Lateralus Labs | AI-Powered, Human Driven

Our Mission

Technology should compress timelines, not add friction.

We research AI governance and develop practical applications with an unwavering focus on human oversight. Our work centers on designing platforms, systems, and tools that extend and enhance human decision-making rather than automate it away.

The complexity of modern infrastructure has outpaced traditional management approaches. We're building solutions that close the gap between intention and outcome—giving individuals the operational capacity that once required entire teams.

Founded by veterans who understand both the power of technology and the importance of accountability, we believe the future belongs to organizations that can move fast without breaking trust. Our systems are built on a simple premise: AI should amplify human judgment, not replace it.

We're not chasing automation for its own sake. We're building tools that respect the operator—keeping them informed, in control, and capable of achieving more than ever before.

What We Build

Capabilities

→ AI-Assisted Infrastructure Management
→ Human-in-the-Loop Execution Systems
→ Zero-Trust Security Architectures
→ Intent-Based Permission Frameworks
→ AI Governance Research
→ Multi-Agent Applications

Philosophy

Principles

Human Control

Every system we build keeps humans in the decision loop. AI proposes, humans approve.

Minimal Attack Surface

Security through simplicity. No inbound connections. No standing privileges. No bloat.

Accessible Power

Enterprise-grade capabilities shouldn't require enterprise-sized budgets or teams.

Government Agencies

Lateralus Labs, LLC is a certified Veteran Owned Small Business (VOSB), ready to assist government agencies.

Cage Code 13JA1

Unique Entity ID N832YYBVK1W5

NAICS Codes

541512Computer Systems Design Services
541511Custom Computer Programming Services
541519Other Computer Related Services
541690Other Scientific & Technical Consulting
518210Data Processing & Hosting
541618Other Management Consulting
541330Engineering Services
541513Computer Facilities Management
541611Administrative & General Management Consulting
541715R&D in Physical, Engineering & Life Sciences
519190All Other Information Services
611420Computer Training
541990All Other Professional & Technical Services
561499All Other Business Support Services

View Full Capabilities Statement →

Security

🔒

Zero Standing Privileges

DropOps Cloud Operators launch with zero AWS access. When permissions are needed, the AI requests them—you approve, it executes, and all access remains instantly revocable. A DENY-only permission boundary prevents the AI from ever granting itself admin-level access.

→ No Inbound Connections — Zero listening ports, zero attack surface
→ Unique API Keys — Each operator authenticates independently, revoke instantly
→ Permission Boundary — Cannot grant AdministratorAccess, iam:*, or *:*
→ OS Hardening — SSH hardened, auto-updates, minimal attack surface
→ Network Isolation — Outbound HTTPS/DNS only, host firewall enforced

Learn About Our Security →

Governance

⚖️

Intent-Based Policy Execution

DropOps uses a Two-Role Architecture with 45+ pre-defined intent policies. The AI cannot write arbitrary IAM—it can only attach policies you've pre-approved. Every permission request is explicit, every action requires your consent.

→ Human-in-the-Loop — All commands require explicit approval before execution
→ 45+ Intent Policies — Pre-defined least-privilege policies (ec2_discovery, s3_read, etc.)
→ Instant Revocation — Remove any permission through natural conversation
→ Complete Audit Trails — Every action logged for compliance and review
→ AI Proposes, You Approve — Clear approval cards show exactly what will execute

Explore Our Governance Model →

Products & Services

Our Solutions

We research, build, and deploy AI agent-powered software solutions. From our own products to custom-built systems, we bring autonomous agent technology to real-world challenges—always with human oversight at the core.

DropOps

Our first released product—an AI-powered infrastructure management platform that brings sophisticated operational capability to teams of any size. Deploy a lightweight agent, describe your intent, and execute with confidence—every action approved by you.

Key Features: Zero-trust architecture, human-in-the-loop execution, natural language commands, multi-cloud support, and complete audit trails.

Learn more →

Custom AI Agent Development

We build custom AI agents tailored to your specific operational needs. Whether you need autonomous workflows, intelligent automation, or multi-agent systems—we can design, develop, and deploy solutions that fit your requirements exactly.

We Deliver: Custom agent architectures, secure system integration, workflow automation, AI strategy consulting, and ongoing support contracts.

Get In Touch

Let's Build Something Together

Danny Barbour — Founder

Three decades in tech services and support—from startups to enterprise, private sector to government, across some of the most demanding environments in the world. I've been the vendor, the service provider, and the customer. I've built support organizations from the ground up and seen firsthand what works and what doesn't. That experience is why I started Lateralus Labs: to build the next generation of service and support solutions that actually solve problems instead of creating new ones.

Whether you're exploring AI integration, need operational support, or want to discuss partnership opportunities—I'd like to hear from you.

danny@dropops.ai LinkedIn

AI-Powered, Human Driven

Introducing DropOps