Lock the Door” – Why the UK Government’s New Cyber Security Campaign Is a Wake-Up Call
Key Takeaways Imagine leaving the front door of your business wide open every single day. No lock, no alarm, no one watching. That is, in effect, what thousands of UK businesses are doing on-line, and cyber criminals are walking straight in. The UK government has had enough. In early 2026, the Department for Science, Innovation […]
Cyber Essentials is Changing in April 2026: Is Your Organisation Ready?
Key Takeaways Cyber Essentials has always been more than a box-ticking exercise. For organisations working within the UK Defence supply chain, it is a baseline contractual requirement and one of the first things a procurement team will check before a contract is awarded. But the scheme is not static. From 27 April 2026, a new […]
IPSA Requirements Explained: What MOD Contractors Must Demonstrate
Key Takeaways • People First: IPSA (Industry Personnel Security Assurance) focuses on the management and aftercare of vetted staff, distinct from physical security. • Mandatory Roles: You must appoint a Board Level Contact (BLC) and a Personnel Security Controller (PSC). • Prerequisite for FSC: If you require Facility Security Clearance to store assets, you must […]
CSM Version 4 Explained: What Defence Suppliers Need to Know in 2026
For defence suppliers, the landscape of cyber and supply chain security has shifted significantly. With the formal implementation of the Cyber Security Model version 4 (CSM v4), the Ministry of Defence (MOD) has moved away from temporary interim measures to a robust, risk managed evidence-based regime. If your organisation is part of the UK defence […]
Facility Security Clearance: What It Is and When Your Organisation Needs It
If you are navigating the UK defence supply chain in 2026, you have likely encountered a wall of acronyms. Among the most critical and often the most misunderstood is Facility Security Clearance (FSC), still often referred to as ‘List X’, which was the forerunner to FSC. For many suppliers, FSC is the key that allows […]
Why Business Impact Analysis and Gap Analysis are the Most Cost-Effective First Steps for Defence Compliance
The UK defence sector is currently experiencing a period of intense activity. With the Ministry of Defence (MoD) committing to a sustained increase in spending to 2.6% of GDP by 2027, the opportunities for Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) are significant. However, for many business owners I speak with, this opportunity is accompanied by a […]
Preparing for DCC: A Step-By-Step Readiness Roadmap
IASME’s Defence Cyber Certification (DCC) was announced in May 2025, a certification scheme established by IASME with deep collaboration with UK MOD. Whereas previously it was not possible for a commercial organisation to meet MOD information assurance and supply chain resilience requirements until a contract had been put in place and the Cyber Security Model […]
Role of a Remote Security Manager in the UK Defence Supply Chain
The UK Defence supply chain is complex and reliant on many Small and Medium sized Enterprises (SMEs). In response to global tensions and increased capabilities and resources available to modern threat actors, SME’s have a growing responsibility to strengthen their defensive capabilities and security posture to protect the sensitive information they hold and in turn, […]
How a Security Management Plan can Prepare Defence SMEs?
Working with the Ministry of Defence (MOD) is an exciting prospect for any growing businesses. Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) make up about 95% of major UK Defence trade bodies, forming the essential foundation of national security. However, stepping into this sector means shifting from standard commercial habits, to a more disciplined and robust security […]
What Are the Most Common Pitfalls in Defence Cybersecurity and Resilience; How to Avoid Them?
Defence cybersecurity and resilience is now a core expectation and contractual requirement, for any organisation working with or supporting the UK defence industry. The Ministry of Defence’s (MOD) DEFCON 658 (Cyber Flowdown) and the Cyber Security Model (CSM) set out how cyber risk should be assessed and managed across defence contracts, while broader best practice […]