UK Defence Standard 05-138 — Cyber Security for Defence Suppliers
UK Defence Standard 05-138 establishes cyber security requirements for organisations in the UK defence supply chain. Mandated by the Ministry of Defence (MOD) for contracts handling MOD information and systems. Issue 3 (2024) aligns with NCSC Cyber Essentials Plus and the MOD Cyber Security Model. Requirements cover: organisational security, asset management, access control, cryptography, physical security, operations security, communications security, supply chain security, incident management, and business continuity. Suppliers must achieve Cyber Essentials Plus certification as a minimum, with enhanced requirements for higher-sensitivity contracts.
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Framework Domains (5)
Cyber Risk Profiles and Assurance
| Code | Title |
|---|---|
| CRP-1 | Cyber Risk Profile Assessment |
| CRP-2 | Supplier Assurance Questionnaire |
| CRP-3 | Proportionate Controls |
Objective A: Managing Security Risk
| Code | Title |
|---|---|
| A.1 | Governance Framework |
| A.2 | Risk Assessment |
| A.3 | Asset Management |
| A.4 | Supply Chain Risk Management |
| A.5 | Security Training and Awareness |
Objective B: Protecting Against Cyber Attack
| Code | Title |
|---|---|
| B.1 | Access Control |
| B.2 | Data Protection and Encryption |
| B.3 | Network Security |
| B.4 | Secure Configuration |
| B.5 | Vulnerability Management |
| B.6 | Cyber Essentials Certification |
Objective C: Detecting Cyber Security Events
| Code | Title |
|---|---|
| C.1 | Security Monitoring |
| C.2 | Security Event Logging |
| C.3 | Network Behaviour Monitoring |
Objective D: Minimising Impact of Incidents
| Code | Title |
|---|---|
| D.1 | Incident Response Planning |
| D.2 | Incident Reporting |
| D.3 | Backup and Recovery |
| D.4 | Lessons Learned |
Maps to 595 other frameworks
Frequently Asked Questions
What is UK Defence Standard 05-138 — Cyber Security for Defence Suppliers?
UK Defence Standard 05-138 — Cyber Security for Defence Suppliers is a compliance framework from United Kingdom (MOD) with 5 domains and 21 controls. UK Defence Standard 05-138 establishes cyber security requirements for organisations in the UK defence supply chain. Mandated by the Ministry of Defence (MOD) for contracts handling MOD information and systems. Issue 3 (2024) aligns with NCSC Cyber Essentials Plus and the MOD Cyber Security Model. Requirements cover: organisational security, asset management, access control, cryptography, physical security, operations security, communications security, supply chain security, incident management, and business continuity. Suppliers must achieve Cyber Essentials Plus certification as a minimum, with enhanced requirements for higher-sensitivity contracts. It is used by organisations to establish and maintain compliance with industry standards and regulatory requirements.
How many controls does UK Defence Standard 05-138 — Cyber Security for Defence Suppliers have?
UK Defence Standard 05-138 — Cyber Security for Defence Suppliers has 21 controls organised across 5 domains. The largest domains are Objective B: Protecting Against Cyber Attack (6 controls), Objective A: Managing Security Risk (5 controls), Objective D: Minimising Impact of Incidents (4 controls). Each control defines specific requirements that organisations must implement to achieve compliance.
What frameworks does UK Defence Standard 05-138 — Cyber Security for Defence Suppliers map to?
UK Defence Standard 05-138 — Cyber Security for Defence Suppliers maps to 595 other compliance frameworks. The top mapping partners are CSA CCM v4 (76% coverage), TISAX — Trusted Information Security Assessment Exchange (71% coverage), South Korea ISMS-P (71% coverage). Use our comparison tool to explore control-level mappings between frameworks.
How do I get started with UK Defence Standard 05-138 — Cyber Security for Defence Suppliers compliance?
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