Reflections from Defence Security Resilience Cymru

A couple weeks ago, I was joined by our Cyber Security Consultant Noah Callaghan at Defence Security and Resilience Cymru (DSRC), Wales’ first defence and security conference focused on bringing together representatives from across government, industry, academia and the armed forces for discussions on the future of defence and security in Wales.

There were a number of key topics that came up throughout the day, including the Defence Investment Plan, procurement reform and policy, and SME collaboration – something close to our hearts – but one theme that was discussed repeatedly was that we cannot continue to work in silos. Throughout the day, whether the topic was cyber security, manufacturing, a need for skills and adapting to new technologies, the speakers repeatedly highlighted the need for greater collaboration among industry, academia and government organisations to build resilience.

ADS, one of main sponsors of the event, recently submitted to the House of Commons Welsh Affairs Committee inquiry into Wales’ Role in Defending the UK. Their submission reflects much of what was felt at DSRC, particularly the importance of partnership, regional clusters and stronger SME engagement in supporting UK security. Some particular challenges they’ve identified in the UK defence and security space include things like skills shortages, cyber capability gaps, AI expertise and barriers to SME engagement, and highlights the need for stronger partnerships between governments, academic institutions and industry. While Wales already plays a strategic role in certain areas (cyber security, manufacturing, autonomous systems, test and evaluation), ADS rightly highlight that future initiatives like the Wales Defence Growth Deal and regional activity that we’re seeing, such as the DSRC and the Wales Defence and Security Cluster, further strengthen Wales’ contribution to UK resilience.

Not surprisingly for a defence and security conference, there was a lot of discussion around being in the grey area between conflict and peace. Cyber threats and supply chain disruptions are no longer hypothetical but form a part of day-to-day operations. The tone at times felt challenging, and references to the UK’s readiness for both physical and cyber threats was a repeated concern. However, the conversations throughout the day demonstrated a strong recognition that resilience must become a collaborative whole-of-society effort.

Ultimately one of the most encouraging aspects of the conference was the range of organisations represented across Wales. Major defence primes, public sector and government organisations, and a selection of fantastic Walsh universities and SMEs were represented on the exhibition floor. Wales is already recognised for its strength in cyber, manufacturing and aerospace, and there is a growing momentum around the opportunities presented by the Wales Defence Growth Deal.  

The event was made even more special for us by being shortlisted for the conference’s Outstanding Contribution to National Resilience Award. While we didn’t take home the trophy it was fantastic to be nominated alongside organisations making such an important contribution to Wales’ resilience ecosystem.