OpenStack – the standard for the sovereign public cloud

In this article, you will read

• about the advantages of a public cloud based on open-source technology,
• how cloud solutions can support digital sovereignty strategies and
• how to access our whitepaper on OpenStack.

Vendor lock-in or open technology? With OpenStack, businesses and public-sector organizations can effectively support their digital sovereignty strategies. Read our whitepaper to learn more about this leading open-source software for cloud computing.

A majority, 53%, of German companies now embrace open-source technology, according to the 2023 Bitkom Monitor Open Source. Only 18% reject it. Software like Linux, Terraform, Kubernetes, MySQL, and PostgreSQL has long been embedded in business and public-sector IT environments. The result: the open-source market continues to grow steadily.

Open-source users cite cost savings, transparency, and independence as key advantages – especially the independence that stems from openness. With the growing focus on sovereignty and control over IT infrastructure, open source continues to gain momentum. The public sector even views it as a cornerstone of digital strategy, particularly in light of current geopolitical developments.

The question of sovereignty – open source vs. vendor lock-in – also applies to cloud deployment. While companies that use US-based hyperscalers risk technological dependency, the OpenInfra Foundation provides OpenStack, a robust open-source framework for building and managing cloud infrastructure.

OpenStack’s success is clear:

• Since 2018: 350% growth in production cores using OpenStack
• Currently over 45 million cores in active use
• Open Telekom Cloud is one of the largest OpenStack clouds worldwide
• Manages over 900,000 vCPUs, 4.5 PB RAM, and 1 exabyte of storage
• A strong testament to OpenStack’s performance in real-world scenarios

So how is OpenStack developed? The OpenInfra Foundation follows the "Four Opens" – a comprehensive approach to open-source software development from concept to deployment:

• Open Source: The software is truly free to use, fully scalable, and unrestricted in features, functionality, or performance.
• Open Design: Each release is developed through a transparent, collaborative process involving developers, companies, users, and project managers.
• Open Development: The source code is publicly available via a Git repository throughout the development cycle. This includes access to development infrastructure like CI servers (e.g., Zuul), the Gerrit review platform, and more.
• Open Community: A vibrant, inclusive community fosters open dialogue and collaborative success. All meetings are public, transparent, and documented – participants engage as equals.

OpenStack’s transparency makes it a strong foundation for high-performance cloud solutions. It integrates seamlessly with DevOps tools like Kubernetes, Terraform, and Ansible, enabling highly automated, flexible environments. By adopting OpenStack, users gain both technological independence and future-ready IT infrastructure. With the Open Telekom Cloud, users benefit from the full power of OpenStack in one comprehensive solution. Independent IT analysts consistently rate the Open Telekom Cloud as a market leader in Europe – making it an ideal platform for implementing sovereignty strategies.