GRAEF Group & openCode / openDesk: Together for Digital Sovereignty
Peter Gräf of the GRAEF Group is currently planning a strategic partnership with openCode and openDeskto strengthen digital independence in Germany. The aim is to offer public authorities, companies and organizations solutions that are not only technically state-of-the-art, but also data protection-compliant and independent of proprietary software.
What are openDesk and openCode?
openDesk is an office and collaboration suite developed by the Center for Digital Sovereignty (ZenDiS) with the aim of providing a sovereign workplace. It combines functions such as word processing, spreadsheets, email, calendar, cloud storage, chat, video conferencing, project management and wiki in a single interface.
openCode is the open source platform on which the source code for these solutions is made available. This ensures transparency and customizability.
Why digital sovereignty is now more important than ever
Authorities and public institutions are often dependent on proprietary vendors, which poses risks in terms of data protection, security and long-term costs. openDesk addresses this problem through open standards, open source components and local data processing.
The new suite was officially presented in fall 2024, including at the Smart Country Convention, and is already available in version 1.0.
The focus is on avoiding vendor lock-in and at the same time offering a reliable, secure and flexible IT solution, especially for public administration.
What role does the GRAEF Group play?
Through the partnership with openCode / openDesk, the GRAEF Group intends to expand its expertise in the areas of security technology, network infrastructure and IT consulting.
We offer technical integration, installation, support and consulting for customers who want to use openDesk - including public authorities, public institutions and companies with high data protection requirements.
Our experience with security and monitoring solutions predestines us to implement open software solutions securely and efficiently - especially when it comes to sensitive data or infrastructure.
Benefits for customers and society
| Advantage | Description |
|---|---|
| Self-determination over data | No storage in cloud services that are under third-party control. Control over data structure, hosting and access. |
| Open standards & transparency | Customizable, auditable and without hidden license costs. |
| Cost reduction | Elimination of high license fees, cheaper operation through open source & local hosting options. |
| Security & Compliance | High data security in accordance with German and European standards, GDPR-compliant, potentially in accordance with IT baseline protection. |
| Future-oriented & scalable | Modular expansion possible, use at various levels (local authorities, state administration, companies). |
Outlook: What lies ahead
Implementation of openDesk in pilot projects with GRAEF Group to test application scenarios.
Consulting and integration for customers who want to convert their digital infrastructure to an open source basis.
Ensuring support and maintenance services so that openDesk and openCode are not only introduced but also operated sustainably.
