---
type: source
title: "Open Protocols and Open Source Software"
tags: [open-source, it-security, migration, university-infrastructure]
related: [migration-to-open-source, vendor-lock-in, proprietary-software-risks]
created: 2026-07-01
updated: 2026-07-01
authors: [Universitätsrechenzentrum (URZ)]
year: 2026
url: "https://rz.uni-greifswald.de/support/dokumentation/it-informationssicherheit/opensource"
venue: "Universität Greifswald Support Documentation"
sources: ["output/rz_uni_greifswald_de_support_dokumentation_it_informationssicherheit_opensource.md"]
---

# Open Protocols and Open Source Software

This source documents the strategic initiative by the **Universitätsrechenzentrum (URZ)** to promote the use of open protocols, open formats, and open-source software at the **Universität Greifswald**. The primary drivers for this shift are the mitigation of IT security risks and the reduction of financial dependency on proprietary vendors.

## Key Motivations
The URZ cites several real-world examples to justify the migration:
- **Security Risks:** The 2019 cyberattack on **Justus-Liebig-Universität Gießen** is used as a cautionary example where a massive attack forced the shutdown of the entire Microsoft-based IT infrastructure.
- **Financial Dependency:** The **CERN** experience is cited, where the loss of academic status led to a roughly tenfold increase in Microsoft license costs, prompting the launch of the **Microsoft Alternatives Project (MAlt)**.
- **Data Privacy:** Concerns regarding **Windows 10** telemetry data transmission to Microsoft, which has led state data protection officers to question its suitability for public service.

## Strategic Implementation
The URZ has already implemented open-source solutions in central infrastructure and is planning to replace Windows-based **Active Directory Domain Controllers** with **Linux** servers running **Samba**.

For end-users, a five-stage migration concept is proposed:
1. **Open Formats:** Encouraging the use of **OpenDocument** formats (`.odt`, `.ods`) over proprietary ones (`.docx`, `.xlsx`).
2. **PDF Accessibility:** Ensuring central forms are compatible with free PDF viewers.
3. **Application Shift:** Promoting **LibreOffice** as an alternative to MS Office and **Mozilla Thunderbird** (or the university Webmailer) as an alternative to MS Outlook.
4. **Interoperability:** Developing a web-based solution for the original editing of MS Office documents.
5. **OS Migration:** The eventual replacement of the Windows desktop OS with **Linux**.
