"One of the most important components in the software stack is the operating system. A Linux distribution is almost always active for the IT networks behind the scenes. Despite this uniform adoption, the nationality of such a Linux distribution has so far remained off the radar in sovereignty discussions. Unjustly so, in our opinion, because you can only speak of sovereignty or digital autonomy if you can continue all aspects of your software supply chain on your own."
"This is where SUSE can play an important role. As Red Hat's main challenger, it offers support for many Linux distributions as an OS for critical IT systems. And, crucially for sovereign ambitions, it is entirely European. In an interview with Techzine in the middle of last year, CEO Dirk-Peter van Leeuwen, a Dutchman, stated that SUSE has an advantage as a European player."
"Whereas Red Hat has been shielding its own RHEL (Red Hat Enterprise Linux) and restricting open source for several years, SUSE has opted for an approach whereby customers can, in principle, always withdraw from a partnership."
SUSE, originally German and now Luxembourg-based under Swedish investment firm EQT, represents a crucial European player in Linux distribution and operating systems for critical IT infrastructure. As Red Hat's main competitor, SUSE maintains an open-source approach allowing customer flexibility, contrasting with Red Hat's restrictive practices. European digital sovereignty depends on controlling entire software supply chains, yet this aspect remains underexplored in sovereignty discussions. SUSE's potential sale to non-European companies threatens European autonomy in IT systems. EQT's acquisition of SUSE in 2023 shifted focus toward profit maximization, creating uncertainty about the company's European commitment and independence.
#european-digital-sovereignty #linux-distribution #suse-acquisition #it-infrastructure-security #open-source-strategy
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