Defence Industry Cyber Uplift Program.
Your licence to operate – and your shield against cyber risk.
South Australian Defence Industry Cyber Capability Uplift Program
Build your cyber resilience. Protect your contracts. Strengthen Australia’s defence capability.
This exclusive pilot program is designed to elevate the cyber resilience of South Australia’s defence industry.
If your company is supplying or seeking to supply into defence supply chains, this is your opportunity to be part of a program that will deliver practical guidance, expert support, and tailored insights to help you strengthen your cyber security posture and position your business as a trusted partner in an increasingly complex threat environment.
An initiative of Defence SA, this program demonstrates South Australia’s leadership in safeguarding the defence industry and lifting cyber maturity across the supply chain. Delivery of the program is led by the Australian Cyber Collaboration Centre in partnership with industry experts De Stefano & Co and CyberSolveIQ.
Program dates:
- Launch Event: Wednesday 26 August 2026 5.15pm-7.30pm
- Workshop 1: Tuesday 22 September 2026 2.00pm-5.00pm
- Workshop 2: Tuesday 27 October 2026 2.00pm- 5.00pm + Networking Event 5.15pm – 7.30pm
- Workshop 3: Thursday 19 November 2026 2.00pm-5.00pm + Networking Event 5.15pm-7.30pm
Location: Crowne Plaza Adelaide
Applications close Wednesday 19 August 2026
About the Program
This Defence Industry Cyber Capability Uplift Program aims to:
- Increase cyber security awareness and capability among defence sector SMEs that are either DISP members or aspiring DISP members who are not fully compliant with the E8 ML2 requirements.
- Equip participants with the skills to identify gaps in their current security controls and develop a roadmap to E8 ML2 compliance.
- Provide participants with an understanding of how to map their practices to international frameworks such as US Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) 2.0 and UK Cyber Essentials/Defence Cyber Protection Partnership (DCPP) framework, fostering a path toward cross framework alignment and improved eligibility for defence contracts.
- Establish a secure, trusted environment for collaboration and information sharing.
- Enable participating organisations to assess their own cyber maturity.
- Strengthen sovereign resilience in support of AUKUS and national security priorities.
Why it matters
“Security is the passport. Trust is the differentiator. Resilience is the product.”
Frank Backes, Space ISAC, Australian Space Cyber Forum 2026
Cyber resilience is no longer optional – it’s your ticket to compete in defence supply chains in domestic and international markets.
Under AUKUS and tightening allied supply chain standards, cyber maturity is rapidly becoming a threshold test – not just a compliance exercise.
In 2018, the mean time from a vulnerability disclosure to a working exploit was 2.3 years. In 2026, driven by AI, it’s less than a day. The rules are changing faster than most businesses realise, and allied customers, including primes and governments, are already deciding who is safe to integrate and worth trusting.
Companies that demonstrate cyber maturity now will be better placed to win work, while those that wait risk being locked out of the most valuable contracts.
If you can’t demonstrate cyber maturity, you risk:
- losing tenders and contracts
- damaging your reputation
- disrupting your operations
- being excluded from the opportunity to tender
This program gives you the clarity, capability and confidence to meet Defence standards and protect your business from real-world threats.
Whether you’re an existing DISP member or aspiring to become one, this program is for you.
Who it’s for
SMEs currently supplying or seeking to supply into the defence sector.
Businesses needing or aspiring to align with Defence Industry Security Program (DISP), Essential Eight Maturity Level 2 (E8 ML2), or international frameworks such as the US CMMC 2.0 and UK Cyber Essentials / DCPP framework.
Teams seeking practical, defence-relevant guidance – not generic theory.
What’s included
Pre-program cyber maturity self-assessment (to establish initial cyber maturity level) supported by CyberSolve IQ
Three in-person interactive, 3-hour workshops led by De Stefano & Co’s Head of Protective Security Services, Jeremy Watkinson
- Threat Landscape and Cyber Frameworks
- Risk Management and Data Security
- Incident Response and Advanced Threat Readiness
Access to a curated digital resource library
Invitations to three networking events to build relationships across the defence sector
Post-program cyber maturity self-assessment (to measure improvements), and suggested next steps
What you’ll gain
Clarity
Understand where you stand and what Defence and potential customers expect
Confidence
Make real progress towards compliance
Capability
Access ready-to-use tools and templates
Credibility
Demonstrate to primes and Defence that you’re a trusted supplier
Register Your Interest Now
Be cyber ready. Be Defence ready.