Ready to Go for a Sovereign Workplace
Setting the Course for Delos
Digital sovereignty is evident in everyday work. Learn how Microsoft 365 in the Delos Cloud supports the public sector, what operating models are available, and how organizations can start paving the way for a sovereign workplace today.
A Seamless Workplace: Microsoft 365 in the Delos Cloud
In the public administration, the key question has shifted. It is less and less often: “Why a sovereign cloud?” and more and more often: “How do we get there, and what will change for employees?” One answer to this question is: Microsoft 365 in the Delos Cloud.
Sovereignty Becomes Visible in the Workplace
Infrastructure remains abstract. Digital sovereignty becomes tangible where people work: in a shared document, in a meeting between two government agencies, or when accessing information on the go. These capabilities are tied to the cloud model. For a long time, many public sector organizations were denied this access because their security requirements go beyond what is standard in the private sector.
The Delos Cloud closes this gap. It connects Microsoft technology with an operational model that is technically, operationally, and legally sovereign: Data storage in Germany, physical separation, operation by a German legal entity, security-cleared personnel, and oversight in accordance with BSI requirements. For the workplace, this means: Outlook, Teams, SharePoint, OneDrive, and the Office applications in an environment tailored to public sector clients in Germany.
Protection Needs Are Not One-Size-Fits-All
The public sector is diverse. It includes government agencies at all levels—from ministries to state agencies to cities and municipalities—as well as the police, fire departments, schools, universities, health insurance providers, hospitals, and organizations in the construction and housing sectors. This diversity gives rise to a wide range of requirements for IT service providers. The path to a sovereign workplace scales accordingly. With the EU data boundary, Microsoft created the option in 2023 to keep not only content data but also telemetry and support data within the EU. The Delos Cloud is available to meet additional protection needs.
In practice, this results in three deployment scenarios that you should be aware of before planning:
The choice of scenario is not purely a technical decision. It determines the identity model, governance, licensing, and the effort required for change management.
You Can Start Preparing Today
If you wait for the launch date, you'll waste time that you won't have elsewhere. The essential preparatory work is independent of the timing and largely overlaps with a traditional Microsoft 365 migration:
- Check eligibility: The Delos Cloud is available to defined groups, including direct and indirect administrative bodies of the federal government, states, and municipalities, as well as grant recipients and companies with equity participation.
- Inventory and content analysis: What is located where, what is its quality, and what is its protection class?
- Check connected business processes: Which processes are associated with the workstation, and which interfaces need to be migrated?
- Assess network capacity and select an identity model: This is where it is determined whether a hybrid scenario is viable.
- Strengthen the security and data protection strategy
- Setting up change management and stakeholder communication: Experience shows that this is the most frequently underestimated step.
A thorough risk-benefit analysis remains essential in order to find the right solution for your organization.
Governance Keeps the Workplace Manageable
A modern workplace drives momentum. Without proper management, it also leads to uncontrolled growth. To address this issue, Arvato Systems offers NAVOO®, a field-proven governance tool for the digital workplace. It harnesses the benefits of the cloud while simultaneously increasing control. In addition, our Microsoft 365 program supports organizations from the decision-making phase through preparation and into operation, for Public Cloud as well as for Delos. Those who can’t or don’t want to wait can start with a privacy-friendly Microsoft 365 workspace and simultaneously set the course toward Delos.
From October 13–15, 2026, we will be represented as a partner at the SAP booth, booth number 300 in hub27, at the Berlin Exhibition Grounds. There, we’ll demonstrate what the journey into the Delos world actually looks like: from today’s workplace through governance to Delos interoperability. Bring us your current situation, and together we’ll figure out the best path forward.
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