U.S. Space Force's Kobayashi Maru adopts Mattermost to securely collaborate on modernizing space capabilities

The U.S. Space Force’s Kobayashi Maru software development unit is tasked with solving some of the nation’s most critical challenges in space domain awareness, cyber operations, and electronic warfare. Leading innovation while working with highly sensitive data requires an approach that combines cutting-edge technology with uncompromising security – an effort made possible through the adoption of Mattermost, a secure, self-hosted collaboration platform aligned with Department of Defense (DoD) Zero Trust principles.

Balancing Agility and Security in the Space Domain

Operating within the U.S. Space Force, Kobayashi Maru is a mission-critical software factory responsible for creating and sustaining advanced tools that track and defend U.S. interests in orbit. Collaborating with over 500 internal and external partners worldwide, the team develops solutions used daily by warfighters and allied forces. Yet, like many organizations in the defense sector, Kobayashi Maru must comply with stringent handling rules for CUI and other sensitive data. The challenge was clear: How do you enable agile DevSecOps workflows and real-time collaboration without compromising sensitive data?

“Our work requires constant communication, but it has to happen inside a secure environment,” explains Anwar Chirakkattil, Chief Technology Officer of Kobayashi Maru. “We couldn’t afford the risk of sensitive data being exposed through non-compliant tools.”

Choosing a Platform that Meets DoD Security and Compliance Standards

While the team initially used another popular commercial collaboration platform, as security requirements evolved, the limitations became apparent. Handling CUI and export-controlled data demands strict control over where and how information is stored and shared, a requirement that cloud-only platforms without FedRAMP High or Impact Level 5 (IL5) accreditation couldn’t meet at the time. As team members continued to switch between collaboration systems, there was an increasing likelihood of accidentally sharing sensitive information on non-compliant systems (known as “data compromise”).

By turning to Mattermost, Kobayashi Maru found a solution that could be fully self-hosted in their Azure Government cloud environment, ensuring total data sovereignty while meeting compliance mandates, including DoD Zero Trust and CUI handling rules. Unlike Software as a Service (SaaS)-only products, Mattermost allows organizations to retain complete control over their collaboration infrastructure; a critical feature for defense entities working in sensitive or classified environments.

Enabling Secure DevSecOps and CI/CD Workflows

For a modern DevSecOps pipeline, communication is as vital as code. Teams managing CI/CD, vulnerability remediation, and incident response need a trusted environment to coordinate actions, share alerts, and document decisions. With Mattermost, Kobayashi Maru’s developers:

• Run CI/CD workflows and DevSecOps collaboration across classified and unclassified networks, fully aligned with Zero Trust mandates.
• Integrate with legacy and modern development tools (e.g., Jira for issue tracking, Grafana for system alerts) in a secure, auditable environment.
• Manage sensitive workflows without leaking data into untrusted environments — a critical compliance requirement under DoD’s Zero Trust Strategy.

“We needed a platform where we could share real-time updates on critical systems without worrying about data leakage. Mattermost gave us that capability, and it’s now core to how we operate,” Chirakkattil says.

Enhancing Microsoft Entra ID and Azure Investments

While Mattermost is at the heart of Kobayashi Maru’s secure collaboration strategy, the platform complements existing investments in Microsoft technology. Mattermost integrates with Microsoft Entra ID (formerly Azure AD/Okta) to streamline user authentication and access management, ensuring that onboarding and offboarding of users aligns with DoD security guidelines.

“Active Directory integration with Mattermost is a game-changer for us,” Chirakkattil noted. “It’s our single source of truth for access. We can spin up accounts and remove them efficiently, without manual steps that slow down operations.”

Mattermost’s Azure-based deployment ensures that Kobayashi Maru can leverage Azure’s security controls while maintaining full control over their data and platform; critical for working within DoD’s evolving cybersecurity posture. This flexible architecture also positions the team to prepare for emerging AI-based collaboration tools in Azure AI, further enhancing productivity while remaining compliant.

Building Toward a Unified Knowledge Base with Zero Trust in Mind

Beyond chat and collaboration, Mattermost is Kobayashi Maru’s operational knowledge hub. Integrating Grafana alerts, Jira tickets, and threaded discussions in a single platform eliminates fragmented toolsets that undermine security and collaboration. This centralized hub ensures:

• Searchable, persistent knowledge that supports ongoing missions and onboarding of new personnel.
• Full auditability of communications, supporting compliance with DoD data protection mandates.
• Secure collaboration across inter-agency and allied teams, all within an environment controlled by Space Force, not third-party vendors.

“Incorporating our operational data into Mattermost is a big step forward,” says Chirakkattil. “Instead of jumping between tools, our teams can respond to issues faster, with all the context they need in one place — and without compromising security.”

Supporting the DoD’s Zero Trust Mandate

Kobayashi Maru’s shift to Mattermost reflects a broader alignment with the DoD Zero Trust Strategy, which requires all defense systems to adopt identity, device, and data-centric protections that eliminate implicit trust. By deploying a self-hosted, fully integrated collaboration solution, the team:

• Controls access based on mission need-to-know, with strong identity verification.
• Ensures end-to-end encryption and data compartmentalization, even for real-time chat.
• Supports continuous monitoring and alerting via integrated DevSecOps tools.

Mattermost’s approach supports Zero Trust principles without hindering the fast-paced, agile workflows required for mission-critical software development.

AI and Future-Proof Collaboration

Looking ahead, Kobayashi Maru is exploring how AI can enhance secure collaboration. By leveraging Mattermost’s plugin framework and extensible architecture, the team is investigating:

• AI-powered summarization of high-volume collaboration channels for leadership situational awareness.
• Large language model (LLM) tools deployed within their secure environment to identify operational trends and potential vulnerabilities.
• As defense teams move toward data-driven decision-making, having a secure collaboration platform ready to support AI initiatives is a strategic advantage.

Conclusion: A Proven Path for Defense Collaboration

Kobayashi Maru’s successful adoption of Mattermost demonstrates how U.S. defense organizations can meet modern mission needs while fully aligning with the DoD’s highest security standards. By blending Azure-hosted deployments, Entra ID integration, and a secure collaboration layer, Mattermost enables classified and unclassified DevSecOps workflows that don’t compromise speed for security. For Kobayashi Maru and other DoD teams, this approach offers a proven, adaptable path to secure collaboration critical to protecting national security in an increasingly contested domain.
 

Please note: This capability was assessed and delivered directly from the platform provider and not procured or integrated by the government.