Star Lab

What Star Lab does

Star Lab is a Washington, DC-based embedded software company that develops anti-tamper and cybersecurity solutions for operationally-deployed systems in the aerospace and defense sector. Its core technology is a Linux system-hardening and security platform originally marketed as Titanium Technology Protection, built on a threat model that assumes an attacker will gain root or admin access to the target system. The platform combines data-at-rest encryption using NIST-recommended algorithms, compliance with defense cybersecurity frameworks (STIG/DODI 8510.01, NIST 800-53, and NIST SP 800-218/SSDF), and integration with CI/CD pipelines and compliance automation tooling to provide cryptographic proof of security posture. Star Lab was founded in 2014 and is led by Founder and CEO Irby Thompson, with Adam Fraser as COO and Jonathan Kline as CTO.

The company generates revenue through enterprise software licensing of its embedded security products to aerospace and defense contractors, operating on a quote-based model typical of the defense sector. Its go-to-market combines direct enterprise field sales, defense industry events, and technical whitepaper-led content marketing. Since 2023, Star Lab has operated as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Mercury Systems (NASDAQ: MRCY), with its technology rebranded and productized as the RelianceOne Linux Security line, which includes three modules: RelianceOne for Linux, RelianceOne for KVM, and RelianceOne Trusted Platform. Distribution is now channeled through Mercury's established aerospace and defense procurement relationships, and a January 2025 partnership with Kosli extended the platform's compliance automation capabilities to cover emerging National Security software development requirements.

Name

Star Lab

Legal name

Star Lab

Website

https://starlab.io

Company type

Private

Founded year

2014

Operating status

Acquired

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Star Lab builds embedded Linux security and anti-tamper software for aerospace and defense customers. Its RelianceOne Linux Security platform hardens operationally-deployed systems and automates compliance with STIG, NIST 800-53, and SSDF. The company operates as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Mercury Systems following its 2023 acquisition.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Embedded Cybersecurity Software

NAICS

Computer Systems Design and Related Services (54151), Computer Systems Design and Related Services (5415)

SIC

Services-Computer Integrated Systems Design (7373)

akta.pro primary industry

Confidential Computing & Hardware-backed Protection (TEE/HSM) (HDADAFAJ)

akta.pro secondary industry

Security & Trusted Hardware ICs (Secure Element/TPM/Crypto) (HDAHABAF)

Keywords

• Embedded Linux security
• Anti-tamper software
• Defense cybersecurity solutions
• Secure processing technology
• Mission-critical system protection

Headquarters

HQ city

Washington

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Software

Cost components

Technology or R&D, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations

Revenue model

1. Enterprise Software Licensing: Star Lab generated revenue through enterprise software licensing of its embedded security and anti-tamper solutions for aerospace and defense applications. Following acquisition by Mercury Systems, the products are marketed as RelianceOne Linux Security products.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels2 records

Core offering

Star Lab developed and sold embedded Linux security software with anti-tamper and cybersecurity technologies for operationally-deployed systems in aerospace and defense applications. Its flagship offering, RelianceOne Linux Security (formerly Titanium Technology Protection), is a Linux system-hardening and security solution built on a threat model that assumes an attacker will gain root access, maintaining integrity and confidentiality of critical data and configurations while meeting IA and cybersecurity requirements.

Product overview

Star Lab was a cybersecurity software provider specializing in anti-tamper and cybersecurity solutions for aerospace and defense applications. The company was acquired by Mercury Systems in 2023, and its technology was integrated into Mercury's RelianceOne product line. The former Star Lab product portfolio included Titanium Technology Protection, which has been rebranded as RelianceOne Linux Security — a platform offering system-hardening for Linux environments through three modules: RelianceOne for Linux (standard deployment), RelianceOne for KVM (virtualization security), and RelianceOne Trusted Platform (secure launch architecture). The products protect critical data and applications from inspection and reverse engineering even when attackers gain root access.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• RelianceOne Linux Security Linux system-hardening and security solution for operationally-deployed systems, designed using a threat model that assumes an attacker will gain root (admin) access; maintains integrity and confidentiality of critical data and configurations for aerospace and defense customers.
• RelianceOne for Linux Robust system-hardening and Linux security module for operationally-deployed systems, protecting critical data and applications from disruption, inspection, and reverse engineering.
• RelianceOne for KVM Security solution for Kernel-based Virtual Machines that provides security at every layer of the stack.
• RelianceOne Trusted Platform A flexible security architecture for building secure launch solutions.
• Titanium Technology Protection Legacy Star Lab software product (formerly known as Star Lab Software) that has been rebranded as RelianceOne Linux Security following Mercury Systems' acquisition.

Quantifiable outcome

• Automated evidence gathering replacing point-in-time validation approach
• +1 more outcomes

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• KoslicoreTechnology or Integration · 30 January 2025Star Lab implemented Kosli's compliance automation platform to meet stringent National Security requirements for their software development lifecycle. The solution automated evidence gathering, integrated with CI/CD pipelines and GitLab workflows, and provided real-time compliance monitoring with cryptographic proof.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves4 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Market position

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/StarLabCorp

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Star Lab