Today, the significance of supply chain security cannot be overstated. It is currently one of the foremost concerns of the Ministry of Defence (MOD). In response to this growing concern, the MOD established the Defence Cyber Protection Partnership (DCPP) in 2013. This initiative represents a comprehensive, collaborative effort between industry and government to address the increasing volume of sophisticated cyber-attacks targeting the Defence supply chain. The primary output of the DCPP was the Cyber Security Model (CSM), launched in January 2017, which aimed to determine the Cyber risk profile for tier 1 MOD suppliers. This model has continued to evolve, and this year we will see the launch of the fourth version of the CSM. So, what does this mean for you as an MOD supplier or a potential supplier looking to enter the defence market?
There will be significant changes in CSM version 4 compared to version 3. One major change is the shift in focus from protecting MOD identifiable information to overall organisational security. The version 4 update introduces new cyber risk profiles, ranging from 0 to 3, moving on from the very low to high-risk profiles in version 3. Each new profile will be accompanied by a robust set of controls detailed in Defence Standard 05-138v4. These changes aim to ensure that the supply chain has the appropriate level of organisational security, making it robust enough to protect MOD data effectively and the wider supply chain.
We have introduced our new service, Cyber Security 4 Defence Suppliers (CS4DS). CS4DS focuses on addressing the initial cybersecurity compliance challenges businesses face, directly supporting them in navigating the Cyber Security Model (CSM), Defence Condition 658, and Defence Standard 05-138.
Our team has extensive experience with MOD standards, leveraging this expertise to deliver tailored cybersecurity solutions that meet your immediate needs while ensuring these strategies and frameworks align with MOD requirements for long-term success and future opportunities.
To help the MOD procurement process, it is essential to set a strong foundation of cybersecurity across your organisation. This is why we also provide close support for organisations pursuing Cyber Essentials certification.
Cyber Essentials fortifies your systems and processes against common cyber threats and demonstrates your commitment to a secure online environment. Through targeted control of firewalls, secure configuration, user access control, malware protection, security update management, and the Cyber Essentials assessment process, Cyber Essentials equips you with essential cybersecurity measures to mitigate risk and protect your data, information, and reputational trust.
We often recommend it as a strong entry-level certification for those beginning to build their cybersecurity resilience.
It is a unique opportunity for you to gain valuable insights and expert guidance from professionals with in-depth knowledge of the defence sector. By strengthening your security posture, you will be better positioned to compete for high-value MOD contracts with confidence.
For organisations seeking to enter the MOD supply chain, this is a transformative advantage. Effectively navigating these processes is a crucial first step – without them, you can be caught in bureaucratic delays that could incur costs to your business