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 (26)
Access Control
| Code | Title |
|---|---|
| DEFSTAN-ACCESS | Access Control and Identity Management |
Assurance
| Code | Title |
|---|---|
| DEFSTAN-AUDIT | Assurance and Audit Evidence Maintenance |
Change Control
| Code | Title |
|---|---|
| DEFSTAN-CHANGE | Risk Profile Change Management |
Configuration
| Code | Title |
|---|---|
| DEFSTAN-CONFIG | Secure Configuration and Hardening |
Contract Flow-Down
| Code | Title |
|---|---|
| DEFSTAN-DEFCON658 | DEFCON 658 Flow-Down to Supply Chain |
Cryptography
| Code | Title |
|---|---|
| DEFSTAN-CRYPTO | Cryptography and Key Management |
Cyber Risk Profiles and Assurance
| Code | Title |
|---|---|
| CRP-1 | Cyber Risk Profile Assessment |
| CRP-2 | Supplier Assurance Questionnaire |
| CRP-3 | Proportionate Controls |
Data Identification
| Code | Title |
|---|---|
| DEFSTAN-MIIDEF | Definition and Identification of MOD Identifiable Information |
Incident Reporting
| Code | Title |
|---|---|
| DEFSTAN-INCIDENT-MODCERT | Incident Reporting to MOD via JSyCC |
L0 Controls
| Code | Title |
|---|---|
| DEFSTAN-L0 | Risk Profile L0 Not Applicable |
L1 Controls
| Code | Title |
|---|---|
| DEFSTAN-L1 | Risk Profile L1 Very Low |
L2 Controls
| Code | Title |
|---|---|
| DEFSTAN-L2 | Risk Profile L2 Low |
L3 Controls
| Code | Title |
|---|---|
| DEFSTAN-L3 | Risk Profile L3 Moderate |
L4 Controls
| Code | Title |
|---|---|
| DEFSTAN-L4 | Risk Profile L4 High |
L5 Controls
| Code | Title |
|---|---|
| DEFSTAN-L5 | Risk Profile L5 Very High |
Malware
| Code | Title |
|---|---|
| DEFSTAN-MALWARE | Malware Protection |
Monitoring
| Code | Title |
|---|---|
| DEFSTAN-MONITOR | Security Monitoring and Logging |
Objective A: Managing Security Risk
| Code | Title |
|---|---|
| A.1 | Point-of-Care Testing Additional Requirements |
| 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 |
Patching
| Code | Title |
|---|---|
| DEFSTAN-PATCH | Patch and Vulnerability Management |
Personnel Security
| Code | Title |
|---|---|
| DEFSTAN-PERSONNEL | Personnel Security and Clearances |
Physical Security
| Code | Title |
|---|---|
| DEFSTAN-PHYSICAL | Physical Security |
Risk Assessment
| Code | Title |
|---|---|
| DEFSTAN-RP-ASSESS | Cyber Risk Profile Assessment via SCRA |
Secure Development
| Code | Title |
|---|---|
| DEFSTAN-DEV | Secure Development and System Acquisition |
Your Compliance Coverage
If you comply with UK Defence Standard 05-138 - Cyber Security for Defence Suppliers, you already cover:
Cloud Security Alliance Cloud Controls Matrix (CCM) v4.0.1
38%
16 controls mapped
Compare →TISAX - Trusted Information Security Assessment Exchange
36%
15 controls mapped
Compare →South Korea ISMS-P
36%
15 controls mapped
Compare →+ 609 more: PAS 1192-5:2015 - Security-Minded Approach to BIM and Digital Built Environments (36%), Canada ITSG-33 - IT Security Risk Management (36%)
See all 612 mapped frameworks ↓Maps to 612 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 26 domains and 42 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 42 controls organised across 26 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 612 other compliance frameworks. The top mapping partners are Cloud Security Alliance Cloud Controls Matrix (CCM) v4.0.1 (38% coverage), TISAX - Trusted Information Security Assessment Exchange (36% coverage), South Korea ISMS-P (36% 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?
Start your UK Defence Standard 05-138 - Cyber Security for Defence Suppliers compliance journey by running a self-assessment on our platform to identify your current compliance posture. Our AI advisory can answer specific questions about UK Defence Standard 05-138 - Cyber Security for Defence Suppliers requirements, and cross-framework mapping helps you leverage existing controls from other frameworks you may already comply with. Create a free account to access all 42 controls and track your progress.
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