How DISP Readiness Lifted Our Business

How DISP Readiness Lifted Our Business

When we first set out to become Defence Industry Security Program (DISP) ready, our goal was compliance - to meet the criteria required for Defence work.

What we didn’t anticipate was just how the process would transform the way we operate as a business. What began as an Australian Government requirement to secure Defence projects has become a new standard for how we work - one that’s lifting standards across every area of our operations.

Each step of the process pushed us to raise the bar: to look more critically at how we manage data, communicate, train, and protect our people and clients.

We’ve now integrated DISP standards into our day-to-day systems - updating policies, training every team member, and embedding new security measures throughout the business.

From our newest apprentice to our directors, everyone understands their role in maintaining best-practice security. DISP training is part of every induction and toolbox meeting, and it’s become second nature to think about how we protect our information, our clients, and each other.

From essential measures such as multi-factor authentication and application whitelisting across all devices, to more advanced security upgrades, we’ve reinforced the business against risk. We even went a step further by introducing personal cyber insurance for every employee, to protect our people beyond the worksite.

These upgrades have not only strengthened our systems, but they’ve also strengthened trust. Clients can see that our governance, cyber discipline, and workforce readiness align with the highest Defence and industry standards.

And it couldn’t be more timely. The past year saw a dramatic surge in cybersecurity incidents around the world, with ransomware attack sat record highs. While the Australian Cyber Security Centre reported over 1,100 cyber incidents affecting local organisations, with the average cost per incident going up 17%.

Cybersecurity isn’t just a Defence issue - it’s a business issue.

The Defence boom that has long been discussed is now on our doortep. With billions in Federal investment - including a $12 billion commitment to Western Australia’s Defence precinct - the opportunities for capable, security-ready contractors are growing rapidly.

For Rigsafe, Defence has the potential to become a significant portion of our business in the coming years. The timing aligns with a highly skilled workforce that’s ready to mobilise, as major infrastructure projects wind down and talent flows toward new Defence work.

Our DISP Readiness sits alongside our Triple ISO Certification (ISO 9001, ISO 45001, ISO 14001) giving us an integrated framework for quality, safety, environmental management, and now, Defence-level security. Together, they reflect the standards we hold ourselves to every day.

As the Defence sector accelerates, Rigsafe is already operating to the standards it demands. More importantly, every person in our business owns a part of that standard.

What we’ve learned through the process of DISP readiness is that meeting the Defence standard isn’t just good for Defence work, it’s good for business. It’s a benchmark we’re proud to uphold across everything we do.