Platforms vs. Applications: Insights from Anduril and Virtru

At Virtru, we’ve long viewed our strategy through the lens of platforms vs. applications, a concept central to the evolution of technology across industries. The recent Stratechery interview with Brian Schimpf, CEO of Anduril, offers a fascinating perspective on this dynamic in defense technology. Anduril’s approach to developing its Lattice platform, coupled with proprietary hardware like drones and autonomous vehicles, mirrors many aspects of Virtru’s strategy in data-centric security.

This analogy is clear: Anduril’s Lattice platform is to Virtru’s Data Security Platform (DSP), as Anduril’s proprietary hardware products are to Virtru’s proprietary applications. Both companies have embraced the dual role of platform builders and application developers to deliver impactful solutions while fostering an ecosystem of third-party innovation.

The Platform vs. Applications Dynamic

In an ideal world, Anduril would focus solely on its Lattice platform, and Virtru on its Data Security Platform. However, real-world adoption often demands a more vertically integrated approach. For Anduril, this means creating proprietary hardware like autonomous submarines and drones to demonstrate the full potential of its platform in real-world defense applications. Similarly, Virtru develops policy enforcement points (PEPs)—such as email and SharePoint integrations—to highlight the transformative power of DSP in enforcing data-centric security policies.

Both companies recognize that while their platforms are foundational, practical adoption often requires applications that bridge the gap between abstract potential and tangible outcomes. By creating these integrated solutions, both Anduril and Virtru are able to move fast and solve real problems TODAY – while also demonstrating to the wider world practical examples for how their underlying platforms can be utilized.

Unlocking Innovation with SDKs and APIs

Beyond building applications, both Anduril and Virtru prioritize opening their platforms to third-party developers through SDKs and APIs. This open strategy unleashes the creativity of broader ecosystems, allowing others to build tailored solutions on top of the platform. For Virtru, this means enabling developers to embed Trusted Data Format (TDF) protections into custom workflows and tools. For Anduril, it means empowering partners to build autonomous systems on top of Lattice and integrate with the underlying Lattice tactical data mesh.

This hybrid approach of building vertically while enabling horizontal innovation balances flexibility and focus, ensuring platforms can scale while delivering immediate value.

Why Open Technology Isn’t Enough

A key insight from the Anduril discussion is the importance of coupling open technology with practical, commercially ready solutions. At Virtru, we echo this belief. While open standards and platforms like TDF and OpenTDF are foundational, organizations often lack the resources to build fully customized solutions on top of open platforms. That’s where commercial technology built on open foundations—like Virtru’s DSP—comes in.

By combining:

1. Open standards (e.g., Zero Trust Data Format),
2. Open platforms (e.g., OpenTDF), and
3. Commercial solutions (e.g., Virtru’s PEPs and integrations)

The Way Forward: Platforms, Standards, and Applications

The strategies employed by Anduril and Virtru highlight a critical evolution in technology: Platforms are necessary but insufficient on their own. To succeed, companies and agencies must embrace a layered approach:

1. Start with open standards to ensure interoperability.
2. Build open platforms to unlock innovation.
3. Deliver commercial applications to accelerate customer time-to-value and adoption.

This trifecta—standards, platforms, and applications—enables organizations to innovate faster, lower costs, and maintain the flexibility to adapt to future needs.

As Virtru continues to pioneer data-centric security in support of our national defense mission, we invite industry leaders, partners, and government agencies to join us in building an ecosystem where security and collaboration coexist seamlessly. And to our peers at Anduril, we’re excited to see how this shared vision continues to drive meaningful change across our respective industries.