The administration of the Canton of Bern has opted for the Swiss online whiteboard Collaboard as its central visual collaboration solution and operates it on-premises at Bedag Informatik AG.
In this article, we explain the initial situation that led to the search for an online whiteboard solution and how Collaboard met the functional and high security requirements of the Canton of Bern.
Driven by the pandemic and the ongoing changes in collaboration, online whiteboards were increasingly used for meetings, workshops and other online activities. The administration of the Canton of Bern recognized the added value offered by these visual collaboration tools and decided to use an Online Whiteboard to be introduced as a Group application. The Security Directorate of the Canton of Bern (SID) took the lead in this project.
Based on an in-depth requirements analysis using interviews, use cases, requirements workshops and a security analysis, the security directorate was able to determine which requirements the tool to be procured must fulfill.
Based on the evaluated use cases and the applicable cantonal data protection regulations an increased need for protection was identified, so that only an on-premises solution could be considered.
The aforementioned requirements workshops also revealed that the Microsoft Whiteboard, which is an integral part of Microsoft 365, was unable to meet essential mandatory requirements.
Based on this initial situation, the Security Directorate of the Canton of Bern opted for the Swiss online whiteboard provider Collaboard as part of a procurement process in 2023.
The operation of the online whiteboard Collaboard is ensured by Bedag Informatik AG, which operates secure data centers in Switzerland.
After careful planning, Collaboard was implemented in a highly available Kubernetes environment at Bedag. Following this implementation, the Canton of Bern retains 100% data sovereignty and can therefore ensure that no data recorded in the whiteboards leaves its own environment.
As part of the security concept that was drawn up, the Canton of Bern's Security Directorate, in close coordination with the Collaboard team, was able to also implement individual functions and configuration settings. The close cooperation during the implementation phase and the structured approach led by Sieber and Partner meant that Collaboard was successfully introduced on time and in line with all requirements.
Following the successful introduction of Collaboard in 2024, more and more people in the administration of the Canton of Bern are using the online whiteboard for brainstorming sessions, PI planning sessions, workshops, online meetings and much more.
The Office for Unemployment Insurance is also planning to use Collaboard as an information platform that can be accessed directly from the intranet and displays content in a graphically appealing way.
-2.jpg?width=700&height=350&name=%E2%80%9EDas%20Team%20von%20Collaboard%20hat%20von%20der%20Idee%20bis%20zur%20Umsetzung%2c%20stets%20professionell%20und%20effizient%20die%20W%C3%BCnsche%20des%20Kantons%20Bern%20umgesetzt.%20Die%20Zusammenarbeit%20innerhalb%20des%20Kernteams%20war%20immer%20l%C3%B6sungso%20(2)-2.jpg "„Das Team von Collaboard hat von der Idee bis zur Umsetzung, stets professionell und effizient die Wünsche des Kantons Bern umgesetzt. Die Zusammenarbeit innerhalb des Kernteams war immer lösungso (2)-2")
“From idea to implementation, the Collaboard team always implemented the wishes of the Canton of Bern professionally and efficiently. The collaboration within the core team was always solution-oriented - a successful implementation!” Joel Bühler - Senior Transformation Consultant at Dr. Pascal Sieber & Partners AG.
“Collaboard covers the requirements of the cantonal administration very well. New requirements and ideas are taken on board by the supplier and solutions are implemented. The design of the UI and the functions are intuitive and make it easy for users to get started with Collaboard. The collaboration with the Collaboard team was also excellent right from the start and characterized by a spirit of partnership and open communication.” Bernhard Rathgeb - Customer Project Manager, General Secretariat Security Directorate.
“The cross-directorate project collaboration and the cooperation with the Collaboard team was a complete success. With Collaboard, the Canton of Bern has not only gained an online whiteboard, but also a partner who knows how to deliver customer-oriented solutions and provide excellent support.” Giacomo De Simone - Project employee, Resources Unit, Head of the Administration of Justice.
