Pexip defense expert Nick Ross gives his take on the evolving role of video for defense communication and collaboration.
For decades, video collaboration in defense was synonymous with boardroom meetings, operational planning, and diplomatic discussions. But today, the role of video has evolved far beyond the meeting room. It has become an operational capability, a force multiplier that enables decision-makers to act with greater speed and certainty across multiple domains.
In my role as Head of Defense for UK&I at Pexip, and as a former soldier, I spot three critical trends on the horizon that are shaping defense video collaboration: control, operational application, and data-centric security. These three themes reflect the broader transformation of military and government agencies as they adapt to increasingly digital operations.
In defense, it’s a given that the video technology works. What’s becoming increasingly important is to know where the video data is stored, who has access to it, and how it integrates with secure workflows. This is why organizations, such as international defense alliances and secure government agencies, seek trusted video solutions that offer deployment flexibility.
Historically, this would require hosting video collaboration software on-premises, which helped ensure complete control over classified conversations. But with the rise of secure cloud solutions, defense organizations now face a long-term transition, finding the balance between on-premises resilience and cloud agility.
Some nations are already using cloud infrastructure to enhance national data resilience. However, not all organizations are ready to make this leap. This is why video telecommunications providers, like us at Pexip, must be prepared to support every phase of the journey, from fully air-gapped environments to hybrid private clouds and, subsequently, hyperscale cloud operations.
Defense CIOs recognize that suppliers must meet them where they are, not where a vendor roadmap dictates. I see that the new Orange Business-Kinly-Pexip service called Kinly Secure Meet builds on this thinking, offering secure, mission-ready video collaboration that adapts to evolving needs for keeping data close to home.
Video has become a core component of situational awareness and command and control (C2) systems. The shift from scheduled meetings to real-time operational support means that defense agencies must rethink how video is applied across missions.
Whether it’s integrating video into battlefield intelligence systems, embedding video capabilities into tactical edge devices, or supporting secure, real-time collaboration with mission partners, the use cases for video in defense continue to expand. Our team at Pexip has been working closely with military and government leaders to better understand how video can enhance decision-making and accelerate mission success.
What we’ve learned is they need deep integration with their defense workflows, compliance with security policies, and seamless interoperability with existing platforms. For example, deployed forces need lightweight, embeddable video solutions that can function even in disrupted environments, while strategic command centers require high-fidelity video streams to maintain operational clarity.
From our conversations, it’s clear to us that the evolution from video conferencing to video as an operational capability is well underway.
Cyber threats, digital espionage, and evolving attack vectors have made security a moving target. As a result, the defense sector is shifting from a network-centric approach to a data-centric model, where security policies follow the data, not the network perimeter.
The U.S. Department of Defense is leading the way, aiming to establish an initial zero-trust architecture by the end of the year. NATO and the Five Eyes (FVEY) intelligence alliance (US, UK, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand) are also moving in this direction. In this new security paradigm, organizations must continuously verify access based on attributes and conditions. This means that no user, device, or session is inherently trusted.
Our approach aligns with this shift. Our first deployment of a data-centric interoperability (DCI) system is now in progress, helping defense agencies enforce zero-trust principles for video collaboration. With Pexip, agencies can integrate video into their zero-trust frameworks, ensuring that only authorized users gain access, no matter the device or location.
As the defense landscape evolves, so too must the tools that enable collaboration. Video technology has moved beyond its role as simply an enabler to becoming an operational necessity, a component of national security strategy, and a bridge between allied forces.
At Pexip, we are committed to ensuring that defense agencies have the control, operational flexibility, and security they need for their missions. Whether it’s enabling seamless interoperability across coalition forces, deploying resilient video solutions at the tactical edge, or embedding security into every session, our goal is to provide the most trusted video collaboration platform for defense.
The mission is clear for defense organizations around the world: embrace video as a strategic asset. Video has a critical role to play in modern defense, and it’s up to organizations to harness it in the right way to maintain their operational superiority.