Microsoft-365-Alternative von Ionos und Nextcloud
Real competition for Microsoft: Nextcloud and Ionos are working on a 365 alternative. It is set to be launched in 2025.
(Image: iX)
Under the name Nextcloud Workspace, Ionos and Nextcloud are jointly developing an alternative to Microsoft 365. The cloud platform and hosting provider are promoting the software as a sovereign online workplace with email, office, video conferencing, chat and AI, based on open-source technology and with full transparency and user control over data and infrastructure. Considering the current discussions surrounding independence from US providers, Nextcloud Workspace will remain completely European and will be operated exclusively in Germany.
Well-known Office software
Technically, the office part of Nextcloud Workspace is based on the already widespread Collabora, as Ionos confirmed when asked by iX. However, enterprise functions have been added to make the package suitable for corporate use. This includes, for example, the management of many users. Use by public authorities is also being considered. Nextcloud and Ionos are aiming for a launch in 2025, but there is no specific date yet. There will be different package sizes in terms of licenses, although there will be no minimum user size. In an interview with iX, Ionos also emphasized that the prices will be competitive with Microsoft.
Whether cloud, AI or M365: hardly any company today can do without software and services from the USA. In view of the political upheavals since the start of Donald Trump's presidency, more and more IT managers are asking themselves: How can I reduce dependencies and make my own IT more sovereign, more resilient and therefore more future-proof?
The IT Summit by heise 2025 on November 11 and 12 in Munich provides answers. Renowned experts will explain what European cloud hosters can do compared to US hyperscalers and how to operate AI solutions locally. Learn from case studies how other companies have reduced their digital dependency. Find out how open source makes your software landscape more independent and why more digital sovereignty improves IT security.
The IT Summit by heise 2025, the new conference for IT managers, will take place on November 11 and 12 at Nemetschek Haus in Munich. The organizer is heise conferences, the program comes from the iX editorial team.
Microsoft alternatives are constantly being launched, although MS Office has hardly been able to compete with MS Office in companies to date. However, Ionos CTO Dr. Markus Noga is optimistic that he has found the right time: “We are currently seeing great demand for sovereign and secure workplace solutions in companies.” Sovereign is the key word here, as Noga's central arguments are not better technology, but “real freedom of choice for European companies” and a “full focus on digital sovereignty and open standards”.
Core argument of digital sovereignty
Frank Karlitschek, Nextcloud CEO, also sees the existing technology as already competitive with Microsoft: “Until now, it was always said that there were no real alternatives to US solutions for large companies.” But the new Nextcloud Workplace “proves the opposite”, says Karlitschek – “fully GDPR-compliant” and with “full data sovereignty”. Ionos CEO Achim Weiß summarizes: “Europe's digital future must be open, secure, and sovereign. Together with Nextcloud, we are building exactly that.”
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Whether and how Microsoft 365 can be used in Germany in a legally compliant manner is at least controversial. Opinions differ, at least among the authorities – while the state of Schleswig-Holstein, for example, is actively trying to switch away from the US provider, the Federal Employment Agency – Germany's largest authority – did not introduce Microsoft Teams until the end of 2024. And while the EU data protection authority wants to prevent the outflow of data to the USA, the EU Commission is convinced that the use of M365 complies with legal requirements. What's more, it sees no real alternatives to Microsoft.
Anyone who intends to test whether Nextcloud and Ionos can successfully prove the contrary can register for Nextcloud Workspace with Ionos now. The announcement at Ionos can be found here. Nextcloud has not yet published its announcement.
(fo)
