References

Links and References for SCS and GovStack

About Sovereign Cloud Stack

• The idea is to leverage mature Open Source Software (OSS) to support digital sovereignty
  • The challenge is to integrate them in a coherent and standardized way to create standards and a mature product that can be operated without too much scarce expert knowledge.
• This is done in several ways:
  1. By making it easier for local providers and allow self-hosting, data sovereignty is supported.
  2. By having many provider adhering to the same technical standards, switching providers becomes a lot easier. The standards are covered by automated continuous tests and can be certified (SCS-compatible)
  3. By having an openly developed complete open source reference implementation, everyone can adjust technology, innovate on and contribute to it, thus delivering on technical sovereignty (SCS-open). This includes the ability to create and capture value at all layers.
  4. By giving transparency into operations (e.g. via blog articles, OSHM, Lean Operator Coffee), some collaborative element is added to the Ops part of DevOps. Open Operations thus enables the highest level (SCS-sovereign).
• SCS is a project by the Open Source Business Alliance e.V. (OSBA) in Europe in the Gaia-X context and has received public funding from German BMWK 2021 -- 2024.
• It has collaboratively and openly developed and released 5 versions of SCS-compatible IaaS standards, 1 version of KaaS standards, 8 releases of the reference implementation, has organized two own conferences (SCS summits), 4 Hackathons and has contributed to numerous publications and conferences.
• The standards evolution is now governed by the Forum SCS-Standards in the non-profit OSBA, whereas the software development is continued by the OSS companies in the SCS community, governed by the SCS project board.

Interacting with the SCS community

• Old web page with lots of blog articles, press articles, conference contributions
• New web page focusing on SCS standardization
• Docs page with extensive documentation
• Open and welcoming community, interacting via
  • Matrix
  • Mailing lists
  • VideoConf Meetings
  • github and openCoDE
  • governed by SCS Project Board

GovStack

• GovStack https://govstack.global/ is an international project to
  • Specify building blocks that support governments to provide digital services to their citizens, businesses, civil society, ... (GovSpecs)
  • Tests for compliance with GovSpecs (GovTest)
  • Learning opportunities around the GovSpec Building Blocks (GovLearn)
  • Implementations of these specifications (GovMarket)
• A number of blocks have been specified, identity management, payment, etc., see https://govstack.gitbook.io
  • One of them is a cloud building block
• Govstack is supported by German BMZ, GIZ, DIAL, ITU, Estonia