Defense Unicorns

We’re excited to announce today the launch of UDS, the first software delivery platform of its kind – exclusively built for today’s #DepartmentOfDefense, arming mission operators for modern warfare. UDS has been successfully deployed within critical systems operated by partners in the #Navy, #Army and #SpaceForce, and today we're releasing it defense-wide. What is UDS? An #airgap native, secure, and compliant platform that provides an end-to-end solution for software delivery for #NationalSecurity systems. Why is UDS a Game-Changer? Imagine mission software delivered anywhere the mission takes you, anytime the mission needs it—that’s UDS - now it's reality. We are redefining continuous delivery for #DoD software. UDS is the ONLY platform that is: ? Fast - accelerates initial ATOs and on-demand updates by automating many parts of the software delivery lifecycle. Just how much does UDS accelerate ATOs? We can provide an initial #ATO security package in 2 weeks. ? Secure - 0 CVE posture with continuous monitoring, logging, and alerting across a defense-in-depth approach to cybersecurity. ? Compliant - satisfies up to 90% of the technical program office security controls for IL-4, 5, and 6 environments. ? Firm-Fixed-Price - allows you to stop paying for “butts in seats” and start paying for the outcomes your mission needs. ? Free of Vendor Lock - is a solution built entirely through open source capabilities that use flexible software licenses that allow any user to continue to leverage the solution, even if not on contract with Defense Unicorns. ? Airgap Native - is designed for airgap systems. We didn’t make UDS airgap after it was already built, we designed it from the ground up to support disconnected, semi-disconnected, or highly secure environments from the beginning. ? Highly Distributable - is designed to scale across multiple deployments spanning cloud, on-prem, or tactical edge systems. ? Portable - is portable across multiple mission environments, supporting multiple cloud providers, on-prem infrastructure, as well as a variety of tactical edge solutions. ? Decentralized - reduces your mission dependency on single centralized solutions, and instead is deployed to many environments giving your mission the assurance it requires in real wartime scenarios. ? Easy to Operate - makes complex software delivery easy. We know that most mission systems are managed by active duty, civilians, or a small number of contracting experts. You shouldn’t have to be a kubernetes expert to manage a software environment, and now you don’t have to be. ? Who Was UDS Made For? For National Security leaders and their support and prime contractors who have been struggling to deploy modern software into production for their critical mission systems. Schedule some time to chat with us! We can show you a demo or just discuss your software delivery challenges. https://hubs.ly/Q02SNZNC0 #UnicornDelivery #SoftwareDelivery #Innovation #DefenseTech #UDS

Progress rarely comes from the comfort of the well-worn path. True impact demands the courage to venture into uncharted territory, tackle the challenges others avoid, and redefine the boundaries of what’s possible. But how often do we stop to ask ourselves if the path we’re on is truly leading us forward—or simply keeping us in place? Sometimes, the greatest breakthroughs come when we step away from what’s familiar and dare to forge a new way entirely. #Trailblazing #MissionDriven

The most impactful work emerges from purpose—it’s the spark that drives progress and unlocks true creativity. In fields like defense, where the stakes couldn’t be higher, clarity of vision matters more than ever. It’s about ensuring the tools we build and our work enable others to succeed in their missions, wherever they may be. #Leadership #Vision #MissionDriven #Innovation

"Ask forgiveness, not permission." Meet?Eddie Zaneski,?our Open Source Tech Lead. ? Eddie was originally going to be a math teacher until he fell in love with code. Over time, he realized that infrastructure tooling and open-source software make him the happiest. Before joining Defense Unicorns, Eddie was at?Amazon Web Services (AWS), working on Kubernetes, and then most recently at?Chainguard,?where he was focused on supply chain security for open-source software. "The U.S. Government is one of the biggest consumers of open source software, but sometimes doesn’t even realize that fact. I was thrilled about the opportunity to influence how the Government engages with and contributes to open source. The Government has the potential to shape and contribute so much to the open-source community, and I want to help make that happen. I envision a future where the Government not only uses open source solutions but actively fosters their growth, driving innovation and collaboration across the community." - Eddie Zaneski. Some fun facts about Eddie ?? He enjoys climbing large rocks ?? He makes delicious homemade peach preserves ?? ?He is a Board member and contributor to his local maker space ? We are so happy to have you on our team, Eddie! ? #UnicornSpotlight #OpenSource #SoftwareEngineer

“There is virtue in work and there is virtue in rest. Use both and overlook neither.” ― Alan Cohen

It turns out we do. ?? Check out what's available here. ?? https://lnkd.in/eUHAEtPa #airgapappstore #softwaredelivery #continuousdelivery

