TAK Hub – home page

TAK Server & hosting

Your own TAK Server

The TAK Server sends positions, messages and data packages to all devices and manages users and certificates. We set it up on your infrastructure or with a hosting provider in Germany and hand it over to your administrators. If you prefer, we run it for you.

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Two ways to run the server
Diagram of the TAK ecosystem In the middle, your organization’s TAK Server. Connected to it: field personnel with ATAK and iTAK, the command post with WinTAK and an operations center with WebTAK. Bottom left, an area without mobile coverage where mesh radios connect the teams; a gateway forwards their data to the server. At the top, a drone delivering video. At the bottom, a robot and a sensor sending data through plugins using Cursor on Target. On the right, a partner organization with its own TAK Server, connected via federation. YOUR ORGANIZATION PARTNER NO MOBILE NETWORK · MESH ATAKANDROIDiTAKiPHONE · iPADWinTAKCOMMAND POSTWebTAKOPS CENTER GATEWAY DRONECAMERA · VIDEO ROBOTPLUGIN · CoTSENSORPLUGIN · CoT FEDERATION ATAKTAK SERVERPARTNERWinTAK TAK SERVERDATA CENTER GERMANY Diagram of the TAK ecosystem In the middle, your organization’s TAK Server. Connected to it: field personnel with ATAK and iTAK, the command post with WinTAK and an operations center with WebTAK. Bottom left, an area without mobile coverage where mesh radios connect the teams; a gateway forwards their data to the server. At the top, a drone delivering video. At the bottom, a robot and a sensor sending data through plugins using Cursor on Target. On the right, a partner organization with its own TAK Server, connected via federation. YOUR ORGANIZATION PARTNER MESH ATAKiTAKWinTAKWebTAK GATEWAY DRONE ROBOTSENSOR FEDERATION ATAKTAK SERVERPARTNERWinTAK TAK SERVERDATA CENTER GERMANY
Own units Partner Connection Schematic view

Two ways to run the server

After setup and training, you decide who runs the server.

Recommended

Handover to your administrators

We set up the complete infrastructure on your own servers or with a hosting provider in Germany and train your administrators. Then we hand over the keys, and your team runs the system on its own.

Servers, data and access stay in your hands. You don’t depend on any outside company, including us. This is possible because ATAK and TAK Server don’t belong to a commercial vendor.

Training for administrators

Operation by TAK Hub

We host the server in a data center in Germany and run it for you, under a data processing agreement. A service level agreement covers updates, monitoring, setting up new users and a dedicated contact person. We agree on scope and terms with you.

Support & operations

For operations without internet: our self-contained TAK Server in a Peli case with a power bank and Wi-Fi router. Specifications: Mobile TAK Server V2

What the server does for you

ATAK also works without a server. With a server, all devices are connected over the internet, whatever network they are on.

Users and permissions

You decide who sees which data and manage users, groups and roles in one place.

Federation

Your server connects to your partners’ servers. Each organization decides which data it shares.

Mission and data packages

Maps, waypoints and plans go out as a package to everyone involved, including devices that are offline at the time.

Data sync

Anything a device records while offline is synced by the server once it is back online.

Video

Your teams open drone and camera streams straight from the map. Video and integration

Plugins

Plugins extend ATAK with features such as route planning, air traffic or mesh radio. Plugin overview

ATAK dialog "Add Streaming CoT Endpoint" with fields for server address, username and password and the option "Enroll for Client Certificate".

Access only with a certificate

Each device signs in with its own certificate, and the connection to the server is encrypted. Your teams connect new devices by QR code and pick up their certificate themselves with a username and password.

If a device is lost, its account and certificate are revoked centrally. We harden the server before launch.

Technical details

  • Server and device authenticate each other with certificates (mutual TLS).
  • Connections use TLS 1.2 or 1.3, encrypted with ciphers such as AES-256-GCM. The operational picture runs on port 8089.
  • Certificates are issued by your own certificate authority (CA). Revoked certificates go on a revocation list (CRL).
  • On mesh radio, channels are encrypted with AES-256 using your own key.

Practical guide to TAK Server security

From initial consultation to a running server

Depending on scope, this takes two to six weeks.

Initial consultation

We clarify the number of users, server location, partners and existing IT. The consultation is free.

Setup

Set up and harden the server, create groups and permissions, prepare maps and data packages.

Devices and training

We connect your devices to the server. Administrators learn to manage users and certificates.

Handover or operation

Your team takes over the server, or we run it under a service level agreement. Support & operations

What does it cost? That depends on the scope. In the free initial consultation, we give you a range. Costs and process

Frequently asked questions

Didn’t find your question? Call or write to us.

Do we have to host the server with you?

No. We recommend that your team runs the server itself, on your own infrastructure or with a hosting provider in Germany. We set it up, train your administrators and hand it over. If you would rather not deal with operations, we take them over.

How long does setup take?

Depending on scope, two to six weeks from the initial consultation to live operation.

Does ATAK fit our existing IT?

ATAK and TAK Server are open: the source code and the data format (Cursor on Target) are documented, and external sensors and systems can be connected. We look at what that means for you in the initial consultation. More about integration

How is our data protected?

Connections between devices and the server are encrypted, and each device signs in with its own certificate. Groups determine who sees which data. The server runs on your premises or in a data center in Germany. If we run it, we sign a data processing agreement.

We need a server right away. Is that possible?

Yes. We keep a preconfigured server ready that is up and running within minutes, though without customization and without automatic certificate enrollment. For longer deployments, we recommend the full setup.

Talk to our experts

Tell us briefly who you are and what you are planning. We’ll get back to you to suggest a meeting time. The initial consultation is free.

Request a consultation