If your business supplies the Ministry of Defence, or wants to, there is a change coming that could affect your ability to win and keep contracts. It is called Defence Cyber Certification (DCC), and the MoD wants its supply chain to reach Level 0 by 31 December 2026. As a business owner, here is what it actually means for you, in plain terms.

Why it matters to your business

Defence contracts are increasingly specifying a required DCC level, and you cannot bid above the level you hold. Put simply, no certification could mean no bid. Get certified early and you stay eligible, you look credible to prime contractors, and you are not scrambling when a tender lands with a deadline attached. Leave it late, and you risk being locked out of work you could have won.

The good news: it starts with Cyber Essentials

Every level of DCC is built on Cyber Essentials. Level 0 and Level 1 require Cyber Essentials, and the higher levels require Cyber Essentials Plus. So Cyber Essentials is the foundation of the whole thing. If you already hold it, you are most of the way to Level 0. If you do not, it is an affordable, well-recognised certification that protects you from the most common cyber attacks and opens the door to defence work at the same time. One step, two benefits.

"A lot of business owners hear 'Defence Cyber Certification' and assume it is going to be complicated and expensive," said Daly Whyte, founder of Solusec. "For most, it simply is not. It starts with Cyber Essentials, which is affordable and quick to achieve. My advice is straightforward: do not wait for a tender to force your hand. Get certified now, while there is no deadline pressure, and you will be ready the moment the work comes along."

How we can help

Solusec is a Shropshire business, based in Albrighton, and we are an appointed Certification Body for both Cyber Essentials and Defence Cyber Certification Level 0. That means we certify your DCC Level 0 ourselves, along with the Cyber Essentials it requires, together from one provider. Whether you are already certified, due to renew, or starting from scratch, we will find you the quickest honest route to Level 0.

An offer for fellow Chamber members

As Shropshire Chamber members ourselves, we want to help local businesses get ahead of the deadline. All Chamber members get 10 percent off Cyber Essentials and the associated services around it. Find our member-to-member offer through the Chamber.

If MoD work is on your horizon, do not wait for the deadline to force your hand. It all starts with Cyber Essentials, and we are right here in Shropshire to help you take that first step.