Supply chain security: a UK defence imperative

For UK defence organisations, supply chain security is inseparable from national resilience. The threat is tangible and growing: the 2024 MoD payroll breach, in which suspected state-sponsored hackers targeted a third-party payroll provider, exposed the names and bank details of up to 270,000 serving and former military personnel. It is a clear reminder that in defence, supply chain vulnerabilities are not merely a commercial risk – they are a national security concern.

Defence infrastructure depends on a wide range of IT, OT and IoT systems spanning physical security, video surveillance, estate management and logistics. Greater connectivity improves efficiency and situational awareness, but it also introduces vulnerabilities, particularly where legacy systems interface with modern networks. The 2025 Strategic Defence Review acknowledged this, committing £1 billion to establish a new Cyber and Electromagnetic Command alongside a broader uplift in defence spending.

A relentless threat landscape

Nation-state actors, notably from China, Russia, Iran and North Korea, continue to target UK defence and critical national infrastructure. The NCSC’s 2025 Annual Review recorded 204 nationally significant cyber incidents handled in a single year – a 130% increase on the previous year. An estimated 90% of organisations working in critical national infrastructure have experienced an increase in attempted or successful cyber attacks.

A recent report estimated 80% of all cyber attacks now involve a supplier or vendor. Rather than attacking well-protected systems directly, sophisticated threat actors exploit the supply chain as a route in. Smaller contractors, embedded technologies and trusted software platforms are all potential entry points. This is compounded in environments where Operational Technology has evolved over time, and without consistent security reviews and assessments, leaving unseen dependencies and exposures across the supply chain.

The consequences can be severe, with high-profile UK incidents, such as the Jaguar Land Rover breach, resulting in £120 million in lost profits and £1.7 billion in revenue disruption, in just one month. These aren’t isolated incidents; they are the new normal in our interconnected digital ecosystem.

Working with trusted partners

Managing supply chain risk in UK defence requires suppliers who combine technical expertise with a deep understanding of UK-specific security and compliance requirements. Key considerations include:

Embedding security for operational resilience

UK defence environments demand consistent, reliable performance under persistent threat. Security and supply chain resilience must be embedded throughout the full lifecycle of any solution – from the initial design through deployment and ongoing support. Trusted partners support this by helping to anticipate threats, maintain continuity and adapt as the risk landscape evolves.

As defence operations become increasingly reliant on connected technologies and external suppliers, the stakes will only rise. Organisations that work with credible, accredited partners who embed security at every stage of the supply chain will be best placed to protect critical assets and sustain resilience in an ever more complex threat environment.

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Meet the team

Jill Broom

Head of Cyber Resilience, techUK

Jill leads the techUK Cyber Resilience programme, having originally joined techUK in October 2020 as a Programme Manager for the Cyber and Central Government programmes. She is responsible for managing techUK's work across the cyber security ecosystem, bringing industry together with key stakeholders across the public and private sectors. Jill also provides the industry secretariat for the Cyber Growth Partnership, the industry and government conduit for supporting the growth of the sector. A key focus of her work is to strengthen the public–private partnership across cyber to support further development of UK cyber security and resilience policy.

Before joining techUK, Jill worked as a Senior Caseworker for an MP, advocating for local communities, businesses and individuals, so she is particularly committed to techUK’s vision of harnessing the power of technology to improve people’s lives. Jill is also an experienced editorial professional and has delivered copyediting and writing services for public-body and SME clients as well as publishers.

Email:: [email protected]
Website:: www.techuk.org/
LinkedIn:: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jill-broom-19aa824

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Annie Collings

Senior Programme Manager, Cyber Resilience, techUK

Annie is the Programme Manager for Cyber Resilience at techUK. She first joined as the Programme Manager for Cyber Security and Central Government in September 2023.

In her role, Annie supports the Cyber Security SME Forum, engaging regularly with key government and industry stakeholders to advance the growth and development of SMEs in the cyber sector. Annie also coordinates events, engages with policy makers and represents techUK at a number of cyber security events.

Before joining techUK, Annie was an Account Manager at a specialist healthcare agency, where she provided public affairs support to a wide range of medical technology clients. She also gained experience as an intern in both an MP’s constituency office and with the Association of Independent Professionals and the Self-Employed. Annie holds a degree in International Relations from Nottingham Trent University.

Email:: [email protected]
Twitter:: anniecollings24
LinkedIn:: https://www.linkedin.com/in/annie-collings-270150158/

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Olivia Staples

Junior Programme Manager - Cyber Resilience, techUK

Olivia Staples joined techUK in May 2025 as a Junior Programme Manager in the Cyber Resilience team.

She supports the programs mission to promote cyber resilience by engaging key commercial and government stakeholders to shape the cyber resilience policy towards increased security and industry growth. Olivia assists in member engagement, event facilitation and communications support.

Before joining techUK, Olivia gained experience in research, advocacy, and strategic communications across several international organisations. At the Munich Security Conference, she supported stakeholder engagement and contributed to strategic communications. She also worked closely with local and national government stakeholders in Spain and Italy, where she was involved in policy monitoring and advocacy for both public and private sector clients.

Olivia holds an MSc in Political Science (Comparative Politics and Conflict Studies) from the London School of Economics (LSE) and a BA in Spanish and Latin American Studies from University College London (UCL).

Outside of tech, Olivia enjoys volunteering with local charities and learning Norwegian.

Email:: [email protected]

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Supply chain security: a UK defence imperative

Richard Green

A relentless threat landscape

Working with trusted partners

Embedding security for operational resilience

techUK Supply Chain Security Campaign Week 2026

Securing the chain: innovation, accountability and resilience in supply chain security webinar