Key facts
Infostar is the civil status register of Switzerland and is considered a critical specialist application for domestic security. It has around 1,200 users, which includes the Infostar Unit of the Federal Office of Justice (FOJ), along with the cantonal register offices, the cantonal supervisory authorities for civil status matters and the Federal Civil Status Office. In addition, there are organisations such as the communal residents’ registration offices, the State Secretariat for Migration and the Federal Office of Police that are entitled to access this information. The Infostar New Generation (ING) project aims to replace the almost twenty-year-old Infostar i13 system by November 2024.
The FOJ launched ING in 2018. Due to huge collaboration issues, ING found itself in a precarious position even during the concept phase. In 2022, towards the end of the pandemic, further difficulties arose. After adjustments were made to the project organisation and the goals were resized, it was able to get back on track – albeit at higher costs and over a longer period of time. At present, the project has budgeted costs totalling CHF 38.4 million. The follow-up project ING II will then address continuous further development.
The aim of the audit is to assess the project risks. Such risks exist with regard to the planned introduction of ING in mid-November 2024 and the status of the work on further development (ING II).
The audit shows that the FOJ has succeeded in stabilising ING and has pushed ahead with the system replacement effectively. Its introduction by November 2024 seems realistic. By contrast, the ING II follow-up project, launched in 2023, is only making slow progress due to the introduction of ING taking priority. The initiation work is about six months behind schedule. The required budget of approximately CHF 18 million was not approved in 2023. Further development of ING that meets stakeholders’ expectations is therefore not going to be possible before 2027.