Thanks to our friends at Imagine Believe Realize, LLC. for spending time with us this week — special thank you to Meghan Michaels for sharing your wisdom and expertise with us as we continue to grow and expand into new programs and initiatives in 2025. We’re always interested in working with and partnering with other great small businesses who care about mission heroes as much as we do. Message us if you’d like to collaborate in 2025. And while you’re at it, go check out the many great things Imagine Believe Realize, LLC. is doing right now — while we do very different things, we’re proud to be serving the country alongside another committed and #innovative small business as yours. #unicorneffect #partnerships #kanban #humandesign #defenseunicorns #inspiration #clarityiskindness

Let’s discuss Cloud Native Security! ? In the Security Technical Advisory Group (STAG) - we collectively collaborate on the security of CNCF projects and ecosystem. This impacts maintainers as much as end users. We author and publish content such as the recently released Software Supply Chain Best Practices whitepaper V2 - which challenges and documents areas of improvement anyone can pursue. We also have working groups to work on other initiatives. From Identity and Access Management, to Automated Governance and beyond. Groups of volunteers who contribute their time to making the security ecosystem stronger. Want to know more? Come find me at the STAG kiosk in the project pavilion at KubeCon. I’ll be there 4-5pm. (Reach out here if you are not attending and would like to know more).

Mission operators need fast, continuous software deployment so they can keep the mission moving without delays or budget overruns, and a big part of making that happen is managing cloud spend efficiently (i.e., FinOps). The Department of Defense’s Cloud FinOps Strategy (released September 2024, read here: https://lnkd.in/evm8Mu7c) is all about getting a grip on cloud spending — tracking it, understanding it, and optimizing it so every dollar works as hard as the warfighter does. That’s where an app like Kubecost comes in. It’s like having a superpower for cloud cost management, specifically for Kubernetes, which is a big deal when you’re running complex systems at scale. 1???Know Where the Money’s Going: Kubecost breaks down every penny you’re spending in Kubernetes. It shows you exactly what’s costing you — by project, team, or even down to a specific app. That’s critical when you need visibility to make smart budget calls. 2???Big Picture, Clear Details: It’s not just Kubernetes. Kubecost pulls in costs from the cloud and on-prem so you get the full story. This addresses DoD’s need for unified cost monitoring across the entire enterprise. 3???Save Without Sacrificing: Kubecost doesn’t just tell you what you’re spending; it gives you actionable recommendations to cut costs without hurting performance. That’s a huge win for optimization and efficiency, exactly what the strategy is driving toward. 4???Stay Ahead of Overruns: With real-time alerts, Kubecost lets you know when spending’s creeping up or if there’s a potential issue. It’s like having a watchdog on your budget, keeping you proactive instead of reactive. ??Bottom line? Kubecost can help DoD meet its FinOps goals by turning cloud cost management into a precise science. It’s about being smart, efficient, and mission-ready — exactly what mission operators need. ?? Kubecost is now available in the Airgap App Store and ready for deployment into any mission environment via UDS, our infrastructure-agnostic software delivery platform. With UDS, you gain a secure SBOM, CVE reporting, and comprehensive documentation, accelerating your path to Authority to Operate (ATO). ?? Check it out in the Airgap App Store here: https://lnkd.in/eKxhK3YD ??Why Choose Kubecost on UDS? ??Robust security posture with continuous updates ??DoD-compliant DevSecOps integration ??Documentation tailored for faster ATO approval ??Effortless scalability for mission-critical data environments ?? Get started now and streamline your cloud operations: https://lnkd.in/eshT4H33 #continuousdelivery #agile #devsecops

You guessed it…we have another NEW APP RELEASE: Redpanda! ???Our team is on fire this week ?? In airgapped or highly secure environments, managing real-time data streams for mission-critical applications can be daunting or basically impossible. Teams often face challenges like high latency, scalability issues, and skyrocketing operational costs — all while striving to deliver insights to decision-makers and keep the mission moving. Enter Redpanda, the unified streaming data platform. Fully Kafka-compatible, Redpanda simplifies real-time data management with support for up to 18 package formats in a single deployment. It’s engineered for data-intensive applications, offering seamless scalability, predictable latencies, effortless UI, and up to 6x cost savings compared to traditional Kafka solutions while delivering up to 10x lower average latencies. Redpanda is now available in the Airgap App Store and ready for deployment into any mission environment via UDS, our infrastructure-agnostic software delivery platform. With UDS, you gain a secure SBOM, CVE reporting, and comprehensive documentation, accelerating your path to Authority to Operate (ATO). ???Check it out in the Airgap App Store here: https://lnkd.in/eKxhK3YD ?? Why Choose Redpanda on UDS? ?? Robust security posture with continuous updates ?? DoD-compliant DevSecOps integration ?? Documentation tailored for faster ATO approval ?? Scalable to edge, on-prem, and cloud environments Our DoD mission experts are ready to discuss how this UDS-optimized solution can support your mission needs. ???Reach out to us here to get started: https://lnkd.in/eshT4H33 #continuousdelivery #agile #devsecops