Secure Collaboration: A game-changer in securing a safer future
Guest blog by Simon Rust, Chief Technology Officer at Sopra Steria #NatSec2025
Simon Rust
Chief Technology Officer , Sopra Steria
Sometimes a requirement can be obvious, yet curiously difficult to fulfil. Effective multilateral collaboration in the age of digital technology is one of those obvious requirements. As the same technology has transformed the speed and variety of national security threats, it has also intensified the need for us to be able to collaborate effectively with peers and allies against those threats. Faster data processing, improved communication and above all, the ability to ensure the integrity of sensitive information will determine the quality and speed of our decision-making in relation to national security.
The role of digital transformation in National Security
Digital transformation involves integrating digital technologies into all areas of an organisation, fundamentally changing how it operates and delivers value. In the context of national security, digital transformation has three conceivable benefits:
Enhanced data processing and analysis: Modern national security operations generate and rely on enormous volumes of data. Digital transformation enables the use of advanced analytics, artificial intelligence (AI), and machine learning to process this data efficiently. These technologies can identify patterns, predict threats, and provide actionable insights, allowing security agencies to make informed decisions quickly.
Improved communication and collaboration: Effective decision-making in national security requires seamless communication and collaboration across various agencies and international partners. Digital platforms facilitate real-time information sharing, ensuring that all stakeholders have access to the latest intelligence and can coordinate their responses effectively.
Increased agility and responsiveness: The dynamic nature of security threats demands that an organisation is agile in its security response. Successful Digital Transformation allows government and organisations to adapt rapidly to new threats by providing flexible and scalable solutions. To ensure resilience, it is often not a question of if, but when and how an organisation responds to the threat. This agility is essential for maintaining a pre-emptive stance against potential risks.
BluejaySecureCollaboration: A case study in digital transformation
Sopra Steria's BluejaySecureCollaboration (‘Bluejay’) is an example of how digital technology can transform decision-making in national security. Bluejay is a secure collaborative working environment that provides a set of tightly coupled technologies, processes and security tooling for collaborating on the development of classified information at SECRET between government, industry and trusted partners internationally. It is a game-changer for the defence industry, in ensuring that sensitive data is protected while enabling effective collaboration. Bluejay is the only platform of its kind assured by Defence Digital, ensuring the platform meets National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) security principles, using the MOD Secure by Design (SbD) methodology. As the first collaborative working environment (CWE) of its kind to have this level of assurance, Bluejay is developed to ensure security is embedded throughout the system lifecycle.
Key features of BluejaySecureCollaboration:
Accelerated information sharing: Bluejay makes information-sharing among stakeholders quicker and more efficient. Decision-makers can access the data they need in real-time, leading to quicker and more informed outcomes.
Enhanced security: Bluejay stands out by offering a secure environment for seamless collaboration and communication. Traditional systems often force a trade-off between usability and security, but Bluejay bridges this gap. Bluejay's design philosophy centres on providing a user-friendly experience while upholding the highest security standards. Designed for international collaboration with multiple stakeholders, Bluejay ensures the highest level of protection while maintaining an intuitive and user-friendly experience.
Improved collaboration: The platform facilitates seamless interaction between government bodies and industry partners, both domestically and internationally. Bluejay has also been designed with the protection of intellectual property in mind, providing greater assurance to both international and industry partners on the assurance of the data being accessible only to authorized personnel.
Operational agility: Bluejay is sold as a service, providing organisations with the flexibility to scale their business as needed, and react quickly to changing market needs.
Cost efficiency: The Bluejay capabilityeliminates the need for multiple systems and devices for collaborative working at SECRET, this in turn reduces the capital investment and ongoing operational costs that would be required otherwise. This cost efficiency allows organisations to refocus their investment by allocating resources more effectively rather than developing and maintaining a secure capability.
Sample case study
An example we see often is a group of nations and industry suppliers needing to develop a capability or military platform together, such as an aircraft carrier. This would typically entail spending significant time and resources on travel and accommodation for face-to-face meetings to design the capability or military platform. To reduce this cost, there is often an agreement to develop a unique solution to enable a group of nations and industry suppliers to collaborate effectively. This leads to significant delays in streamlining the collaboration process for the design of the capability or military platform due to the procurement and development of the solution and agreement on tools to use. By taking advantage of an existing platform which provides a standard set of core capabilities, the development time of the project accelerates as the costs go down. Less time spent travelling can also benefit workforce wellbeing, as well as contributing towards the sustainability goals we are often measured against both directly and indirectly.
