Reimagine Device Access Across the Enterprise
“Gatekeeper” was a JPL-wide cybersecurity initiative, mandated by NASA, designed to enhance network security by blocking all unregistered and personal devices from accessing JPL’s network.
While the technical change was critical to improving JPL’s cyber posture, it was not a popular one, as employees and external stakeholders were losing the ability to connect to the network with their personal devices. This presented significant communication and change management challenges.
To add to the challenge, the name “Gatekeeper” had already been chosen by the project team and socialized, already depicting a very strict and rigid tone.
To shift the narrative, I reframed the concept around the Gatekeeper butterfly, which I discovered when researching initial campaign concepts. This calming and symbolic visual identity helped soften user resistance.
The campaign involved extensive stakeholder management, executive briefings, and full-spectrum communications ranging from storytelling and visuals to policy education and technical guidance. My work ensured the Lab was informed, prepared, and ultimately supportive of a major cybersecurity transition.
Visuals and Campaign Concept
When I inherited the Gatekeeper project, the name had already been chosen by the technical team, evoking a sense of restriction and surveillance that could easily lead to user resistance. To reframe the narrative, I conducted research and thankfully discovered the Gatekeeper butterfly, a symbol that inspired a more welcoming and protective tone.
We reimagined Gatekeeper as digital butterflies, quietly circling JPL to protect it from harm. This metaphor allowed us to position the initiative not as a crackdown, but as a shield that was calming, beautiful, and essential. The butterfly became the visual anchor for the campaign, featured in the communications and support website. We even added an Easter egg page that explained the concept development and linked to more information about the real Gatekeeper butterfly.
The new identity was incredibly well received. What could have felt like a harsh IT mandate instead became a community-backed effort, praised for its tone, visuals, and empathy. The butterfly became an official mascot for the project and a great example of how strong visuals and thoughtful messaging can transform user perception.
User Support Website
The Gatekeeper internal website served as the central resource for everything users needed to know about the new device authorization policy. Because the project impacted every user and contractor at JPL, including mission-critical systems and personal devices, it was essential that the site be clear, comprehensive, and easy to navigate.
The website included:
Step-by-step instructions on how to register appropriate devices to avoid being blocked from the network
A detailed FAQ section addressing technical and policy questions
Visual guides and flowcharts to help users determine which registration process applied to them
Targeted guidance for wired vs. wireless access, and building-specific rollout schedules
A preview of future enforcement phases to help users plan ahead
The website served as a campaign anchor and a safety net that helped users understand what was happening, what to do next, and where to go for help.
Executive Communications
Because Gatekeeper impacted every corner of the Lab, including senior leadership and mission operations, it was critical to gain alignment and support from the top down. We worked closely with the project team to shape the narrative, impact framing, and executive messaging for this high-visibility initiative.
Key efforts included:
Crafting and refining executive-level presentations to explain the rationale, risk posture, and user impact of the policy
Providing coaching and message development for the project team as they navigated the Lab’s PMO and governance processes
Supporting briefings with senior leadership to ensure clear, confident delivery and stakeholder buy-in
Drafting and deploying a Labwide executive announcement email, which set the tone for the campaign and linked to supporting resources
These executive communications were designed to be transparent but reassuring, emphasizing the protective value of the initiative while acknowledging the inconvenience it might cause. By framing Gatekeeper as a mission-aligned security upgrade, we helped shift the conversation from user restriction to Lab resilience.
