Element

Overview of Element

Element is a sovereign, secure messaging and collaboration platform built on the Matrix open standard, providing end-to-end encrypted communication for organizations requiring digital sovereignty and data control. This enterprise-grade solution offers instant messaging, voice and video calls, screen sharing, and file sharing capabilities that scale from one-on-one conversations to large chat rooms. Trusted by government agencies and secure organizations worldwide, including HM Government, NATO, and the United Nations International Computing Centre, Element delivers professional communication tools while maintaining complete organizational independence from proprietary vendors.

As a powerful team chat platform and collaboration tool, Element serves as a secure WhatsApp replacement that meets public sector compliance requirements while offering enterprise-grade performance. The platform's decentralized architecture enables deployment on-premise or through any cloud provider, giving organizations full control over their communications infrastructure. With over 125 million users worldwide and 100,000+ deployments, Element has proven its reliability for both small teams and large-scale implementations, including a 500,000+ user commercial deployment.

How to Use Element

Getting started with Element involves downloading the application for your preferred platform – available for Web, Android, iOS, macOS, Windows, and Linux – then creating an account either through Element Matrix Services (EMS) for corporate use or by connecting to an existing Matrix server. Organizations can deploy Element on their own infrastructure for complete sovereignty or use the managed SaaS option for faster setup. Once configured, users can begin secure messaging, make encrypted voice and video calls, share files, and set up bridges to connect with other communication platforms like Slack, Microsoft Teams, and WhatsApp while maintaining end-to-end encryption throughout.

Core Features of Element

1. End-to-End Encryption – Default encryption for all messages, calls, and file transfers to ensure complete privacy and security
2. Matrix Interoperability – Vendor-agnostic federation enabling connectivity between different organizations and communication systems
3. Air-Gapped Deployment – Support for isolated environments with no internet connectivity required for maximum security
4. Cross-Platform Availability – Consistent experience across web, mobile, and desktop applications on all major operating systems
5. Bridge Integration – Connectivity with proprietary platforms including Slack, Teams, WhatsApp, Signal, Telegram, and Discord

Use Cases for Element

• Government and public sector secure communications meeting compliance requirements
• Enterprise team collaboration with end-to-end encrypted messaging and file sharing
• Military and defense organizations requiring air-gapped communication solutions
• Healthcare institutions protecting sensitive patient information and communications
• Financial services firms securing internal and external business communications
• Educational institutions providing safe collaboration spaces for students and staff
• Cross-organizational projects requiring secure interoperability between different teams

Support and Contact

For support and inquiries, visit the Element website or contact the team at contact@element.io. The platform provides comprehensive documentation and community support resources for both self-hosted and managed deployments.

Company Info

Element is developed by the creators of Matrix, the decentralized open standard for secure real-time communication. Founded in 2014 and governed by The Matrix.org Foundation, the company has established itself as a leader in sovereign communications technology, serving organizations worldwide with a focus on digital autonomy and security.

Login and Signup

Access Element through the main website where you can create an account or download applications for your preferred platform. The platform supports multiple deployment options including self-hosted instances and managed services through Element Matrix Services for enterprise requirements.