An Open-Source Alternative to Microsoft 365

Organizations increasingly require full control over where their data is hosted and how it is processed. Microsoft 365’s cloud-first model and exposure to extraterritorial regulations (such as the Cloud Act) make it unsuitable for on-premise or sovereign cloud strategies.

Microsoft 365 licensing costs grow steadily over time, while organizations remain locked into a proprietary ecosystem. Switching to an open-source alternative enables long-term cost control, licensing transparency, and freedom from forced roadmap or pricing decisions.

Microsoft 365 is a collection of tightly coupled applications designed to work best within Microsoft’s own ecosystem. This creates technological lock-in, limits interoperability with third-party systems, and complicates long-term IT evolution.

Digital workplace platforms like eXo offer a unified user experience built on open standards, APIs and connectors, enabling seamless integration with existing business applications, including selective coexistence with Microsoft tools where required.