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IndustryEngineering & Design

Designed for Defence success

Australia's Defence industry offers engineering and design firms work from advanced military hardware to new technologies. Most of those tenders and contracts require DISP membership.

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Domain focus/ from this brief

Scan

  • GOV GovernanceNoted
  • PER PersonnelNoted
  • PHY PhysicalNoted
  • CYB CyberFocus

Key challenges

  1. DISP is a tender requirement

    The majority of tenders and contracts for Defence engineering and design require applicants to hold DISP membership.

  2. Protecting design data

    [Draft] Drawings, specifications and test data are the information Defence most needs protected, and they live on your network.

  3. Choosing the right level

    Firms designing critical combat systems and components are, in our experience, best suited to Level 1 and above.

  4. Clearing project staff

    [Draft] Engineers on classified projects may need security clearances, and sponsoring them in-house starts at Level 1.

  1. Why DISP is needed

    The government's focus on national security and self-reliance in Defence capability creates many opportunities for engineering and design firms. They include advanced military hardware such as naval vessels, aircraft and vehicles, and Defence technologies such as munitions, drones and communication systems.

    Firms can also take on research into material advances, surveillance systems and combat gear, supporting Australia's goal of a self-sustaining Defence sector with export potential. The majority of tenders and contracts in these fields require DISP membership.

  2. Where the investment is going

    Recent Defence research investment has focused on autonomous technologies, hypersonics and high-frequency technologies, with universities and industry partners co-investing alongside the Commonwealth. Firms with DISP membership are positioned to compete for that work.

  3. The domains that matter most

    [Draft] Cyber security is often the heaviest lift for design firms, because the classified material is digital. [Draft] Governance documentation then sets how drawings and data are handled, shared and stored.

    • Entry Level: cyber controls aligned with the Essential Eight
    • Level 1: additional cyber policies and a higher Essential Eight maturity level
    • Level 2: third-party certification of IT and physical systems

  4. How we help

    We run the gap analysis across all four domains, write the governance documentation for your design environment, and prepare and lodge your application, scaled to the level your contracts require.

    Book a consultSee our process

Four levels, one for each classification

Understand the membership levels to work out the level your organisation needs.

All levels

Entry Level

EL

Clears to

OFFICIAL: Sensitive

The baseline tier, and the right fit for most of the supply chain.

Entry Level brings your organisation to modern information security standards. Approval clears you for information up to and including OFFICIAL: Sensitive. We deliver it as a fixed-price, all-inclusive package.

Suited to
Most companies in the Defence supply chain, particularly SMEs with some exposure to Defence and government or those newly entering the market.
Pricing
Fixed price, all inclusive
View Entry Level

Level 1

L1

Clears to

PROTECTED

Strict security standards, and in-house clearances up to Baseline.

Level 1 expands the Entry Level scope to meet Defence's additional requirements, and clears your organisation for information up to and including PROTECTED. It also lets you sponsor personnel security clearances up to Baseline.

Suited to
Companies that want to self-sponsor security clearances, and companies closely involved in Defence, such as those designing or manufacturing critical combat systems and components.
Pricing
Priced after the initial consult
View Level 1

Level 2

L2

Clears to

SECRET

Store and handle SECRET information and join classified procurement.

Level 2 lets your company store and handle SECRET information and take part in classified procurement. Defence sets high standards across all four domains, including third-party certification of your physical and IT systems and a mandatory site inspection.

Suited to
Organisations deeply embedded in the Defence industry, or working on highly classified projects.
Pricing
Custom package
View Level 2

Level 3

L3

Clears to

TOP SECRET

Access to projects of the highest sensitivity, for seasoned Defence firms.

Level 3 grants access to TOP SECRET information and projects of the highest sensitivity. Defence sets its highest standards across all four domains. Implementation and maintenance are challenging and costly, but the commercial upside is typically significant.

