{"id":26649,"date":"2026-02-19T07:00:17","date_gmt":"2026-02-19T06:00:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/smecyberinsights.co.uk\/?p=26649"},"modified":"2026-02-20T11:45:48","modified_gmt":"2026-02-20T10:45:48","slug":"mod-makes-it-easier-for-smes-to-win-defence-work","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/smecyberinsights.co.uk\/index.php\/2026\/02\/19\/mod-makes-it-easier-for-smes-to-win-defence-work\/","title":{"rendered":"MOD Makes It Easier for SMEs to Win Defence Work; Cyber Readiness Will Be the Real Differentiator"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"SECURUS\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"MOD\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
Image Credit: Photographer: Corporal Adam J. Wakefield \/ UK MOD \u00a9 Crown copyright 2026<\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

Gibraltar:\u00a0 Thursday, 19 Februar 2026 \u2013 07:00 CET<\/p>\n

MOD Makes It Easier for SMEs to Win Defence Work; Cyber Readiness Will Be the Real Differentiator
\n<\/strong>By: Iain Fraser<\/a>\u00a0\u2013\u00a0Cybersecurity Journalist
\n<\/a>Published in Collaboration with SECURUS Communications<\/a>
\nGoogle Indexed PZero on: 190226 at 09:05 CET<\/a>
\nSMECyberInsights.co.uk<\/a> | First for SME Cybersecurity News
\n<\/a>#SMECyberInsights #SMECybersecurity #SMECyberInsights #SME #CyberSafe #CyberSecurity #Cybersecurity #MoD #DefenceContracts<\/em><\/p>\n

\ufeff<\/span>\ufeff<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

MOD Makes It Easier for SMEs to Win Defence Work; Cyber Readiness Will Be the Real Differentiator <\/strong><\/p>\n

MOD\u2019s announcement is positive for growth minded SMEs. If government is serious about \u201cslashing red tape\u201d and creating a dedicated team to help small British businesses win more Defence contracts, the opportunity is real. However, faster routes into Defence procurement rarely mean lower security expectations. In practice, it often means the security bar becomes the main filter between \u201ccan bid\u201d and \u201ccan deliver\u201d.<\/p>\n

What this signals for SME Cybersecurity and procurement readiness<\/strong><\/p>\n

Defence supply chains are attractive targets. Attackers frequently look for the easier route in; smaller suppliers with weaker controls, shared admin accounts, or unmanaged devices. As MOD reduces process friction, SMEs should assume scrutiny will shift to evidence of operational resilience. That means being able to demonstrate basic cyber hygiene, incident readiness, and supplier management, not just technical capability.<\/p>\n

The practical baseline SMEs should align to<\/strong><\/p>\n

For most SMEs, the quickest credibility win is Cyber Essentials<\/strong>. It is designed to ensure five core technical controls are in place and is widely used across UK supply chains as a clear baseline. Even where it is not strictly mandatory for every contract, it is an easy way to answer buyer questions with evidence rather than assurance.<\/p>\n

Cyber Essentials focuses on:<\/p>\n

* Secure configuration
\n* Security updates (patching)
\n* Access control
\n* Malware protection
\n* Firewalls and internet gateways<\/p>\n

The business value is straightforward. These controls reduce common internet-based attack paths and make it easier to pass due diligence questionnaires without weeks of back and forth.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"MOD\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

A realistic SME scenario; where bids fail quietly<\/strong><\/p>\n

An engineering SME has the right expertise and pricing, but their bid stalls during due diligence. The buyer asks about MFA coverage, patching cadence, admin accounts, and how subcontractors access drawings. The SME cannot evidence controls; access is shared, laptops are unmanaged, and backups have never been tested. The commercial opportunity dies in the \u201cclarifications\u201d stage, without anyone explicitly saying \u201cyour cyber is the problem\u201d.<\/p>\n

This is why cyber readiness is now a revenue enabler, not just an IT issue.<\/p>\n

Action focused recommendations; what to do in the next 30 days<\/strong><\/p>\n

From an SME Cyber Insights standpoint, these are the highest impact steps that support Defence style procurement expectations without creating a heavyweight programme:<\/p>\n

* Get Cyber Essentials ready:<\/strong>\u00a0baseline your current position against the five controls; fix obvious gaps first.<\/p>\n

* Turn on MFA everywhere it matters:<\/strong>\u00a0email, remote access, admin portals, finance and procurement systems.<\/p>\n

* Remove shared admin accounts:<\/strong>\u00a0named accounts only; least privilege by default.<\/p>\n

* Patch with discipline:<\/strong>\u00a0document a simple patch process and show it is followed.<\/p>\n

* Backups you can prove:<\/strong>\u00a0run a restore test and record the result.<\/p>\n

* Supplier access rules:<\/strong>\u00a0tighten who can access sensitive files; log it; review it monthly.<\/p>\n

Why compliance language still matters<\/strong><\/p>\n

If the work involves personal data, UK GDPR expects \u201cappropriate technical and organisational measures\u201d. Buyers may frame this as \u201csecurity governance\u201d or \u201cassurance\u201d, but it often comes down to whether you can show sensible controls and risk management decisions.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"SECURUS\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
<\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

SECURUS Communications Ltd<\/strong><\/p>\n

Securus<\/a> <\/strong>is a managed communications Operator, providing next-generation network infrastructure and value added services to Managed Hosting providers and the ‘cloud generation’\u200b of enterprises. Securus<\/a> <\/strong>priority is to offer communication services that represent excellent value for money and are backed by exceptional levels of support.<\/p>\n

Contact Securus<\/strong>
\nSecurus Communications Ltd
\nStation Road, Landmark house, Hook, England RG27 9HA, GB
\nT: Enquiries:\u00a003451 283457<\/span><\/a>\u00a0| Service Desk: 03451 283458<\/a>
\nSecurus on LinkedIn<\/a> | Securus on “X”<\/a> | https:\/\/securuscomms.com<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\tLatest Posts from SECURUS Communications<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<\/h2>\n\t\t\t<\/div>
\n\n
\n
\n\n
\n \n \n \"AI-Powered <\/a>\n\n \n