Through-Life Security Support Challenge
Challenge Summary
How do we support ‘Secure by Design’ through the entire operational life of defence capabilities?
Many defence platforms are long running. Their engineering can take years, with some capabilities remaining operational for several decades, sometimes beyond the initial planned obsolescence date. The rationale that underpins design decisions may rely on assumptions which may be forgotten with the passage of time, the drive for innovation, changes to operating environments, and a new generation of engineers.
‘Secure by Design’ approaches need to be sustained as long as the capabilities they support—potentially spanning multiple generations of personnel, technology, and threats.
Problem Context
Defence capabilities operate in a unique environment where systems designed today may remain in service for 30-50 years. During this extended lifecycle, threat landscapes evolve, coalition partnerships change, technology advances, and operational environments shift dramatically. Maintaining security posture across such timescales requires fundamentally new approaches to through-life support.
Current Challenges
- Design Rationale Loss: Security decisions and assumptions forgotten over time
- Technology Evolution: Original security measures become obsolete
- Personnel Turnover: Loss of institutional knowledge across generations
- Threat Evolution: New attack vectors not considered in original design
- Coalition Dynamics: Changing partnership requirements and security frameworks
- Operational Tempo: High-tempo operations requiring rapid security adaptations
Scale of Impact
- £150M+ annual value through improved through-life security management
- 300+ legacy platforms requiring enhanced security support
- Multi-decade timescales spanning 30-50 year capability lifecycles
- International coalition security and interoperability benefits
- Critical infrastructure protection across operational environments
Challenge Requirements
We are seeking innovative solutions that address one or more of the following sub-challenges:
1. Continuous Risk Management
Challenge: Automate continuous security monitoring and risk assessment across operational lifecycles
Requirements:
- Real-time capability monitoring and security assessment
- Automated threat intelligence integration
- Predictive security risk modeling
- Dynamic risk threshold management
- Integration with operational decision-making processes
Success Metrics:
- 95% automation of routine security assessments
- Real-time threat response within 15 minutes
- 80% improvement in security incident prediction accuracy
- Continuous risk visibility for 100% of critical capabilities
2. Coalition Partner Interoperability
Challenge: Enable secure interoperability with coalition partners while maintaining security posture
Requirements:
- Dynamic coalition security framework adaptation
- Real-time security posture sharing between partners
- Automated security policy negotiation and enforcement
- Multi-national security standard reconciliation
- Cross-border secure capability integration
Success Metrics:
- Seamless integration with 20+ coalition partners
- 90% reduction in security integration time for new partners
- Real-time security posture visibility across coalition operations
- Zero security incidents due to coalition interoperability
3. Security Research Ecosystem Development
Challenge: Build and sustain long-term research capability for evolving security challenges
Requirements:
- Academic and industry research partnership frameworks
- Long-term research funding and sustainability models
- Knowledge transfer mechanisms from research to operations
- International research collaboration protocols
- Innovation pipeline from research to deployed capabilities
Success Metrics:
- 50+ active research partnerships with leading institutions
- £20M+ annual research investment sustainability
- 5+ breakthrough security technologies deployed annually
- International research leadership in defence security
Proposed Solution Characteristics
Successful solutions should demonstrate:
- Longevity: Viable and maintainable across multi-decade timescales
- Adaptability: Capable of evolving with changing threats and environments
- Automation: Minimal human intervention for routine security operations
- Scalability: Applicable across hundreds of diverse capabilities
- Resilience: Continued operation under various operational constraints
- Interoperability: Compatible with diverse coalition partner systems
Technical Approaches of Interest
We are particularly interested in solutions incorporating:
- AI/ML for Security: Automated threat detection and response systems
- Digital Twins: Continuous virtual modeling of security posture
- Blockchain/DLT: Immutable security audit trails and decision records
- Quantum Technologies: Next-generation cryptography and communication security
- IoT/Edge Computing: Distributed security monitoring and response
- Advanced Analytics: Predictive security modeling and risk assessment
- Autonomous Systems: Self-healing and self-adapting security frameworks
Response Guidelines
Phase 1: Vision and Roadmap (Due: June 30, 2025)
- Long-term vision for through-life security support (10 pages maximum)
- Technology roadmap spanning 20+ year timescales
- Sustainability model for long-term development and support
- International collaboration strategy and framework
- Risk assessment and mitigation strategies
Phase 2: Demonstrator Development (Selected proposals)
- Working demonstrators showing key technological breakthroughs
- Long-term research plan with academic and industry partnerships
- Coalition integration strategy and prototype implementations
- Sustainability business case with funding and support models
- International campaign development for multi-national adoption
Support Available
MOD will provide selected solution providers with:
- Long-term partnerships spanning multiple years of development
- International engagement with key coalition partners and allies
- Operational data access from current through-life programmes
- Research collaboration with leading academic institutions
- Classified capability access for testing and validation
- Policy development support for new through-life security frameworks
- Funding pathways for sustained long-term development
Success Stories
Examples of innovative through-life security approaches:
- Predictive Security Platforms: AI-driven systems anticipating security needs
- Coalition Security Frameworks: Automated interoperability with allies
- Continuous Monitoring Systems: Real-time security posture assessment
- Research Ecosystems: Sustained academic-industry-government partnerships
Implementation Strategy
Successful solutions will be implemented through a comprehensive long-term strategy:
Phase A: Foundation Building (Years 1-2)
- Core technology development and validation
- Initial partnership establishment
- Pilot programme implementation
- International collaboration framework development
Phase B: Scaled Deployment (Years 3-5)
- Major capability integration and testing
- Coalition partner integration and validation
- Research ecosystem establishment and growth
- Policy and doctrine development
Phase C: Full Operational Capability (Years 6-10)
- MOD-wide deployment across all major capabilities
- International standard establishment and adoption
- Sustained research and development pipeline
- Next-generation technology development initiation
Phase D: Sustained Excellence (Years 10+)
- Continuous innovation and adaptation
- International leadership in through-life security
- Knowledge transfer to next generation of practitioners
- Evolution to address emerging long-term challenges
Evaluation Criteria
Proposals will be assessed on:
- Vision and Innovation (30%): Breakthrough approaches to fundamental challenges
- Long-term Viability (25%): Sustainability across multi-decade timescales
- International Impact (20%): Potential for coalition and global adoption
- Technical Excellence (15%): Demonstrated technological superiority
- Ecosystem Building (10%): Ability to create and sustain research communities
International Collaboration
This challenge explicitly encourages international collaboration:
- Five Eyes Partners: Enhanced security cooperation frameworks
- NATO Allies: Standardized through-life security approaches
- EU Partners: Joint research and development initiatives
- Academic Networks: Global university collaboration programmes
- Industry Partnerships: Multi-national defence industry cooperation
Related Challenges
This challenge connects with other MOD ‘Secure by Design’ initiatives:
Contact Information
Challenge Lead: Rear Admiral Patricia Hughes
Email: through.life.security@mod.gov.uk
Phone: 020 7218 4300
International Collaboration: Dr. Michael Zhang
Email: international.security@mod.gov.uk
Research Partnerships: Prof. Jennifer Park
Email: research.partnerships@mod.gov.uk
Coalition Integration: Group Captain Sarah O’Connor
Email: coalition.security@mod.gov.uk
Strategic Engagement
- Annual through-life security summit: Major international conference
- Quarterly research reviews: Academic and industry partnership assessments
- Monthly coalition sessions: International partner coordination meetings
- Continuous stakeholder engagement: Ongoing dialogue with key partners
This challenge represents the most ambitious aspect of the Secure by Design Problem Book, addressing security sustainability across the longest operational timescales in defence.