Cyber Security Tenders and Contracts

Cyber security tenders cover security operations centre monitoring, penetration testing and ethical hacking, vulnerability management and endpoint protection, managed detection and response, Cyber Essentials and Cyber Assessment Framework audits, and staff security awareness training. Buyers range from central government departments and the NHS to police forces, universities and local councils.

The two that turn up most often are 72800000 (Computer audit and testing services) and 72222300 (Information technology services), covering the audit and testing and broad IT-services routes buyers use for cyber security work. 72000000 (IT services: consulting, software development, Internet and support) is broader still, and covers the wider IT-procurement route many cyber security engagements are bought through.

Often, yes. Notices repeatedly reference cyber security frameworks and DPS arrangements running call-offs for SOC monitoring, penetration testing, and Cyber Essentials assessment work, alongside open tenders procured directly by the buyer. Both routes appear, so a search built only around open tenders misses a real slice of the market.

G-Cloud, the Crown Commercial Service's cloud services framework, is a common route for cyber security work such as penetration testing, vulnerability management software and security assurance. Councils, the National Audit Office, UK Health Security Agency and the Department of Health and Social Care have called off from it.

The Government Commercial Agency's cyber security services dynamic purchasing system covers penetration testing, security operations centre monitoring and security operations service management. Buyers such as Defra, the UK Hydrographic Office and UK Research and Innovation have bought through it by mini-competition.

Read digital and technology strategies, licence and contract renewal dates, architecture reviews and early market engagement notices, which show cyber security work coming due ahead of a notice. On Stotles you can track those signals and the buyers behind them, then follow a notice from pre-tender through to award.