openDesk Partner Programme

To accelerate the roll-out across the board, the Centre for Digital Sovereignty is looking for openDesk partners. In addition to public-sector IT service providers, private-sector cloud service providers and IT service providers can also develop their own openDesk Enterprise offerings.

Alongside the intensification of cooperation with public-sector IT service providers, ZenDiS is now also opening the way for private-sector companies by establishing the partner programme. The public administration still has options to procure openDesk without going through a tender process.

ZenDiS is wholly owned by the federal government. Partners are therefore sought via an official accreditation process (Open House). Participation is now open and will remain so initially until 31 January 2027. In the coming weeks, ZenDiS plans to introduce further partner categories.

Detailed information can be found in the accompanying ZenDiS press release (only aviable in German).

Partner categories

openDesk Official Distributor

Official Distributor

Value-added distributors authorised by ZenDiS who supply private-sector cloud providers and IT service providers with openDesk subscriptions and manage the future openDesk reseller ecosystem. The distributors must have proven experience in marketing open-source solutions.

Distributor requirements (available in German only)
openDesk Approved Sovereign Service Provider

Approved Sovereign Service Provider

Cloud service providers (CSPs) that offer openDesk as a high-quality Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) solution. Partners are subject to strict security and sovereignty requirements, such as a BSI C5 certificate and SEAL Level 3 under the European Cloud Sovereignty Framework.

ASSP requirements (available in German only)
openDesk Approved System Integrator

Approved System Integrator

This category is intended for full-service IT service providers with proven expertise in open source and Kubernetes, as well as experience in setting up and operating openDesk (on-premises, managed service).

ASI requirements (available in German only)

Reseller

Even without meeting the highlighted eligibility criteria for Approved Partners, private-sector IT service providers will in future be able to build their offerings around the Enterprise Edition of openDesk. These IT resellers are supported by the official value-added distributors (‘Official Distributors’), who also sell openDesk subscriptions. Participation in the open-house process is not required.

Application documents should be submitted to the following address. Please note that this address cannot be used for general enquiries.

Application to become an openDesk partner