulatory-sensitive settings, open source is not a risk – it’s an opportunity. The transparency of the code enables comprehensive security analyses, community-driven vulnerability remediation, and full auditability. Integrated security concepts such as Zero Trust, TLS encryption, API gateways, and identity federation can be implemented seamlessly.

Open Source Stacks also allow for the enforcement of industry-specific compliance requirements – including BSI C5, ISO 27001, the Swiss Federal Data Protection Act (revDSG), and EU GDPR. Governance components like policy engines (e.g. OPA/Gatekeeper) enable automated policy enforcement right from the provisioning phase.

Embedding security by design across all architectural layers isn’t optional – it’s the prerequisite for trust in critical systems.

So how does this translate into real-world usage? A look across industries shows how these principles can be applied in practice.

Industry Focus: Sovereign IT with Open Source

Requirements for sovereignty, security, and integration vary significantly across sectors. The Open Source Cloud Stack provides the flexibility to meet these demands with precision and compliance.

Finance & Tax

In regulated financial environments, an Open Source Cloud Stack supports transparent, auditable platforms – aligned with ISO 27001, BaFin regulations, or Swiss banking laws. Vault, Keycloak, and OPA integrate smoothly into existing governance structures, ensuring full control over access logic, encryption, and logging.

Logistics & Transportation

Transport and logistics platforms demand high availability, real-time capability, and API-driven control. Using open source, CONVOTIS orchestrates resilient systems for shipment tracking, carrier management, and edge scenarios – containerized, standardized, and robust.

Healthcare & Life Sciences

Data protection, interoperability, and long-term availability are core concerns. CONVOTIS builds infrastructures for patient portals, clinical information systems, or research platforms – FHIR-compliant, encrypted, and fully revDSG/GDPR-compliant.

Public Sector & Government

In the public sector, sovereign platforms are not optional. CONVOTIS develops cloud architectures that meet national and European standards – with auditable stacks, federated integration, and digital controllability. Ideal for e-government, federated identities, or cross-sector administration platforms.

From Architecture to Action: How to Get Started

Many organizations are aware of the need to act – but lack a clear roadmap.

According to a Bitkom study (2025), 96% of German companies consume digital technologies and services from abroad, while only 25% actively export their own digital services. This dependency is especially critical in key areas such as cloud infrastructure, semiconductors, 5G, and AI.

Achieving digital sovereignty requires an architecture-driven transformation process:

• Modularizing existing systems
• Introducing auditable open source components
• Establishing automated, rule-based operating models

CONVOTIS supports this shift – with deep architectural expertise and regulatory know-how. Whether as a greenfield initiative or gradual replacement of proprietary elements: An Open Source Cloud Stack can be operated securely, scalably, and economically.

Architecting Sovereign IT Infrastructures

CONVOTIS guides organizations through the implementation of sovereign cloud architectures – from analysis and planning to the selection of suitable open source components and go-live. Our focus areas include:

• IT infrastructures under full organizational control
• Strategic architecture consulting tailored to specific industries
• Integrated security & compliance by design
• Scalable technical operations – even in hybrid cloud scenarios

Whether in public administration, regulated industries, or mission-critical operations: we deliver platforms that ensure lasting freedom of choice, security, and interoperability.

Open Source as a Strategic Factor: Retain Control of Your IT

Digital sovereignty is a fundamental architectural principle for organizations with regulatory obligations and high security requirements. Organizations that build their cloud infrastructure on open source components secure long-term independence, full control over critical systems, and top-level compliance – whether in finance, healthcare, or the public sector.