IT standards are used especially

• in the development of Strategic IT Planning (SIP)
• in the definition of IT systems
• in related architecture work
• in procurement and
• during operations.
  

What are standards for?

• Standards form the basis for an efficient development of applications and low-cost operations. They ensure compatibility and interoperability.
• A high degree of standardisation reduces the growing complexity of IT and therefore also the overall operation costs.
• Standards take advantage of synergies in the procurement of IT resources and thereby reduce the overall procurement costs as well as the timeframe for an order.

Standardisation at the federal level

Standards at the federal level are administered by the Federal IT Steering Unit (FITSU). The Federal IT Council (FITC) acts as purchaser and decision-making instance. The responsibilities and steps are defined in the standardisation process contained in the standardisation directive. The approved standards are binding for the entire Federal Administration.

eGovernment standards

The eCH association, launched by the FITSU, advocates on behalf of eGovernment standards in Switzerland. eCH facilitates electronic collaboration among authorities and between authorities and private persons, businesses, organisations, and teaching and research institutions through the adoption and coordination of relevant standards. According to the ICT Strategy of the Federal Administration, eCH standards concerning the Federal Administration are adopted as part of the standardisation process.