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Cyber resilience within the defence sector cannot be treated as optional – it forms the very foundation upon which national security rests. The newly announced Defence Cyber Certification (DCC) scheme, developed by the MOD in partnership with IASME, introduces a comprehensive cyber assurance framework specifically tailored for the UK’s defence supply chain.
This represents a strategic transformation in how we approach supply chain security. In an environment where adversaries continuously probe for vulnerabilities, even a single supplier with inadequate cyber hygiene can present significant national security risks. The DCC ensures that every component of the supply chain meets consistent, risk-proportionate cyber standards, regardless of whether they provide sophisticated IT software or basic physical components.
The certification scheme introduces four distinct levels of accreditation, ranging from Level 0 (entry-level requirements) through to Level 3 (advanced security measures), encompassing up to 144 individual control requirements. This graduated approach ensures that security measures remain proportionate to the risk profile and operational requirements of different suppliers.
From Level 1 upwards, organisations must achieve Cyber Essentials and Cyber Essentials Plus certification, establishing foundational cyber security postures that provide measurable baselines for further development. The scheme requires annual progress reviews alongside formal re-certification every three years, ensuring that security standards evolve alongside emerging threats.
The programme utilises IASME’s extensive network of over 300 Certification Bodies across the UK, providing scalable reach that accommodates suppliers of all sizes and geographical locations. This distributed approach ensures that even smaller regional suppliers can access certification services without facing prohibitive barriers.
However, the DCC represents far more than a compliance exercise. It provides defence suppliers – both large multinational corporations and small specialised firms – with opportunities to demonstrate leadership, operational maturity, and genuine commitment to protecting national interests. For investors and stakeholders, it sends a clear market signal that cyber resilience has become a defensible competitive differentiator.
As organisations accelerate their adoption of smart, connected technologies – from industrial Internet of Things (IoT) systems to autonomous platforms – questions surrounding their security and resilience have become increasingly urgent. The NCSC’s Cyber Resilience Test Facilities (CRTFs) initiative directly addresses these challenges through a comprehensive testing framework.
CRTFs establish a national network of assured facilities where technology vendors can independently evaluate the cyber resilience of their connected products. Crucially, this approach moves beyond traditional compliance-focused auditing methodologies. Instead, it employs Principles-Based Assurance (PBA), which emphasises outcomes and risk management rather than rigid adherence to prescriptive requirements.
The facilities provide third-party evaluation of internet-connected products against Assurance Principles and Claims (APCs), ensuring alignment with established Software Security Code of Practice guidelines. This evaluation framework applies equally across public and private sectors, creating unified standards that enhance trust and operational rigour.
For vendors, CRTFs offer opportunities to demonstrate product security credentials whilst identifying potential vulnerabilities before market release. For buyers, they provide independent assurance that supports informed procurement decisions and reduces risk exposure. For regulators, they offer clarity and consistency in evaluating emerging technologies.
The CRTF ecosystem aims to bridge the trust gap that currently exists around connected technologies. It supports vendors committed to security excellence, buyers requiring reliable assurance, and regulators seeking clear evaluation criteria. Essentially, it creates national infrastructure that enables safer innovation across all sectors.
As threat actors continue evolving their tactics and capabilities, defensive measures must adapt accordingly. The NCSC’s Cyber Adversary Simulation (CyAS) scheme provides assured service providers with frameworks to deliver realistic attack simulations, ranging from targeted phishing campaigns and lateral movement exercises through to comprehensive incident escalation scenarios.
Unlike standard penetration testing approaches, CyAS evaluates how effectively organisations can detect, respond to, and recover from threats under realistic operational conditions. This proactive methodology tests more than just technological capabilities – it challenges leadership decision-making, communication protocols, and organisational resilience under genuine pressure.
While CyAS provides invaluable capabilities, many organisations – particularly smaller firms and high-growth companies – find it complex, expensive, and potentially beyond their reach. Recognising this challenge, innovative solutions are emerging to make adversary simulation more accessible across different organisational contexts.
These developments include role-based simulation platforms designed for various stakeholder groups, from Security Operations Centre (SOC) teams and Digital Forensics and Incident Response (DFIR) specialists through to architecture teams, engineering departments, huma