In short, the right digital platform could achieve faster timelines for military and or capability delivery – a great result for taxpayers in the public sector and shareholders in the private sector, and an undeniable boost to the UK and its allies.
Conclusion
BluejaySecureCollaboration is an example of how Digital Transformation can enable better decision-making, allowing government and organisations to improve collaboration and respond more effectively to emerging threats.
Sue-Ellen Wright, Aerospace, Defence and Security Managing Director at Sopra Steria, said: “We’re extremely proud to have designed and developed the BluejaySecureCollaboration service. It’s the latest innovation in our long-standing, successful partnership with the MOD, and we’ll be working tirelessly to evolve the service for Defence and Industry's needs well into the future.”
Get in touch with our team at [email protected] to see how Bluejay can support your mission.
To find out more, take a look at this video or visit our webpage.
techUK’s National Security Week 2024 #NatSec2024
The National Security team are delighted to be hosting our annual National Security Week between Monday, 22 January 2024, and Friday, 26 January 2024.
techUK’s National Security programme leads the debate on emerging technologies which present opportunities to strengthen UK national security. Through a variety of market engagement and policy activities we assess the capability of these technologies against various national security threats. Visit the programme page here
HMGCC Co-Creation Security Challenges
HMGCC Co-Creation is a partnership with DSTL (Defence Science and Technology Laboratory), created to deliver a new, bold and innovative way of working with the wider UK science and technology community. We bring together the best in class across industry, academia and Government, to work collaboratively on National Security Engineering challenges and accelerate innovation. Co-Creation is the front door to the HMGCC technology eco-system.
Maximising Membership: Defence, Security and Cyber Event Round Up
On 8 July, techUK’s Defence, National Security and Cyber Resilience programme teams showcased to an audience of existing members the work currently being undertaken in these areas across techUK and how members can get involved.
Our members develop strong networks, build meaningful partnerships and grow their businesses as we all work together to create a thriving environment where industry, government and stakeholders come together to realise the positive outcomes tech can deliver.
Prior to joining techUK, Raya worked in Business Development for an expert network firm within the institutional investment space. Before this Raya spent a year in industry working for a tech start-up in London as part of their Growth team which included the formation and development of a 'Let's Talk Tech' podcast and involvement in London Tech Week.
Raya has a degree in Politics and International Relations (Bsc Hons) from the University of Bath where she focused primarily on national security and counter-terrorism policies, centreing research on female-led terrorism and specific approaches to justice there.
Outside of work, Raya's interests include baking, spin classes and true-crime Netflix shows!
Associate Director, Defence and National Security, techUK
Fred Sugden
Associate Director, Defence and National Security, techUK
Fred is responsible for techUK's activities across the Defence and National Security sectors, working to provide members with access to key stakeholders across the Defence and National Security community. Before taking on the role of Associate Director for Defence and National Security, Fred joined techUK in 2018, working as the Programme Head for Defence at techUK, leading the organisation's engagement with the Ministry of Defence. Before joining techUK, he worked at ADS, the national trade association representing Aerospace, Defence, Security & Space companies in the UK.
Fred is responsible for techUK’s market engagement and policy development activities across the Defence and National Security sectors, working closely with various organisations within the Ministry of Defence, and across the wider National Security and Intelligence community. Fred works closely with many techUK member companies that have an interest in these sectors, and is responsible for the activities of techUK's senior Defence & Security Board. Working closely with techUK's Programme Head for Cyber Security, Fred oversees a broad range of activities for techUK members.
Outside of work, Fred's interests include football (a Watford FC fan) and skiing.
Programme Team Assistant for Public Sector Markets, techUK
Francesca Richiusa
Programme Team Assistant for Public Sector Markets, techUK
Fran serves as the Programme Team Assistant within techUK’s Public Sector Market Programmes, where she is responsible for delivering comprehensive team support, managing administrative functions, and fostering strong relationships with members.
Prior to joining techUK in May 2025, Fran built a meaningful career in the charitable and local government sectors. She worked extensively with both victims and perpetrators of crime, and notably led the coordination of Domestic Homicide Reviews across Surrey—an initiative aimed at identifying lessons and preventing future incidents of domestic abuse.
Outside of work, Fran is an avid traveller and a proud cat mum who enjoys unwinding with her feline companions.
