Defence Cyber Certification (DCC) Level 0 Support for MOD Suppliers
Bidding for MOD work, or planning to? Defence Cyber Certification (DCC) Level 0 shows you’ve got the basics in place, without the repeat paperwork of a full assurance process on every tender.
We offer supportive, expert-led guidance to help you understand your DCC requirements and get certified without the hassle.
What Is DCC Level 0?
Defence Cyber Certification (DCC) is the MOD’s cyber security scheme for its supply chain, developed with IASME. It extends your Cyber Essentials certification with defence-specific assurance. Level 0 is the entry point: the baseline level for organisations working on lower-risk MOD contracts, assessed against Def Stan 05-138.
You don’t need an active MOD contract to get certified. Plenty of organisations do it proactively, so they’re ready when an opportunity comes up.
- Reduces repeat paperwork on every MOD bid.
- Gives procurement teams and prime contractors a clear signal of your cyber resilience.
- Puts you ahead of the market, ready before an opportunity needs it.
- Builds directly on your existing Cyber Essentials certification.
Our team includes Cyber Essentials and DCC Level 0 Assessors, with direct defence expertise, trained and licensed by IASME to assess organisations against both the DCC and CE standard.
Want to Know Where You Stand Before You Apply for DCC Level 0?
Speak to a DCC specialist about reviewing your scope, identifying gaps, and getting certified without the guesswork.
Why Equilibrium for DCC Level 0?
Cyber Essentials and DCC, One Team
We’re an existing Cyber Essentials certification body, so your DCC Level 0 work fits straight into what we already do for you, rather than being handed off to a separate provider partway through.
Registered and Listed with IASME
We’re registered and listed as an IASME DCC Level 0 certification body, so you’re working directly with an assessor who’s genuinely part of the scheme, not just someone offering advice around it.
Real Defence Sector Experience
Our assessors bring decades of direct experience in defence, including work on the Trident programme, giving our team a genuine understanding of what MOD suppliers are actually being assessed against.
Honest Guidance Before You Commit
We’ll give you a straight answer on your readiness before you commit to a formal assessment, so you know exactly where you stand rather than finding out partway through.
Cyber Essentials and DCC: Why They Need to Line Up
DCC Level 0 isn’t standalone, you need a valid Cyber Essentials certificate first, and its scope has to line up with your DCC scope. Get that wrong and you can fail DCC even with a perfectly good Cyber Essentials certificate sitting behind it.
We handle both together, so your scope is designed right from day one instead of getting untangled after a failed assessment.
- Cyber Essentials and DCC scope reviewed as one piece of work, not two
- Less risk of an avoidable fail
- One team, one process, no repeated explaining
How It Works
Four steps, from start to certificate.
- Step One Confirm Cyber Essentials: you'll need a valid certificate first, or we can sort both together
- Step Two Align your scope: we make sure your DCC scope matches your Cyber Essentials scope, so nothing trips you up later
- Step Three Assessment: we assess you against the Def Stan 05-138 controls for Level 0
- Step Four Certified: you're issued your certificate and listed on the IASME registry
Hear From Our Customers
What stood out most was the clarity of information and the team’s clear, straightforward communication throughout the process. Equilibrium has given us greater confidence in our business continuity, and we would absolutely recommend them to others seeking Cyber Security services. They made the entire process simple, and their findings were clearly and effectively communicated.
Ryan Ginty
Managing Director, Auger Torque
Frequently Asked Questions
The entry level of the MOD’s Defence Cyber Certification scheme, for organisations on lower-risk contracts. Built on Cyber Essentials, assessed against Def Stan 05-138.
Yes, it’s a prerequisite, and the scope has to match your DCC scope. This is the single biggest reason organisations fail DCC, so it’s worth getting right from the start.
Not currently, though the MOD has asked suppliers to work towards it.
Not yet, we currently support Level 0. We’ll update this page as that changes.
The MOD, based on the risk profile of the contract. You don’t have to go through Level 0 and 1 first if your contract needs a higher level.
Just 3, compared to 101 at Level 1. It’s a much lighter lift than people expect, most organisations already meet more of it than they realise.
For bids at or below your certified level, yes, largely. One DCC Level 0 certificate is designed to stand in for repeat contract-by-contract paperwork, though individual contracts may still ask for specific details beyond DCC.
Cost varies depending on your starting point and the scope of support needed. We provide clear, scoped proposals so you understand exactly what is involved before committing. Get in touch to request a quote.