Suited to
Mature organisations with considerable expertise and history in the Defence sector, involved in the most classified technologies, operations and defence works.
Pricing
Custom package
View Level 3

What each level includes

FeatureELEntry LevelOFFICIAL: SensitiveL1Level 1PROTECTEDL2Level 2SECRETL3Level 3TOP SECRET
Overview
Information clearedOFFICIAL: SensitivePROTECTEDSECRETTOP SECRET
Deliverables scoped toEntry LevelLevel 1Level 2Level 3
Commercial
Pricing modelFixed priceAfter consultCustom packageCustom package
Governance
Security Officer selectionIncludedIncludedIncludedIncluded
Chief Security Officer selectionIncludedIncludedIncludedIncluded
Gap analysis across four domainsIncludedAdditional questioningAdditional questioningAdditional questioning
  • Included
  • Partly
  • Not included

See the full comparison25 rows

Relevant services

All services

  • DISP gap analysis

    Every engagement starts with a complete audit of your existing processes across the four DISP domains: governance, personnel, physical and cyber security.

  • DISP documentation development

    We write the policies, processes and plans your organisation needs to meet Defence’s requirements for identifying, assessing and managing security risk.

  • Application lodgement

    Incorrect lodgement costs companies time and contracts, and can lead to a rejected application. We prepare and lodge your application and handle Defence’s questions.

By industry

Explore other audiences

Industries

  • Manufacturing & Fabrication

    Manufacturers and fabricators supplying Primes and Defence. Protect drawings, parts and premises, and meet the DISP level your contracts require.

  • Consultants & Contractors

    Advisory, engineering, cyber, project management and logistics consultants. A mixed-level approach can give you clearance flexibility at a lower cost.

  • Aerospace & Space

    Military aviation, R&D and satellite technology firms. Manufacturers in the sector typically need Entry Level at minimum.

  • Shipbuilding & Naval Engineering

    Shipbuilders, naval architects and their suppliers. Meet Prime and Defence requirements across yards, workshops and design offices.

  • Building & Construction

    Construction firms working on Defence projects. Level 1 personnel and governance for self-sponsorship is often a pivotal advantage.

  • Logistics & Supply Chain

    Logistics and supply chain firms supporting Defence. Entry Level is often sufficient, depending on the clearances your staff need.

  • Maintenance & Support Services

    Maintenance, repair and support providers working on Defence equipment and sites. Clear your people and keep your membership current.

  • MSPs & MSSPs

    MSPs and MSSPs supporting Defence suppliers. Choose the right cyber standard, reach the required Essential Eight maturity and plan accreditation.

All industries

Roles

  • Directors & CEOs

    What DISP asks of company leadership: the commercial case, the Chief Security Officer role and the right level for your business.

  • Compliance Officers

    For chief compliance officers: the four DISP pillars, the documentation behind them and systems that keep compliance sustainable.

  • CTOs & IT Managers

    For CTOs and IT managers: the cyber requirements at each DISP level, choosing a standard and planning accreditation without over-investing.

  • Business Development

    For business development leaders: what DISP membership costs, what it opens up, and how clearance readiness can win work.

All roles

Company size

  • SMEs

    For SMEs entering or growing in Defence. Entry Level often suits best, delivered as a fixed-price package.

  • Large Enterprises

    For large organisations with multiple sites and teams. Coordinate DISP across functions and build on the frameworks you already run.

  • Multinationals

    For multinationals with Australian operations. Fit DISP alongside global policies, systems and reporting lines.

All company sizes
Engineering & Design

Questions

All questions
  1. Which DISP level do I need?

    In our experience, Entry Level is sufficient for most companies in the supply chain. Level 1 suits companies that want to self-sponsor security clearances, and Levels 2 and 3 suit organisations working on classified projects. We confirm the right level in your initial consult.

  2. Which levels let us sponsor our own security clearances?

    Entry Level does not allow self-sponsorship. Level 1 lets you manage personnel clearances in-house and sponsor up to Baseline. Level 2 lets your Security Officer sponsor and manage clearances up to Negative Vetting 1 (NV-1). Many firms seek Level 3 for self-sponsorship up to Negative Vetting 2 (NV-2).

    Your CSO and SO need clearances of their own to sponsor others. At Level 2, for example, the SO must hold at least NV-2.

Engineering & Design

Start your DISP journey

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Which DISP level are you aiming for?

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Book a complimentary initial consult

We will confirm whether DISP suits your business and which level you need, with no obligation.

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