Zoom has made a significant foray into the defence technology market with the launch of Zoom for Defense, a secure collaboration platform tailored specifically for the U.S. Department of Defense. This platform is engineered to operate at Impact Level 4 (IL4), enabling it to handle Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) and function securely over the Department’s Non-classified Internet Protocol Router Network (NIPRNet).
“From entrepreneurs to global enterprises and government agencies, Zoom is designed to enable seamless and secure collaboration, while prioritizing users’ privacy, security, and experience, all in one easy-to-use platform,” said Velchamy Sankarlingam, President of Product and Engineering at Zoom. “Zoom for Defense reflects our continued commitment to delivering trusted, mission-critical technology that supports the essential work of the Department of Defense.”
Zoom for Defense integrates familiar tools such as Zoom Meetings, Team Chat, Webinars, Events, Rooms, and the Zoom AI Companion, but with enhanced security and compliance features. The platform ensures data is isolated, monitored, and controlled to meet the stringent security standards of the Department of Defense. All hosting is US-based, and the platform is designed to integrate seamlessly into military workflows. Zoom plans to expand the suite next year with Zoom Phone and Zoom Contact Centre, providing a fully integrated communications environment that includes voice, video, messaging, and workflow orchestration.
The launch of Zoom for Defense coincides with a broader digital transformation within the Pentagon. Earlier this week, the Department deployed Gemini for Government, Google Cloud’s generative AI platform, across its GenAI.mil system. This deployment makes AI tools available on desktops throughout U.S. military installations worldwide, enabling personnel to conduct research, format documents, analyse video and imagery, and automate routine administrative tasks. Google confirmed that none of the Department’s data would be used to train public models, ensuring data security.
Emil Michael, US Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering, described the AI rollout as a step towards creating an “AI-first workforce.” Although Zoom for Defense and Gemini are not directly integrated, their near-simultaneous deployment underscores a broader shift—the Pentagon is rapidly adopting commercial technologies hardened for mission-critical environments.
Zoom for Defense could mark a turning point for unified communications in government. Defence agencies have traditionally avoided mainstream collaboration tools due to compliance and security concerns. By achieving IL4 standards, Zoom has demonstrated that commercial platforms can meet strict military requirements while remaining user-friendly. This launch will likely push competitors, such as Microsoft and Cisco, to develop secure, defence-ready environments. Zoom’s move suggests that hardened commercial platforms, rather than bespoke legacy systems, could become the default approach for national-security communications. There is also potential for future convergence with AI, where Zoom’s AI Companion could eventually support summarisation and task automation.
However, adopting commercial platforms in defence comes with challenges. Security remains paramount—even hardened tools must withstand sophisticated cyber threats. Integration with legacy systems can be complex, and reliance on commercial providers introduces supply-chain and vendor dependency risks. Workforce adoption is another factor, as tools must meet compliance requirements but remain intuitive for personnel. The Pentagon is providing training, but embedding these platforms across millions of users will require careful planning. Generative AI adds further complexity, as potential errors or hallucinations necessitate strong governance and validation. Both Zoom and Gemini’s AI deployments must balance efficiency with accuracy and security.
Zoom for Defense represents more than a product launch; it signifies a milestone in the Pentagon’s digital transformation. Secure collaboration, once limited to bespoke, slow-moving systems, is now delivered through commercial platforms that are easy to use, continuously updated, and scalable. By entering this market, Zoom positions itself as a key player in the evolving defence technology landscape. The launch demonstrates how commercial-grade technology can underpin secure, mission-ready collaboration in government and national security contexts—a trend likely to shape the sector for years to come.