International Cybersecurity & Compliance Support - Defence Engineering Firm
The Context
Our client is a growing engineering business headquartered in Aberdeenshire, serving customers across the global defence sector.
Operating in a highly regulated industry, the organisation must maintain strict cybersecurity standards to meet both customer expectations and contractual obligations.
As part of its growth strategy, the business was expanding into international markets while continuing to support defence clients in the UK and abroad. This created increasingly complex security and compliance requirements that needed to be managed without slowing operational growth.
The Challenge
When ITWORX became involved, the client had already achieved Cyber Essentials Plus certification. However, the shifting regulatory landscape, coupled with evolving security requirements and increasingly busy workload meant that maintaining certified status had become a real chore for the internal IT team.
At the same time, the organisation was also starting to pursue Australian Defence Industry Security Program (DISP) membership, which is a requirement for operating within the Australian defence sector.
While the business maintained a relatively straightforward Microsoft 365-based infrastructure across four offices, the DISP compliance requirements were anything but straightforward. For example, one of the most significant challenges involved data sovereignty. Australian defence requirements mandate that certain information remains within Australia, requiring the organisation to carefully control where data was stored, processed and transmitted.
Initial attempts to satisfy these requirements using Microsoft 365 data residency controls proved insufficient. While data could be geographically located within Australia, email traffic was still passing through UK-based infrastructure, creating compliance concerns that called for a more inventive solution.
Alongside these international requirements, the organisation also needed to continually adapt to changes within Cyber Essentials Plus. As anyone familiar with the program will know, certification requirements are always evolving, which means regular reviews of security controls, device management policies and access management procedures are of critical importance to any business operating in a heavily regulated environment.
The Solution
We have a proven process for strategic cybersecurity management, enabling our team to
- Address immediate security concerns
- Build a strong foundation and framework
- Maintain compliance during future growth phases
Our engagement began with a detailed review of the client's existing security controls, compliance obligations and future growth plans.Once we’d finished our initial audit, our specialists rolled out a prioritised cybersecurity management strategy.
This strategy covered:
Cyber Essentials Plus Management
Cyber Essentials Plus requirements evolve every year. We provide ongoing management and guidance to ensure the client's security controls continue to meet certification standards, identifying new requirements early and implementing changes ahead of annual renewals.
Australian Defence Compliance Support
The client is working towards compliance with Australia's Defence Industry Security Program (DISP), a complex framework with stringent security requirements. We help translate those requirements into practical technical controls and provide a clear roadmap towards compliance.
International Data Segregation
Australian defence requirements mandate that certain data remains within Australia. To meet these obligations, we implemented dedicated systems that keeps both data and communications within the required geographic boundaries.
Scalable Global Expansion Framework
The Australian environment was designed as a template for future international growth. This approach allows new offices to be deployed with region-specific security controls and data segregation requirements already built in.
Mobile Device Management
Modern certification standards require greater control over devices accessing company data. We deployed Microsoft Intune-based Mobile Device Management to secure smartphones, tablets and laptops while ensuring ongoing compliance.
Application Control
To reduce security risks and support defence-sector requirements, application controls were implemented to prevent unauthorised software installation and ensure devices remain compliant with company security policies.
Ongoing Support
As certification standards evolve, we work proactively with the client to identify and implement any additional controls required for renewal. Recent examples have included expanding MFA coverage to additional systems and strengthening mobile device management to meet updated Cyber Essentials Plus requirements.
The Result
The client now benefits from a structured cybersecurity and compliance framework capable of supporting both current operations and future international growth.
Cyber Essentials Plus certification is maintained through ongoing monitoring, management and annual renewal support, while progress towards Australian defence compliance requirements continues through a clear and measurable roadmap.
The organisation has also gained a repeatable model for securely expanding into new territories, reducing the complexity and risk associated with international growth.
By combining managed cybersecurity services with practical compliance expertise, ITWORX continues to help the business meet demanding defence-sector requirements while maintaining the agility needed to pursue new opportunities around the world.
Looking for Expert Cybersecurity Support?
Whether you are pursuing Cyber Essentials certification, managing international compliance requirements or looking to strengthen your cybersecurity posture, our specialists can help.
Contact ITWORX today to discuss your requirements.
