ZeroTier Secures Drone Connectivity With Networking Tech

The company provides software-defined networking to maintain encrypted links for drone and counter-UAS operators.

Updated on Oct. 16, 2026 in Data Centers

Isometric editorial illustration of matte black networking modules and thick fiber-optic cables forming a secure mesh pattern.
ZeroTier is deploying its software-defined networking platform to secure drone connectivity and counter-UAS communications for government and defense applications. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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ZeroTier offers a software-defined networking platform designed to provide secure, resilient communication links for drone and counter-UAS operators. The platform utilizes multi-pathing technology to shift traffic automatically if a connection is lost or jammed.

Why it matters

Operators of drones and counter-UAS equipment require robust, encrypted connectivity to function reliably in complex and challenging environments. This technology aims to provide the necessary secure foundation for mission-critical operations in various industries.

ZeroTier holds a National Institute of Standards and Technology 140 level security certification for its networking platform. The system supports multi-pathing to maintain encrypted data links across diverse global locations.

The players

ZeroTier

This is a software-defined networking company that maintains offices in San Francisco, Dallas, Los Angeles, Portland, London, The Netherlands, and Germany.

Adam Ierymenko

He is the founder of ZeroTier who established the company in 2013.

Andrew Gault

He assumed the role of CEO for ZeroTier in 2024.

Robert Stevenson

He is a team member who joined the leadership or operations at ZeroTier in 2024.

The details

The platform connects endpoints to ensure resilient communication for various sectors including defense, government, and finance. It enables operators to maintain command and control even when primary network paths are compromised or unstable.

Timeline

  1. ZeroTier was founded as a company in 2013.

  2. Andrew Gault became CEO and Robert Stevenson joined the company in 2024.

  3. An estimated one billion AI agents are expected to be added to internet traffic in the next one or two years.

The Tech Race

The adoption of ZeroTier software-defined networking marks an evolution in how defense operators approach the limitations inherent in legacy software-defined wide area networking (SD-WAN) protocols. This technology represents a specialized extension of those principles adapted for the connectivity demands of autonomous hardware.

Users of this networking technology gain access to highly resilient, encrypted communication channels that automatically reroute during connection loss. This improvement is designed to minimize downtime for mission-critical drone applications across sectors like finance and healthcare.

The takeaway

Reliable connectivity is becoming the critical differentiator for modern autonomous systems operating in contested environments. Companies are increasingly prioritizing NIST-certified security standards to safeguard the massive surge in traffic expected from AI-driven agents.

Further reading

For more on the infrastructure supporting secure global communications, explore the latest developments in Data Centers.

Source note: This article includes information reported by DRONELIFE.

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Are you concerned that increasing AI traffic and internet growth will compromise your secure digital connections?