Software, a critical capability in defence

Defence is often pictured through its physical equipment, yet a decisive part of the sector now rests on software, systems integration, data and the experience of the people using it in the field. That shifts where the risk sits, since a system's value depends directly on the quality of its software design and on its ability to be deployed and used in real conditions.

This also explains the growing place of expertise from other sectors in this field. In defence, dual-use usually refers to a civilian technology repurposed for military use, and the same logic applies to know-how, since interface design, software architecture, cybersecurity and complex systems integration are all directly applicable capabilities, provided they are delivered to defence's level of demand.

Software skills from the commercial sector have their place in defence

In defence, a software's quality can matter as much as its features, particularly its reliability and ease of use in the field. The skills that make this possible, such as UX/UI design, mobile development and security management, were often developed in the commercial sector before finding their use in defence.

The NORTAC Orion application, built for Nortac Defence, is a concrete example, since it turns a smartphone into a tracking, encrypted-messaging and emergency-alert system that works even offline. The project brought together requirements typical of defence, namely communications security, offline reliability and near-real-time performance, met with mobile expertise from the commercial sector.

In this market, relationships and knowledge of the ecosystem matter as much as technical expertise, since they shape access to opportunities and shorten often lengthy cycles. It is a space built over time, through industry gatherings and relationships with prime contractors, where Spiria has been active for several years, notably through CADSI.

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What delivering in defence really demands

Beyond technical skill, this market adds a layer of requirements a company has to fully absorb, because protecting sensitive information reshapes how software is designed, hosted and delivered. On the cybersecurity side, a mature software company already applies most of the expected standards, such as SOC 2 or the CPCSC that is gradually working its way into defence contracts.

The most often underestimated factor sits on the physical security side, since access to premises, permitted devices, the work environment and even the network can all be controlled. These requirements take time and investment, and a credible partner anticipates them rather than having to build that capability under pressure once a mandate has been awarded.

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Certifications, explained simply

Certification requirements are another source of complexity, because people often assume there is a single, universal accreditation that would open every door. The reality is more nuanced, since requirements depend on the mandate and the information involved, and three main mechanisms coexist in Canada. The point is twofold, to understand what a mandate may require, then to verify what a partner actually holds.

• Controlled Goods Program (CGP): it governs examining, possessing or transferring controlled goods and technologies, and becomes necessary when a mandate involves such goods or tender documents that contain them.
  

• Security clearances (Contract Security Program): they grant access to protected or classified information, assets or sites, depending on the level the contract requires, from Reliability Status up to Top Secret.
  

• CPCSC (Canadian Program for Cyber Security Certification): it attests that cybersecurity controls match the contract's risk, and it is gradually appearing in defence tenders, with a level 1 in force since 2026.

Above all, keep in mind that these mechanisms are distinct and that a single mandate may call for one, several or none. A good partner helps you open the right doors at the right time, those that match the type of mandate in view, rather than piling up accreditations unrelated to your needs.

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What distinguishes a credible supplier in defence

If you are assessing a partner for a software project in a defence environment, a few concrete criteria quickly tell a credible supplier apart.

• Real experience in a critical or regulated context. Which comparable projects have been delivered, and with what results?

• Demonstrable cybersecurity maturity. Can the supplier provide a current attestation, for example SOC 2 Type 2, and its evidence of controls?
  

• The ability to add the right controls for the mandate. How does it adapt the CGP, security clearances and the CPCSC to the contract's risk?
  

• A command of physical security and field constraints. How does it protect sensitive information in its premises and work environments?
  

• A real presence in the defence ecosystem. Is it active and recognized among the sector's prime contractors and buyers?

These criteria hold as much for a defence project as for any other critical environment, which is also why expertise proven in one sector often transfers to another. One principle sums up entering this market well, namely that certifications can make you eligible, while relationships make you visible.

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In summary

Entering a defence project is prepared with method rather than with a race for accreditations. Requirements vary by mandate, cybersecurity and physical security alike are verified through concrete evidence, and knowledge of the ecosystem weighs as much as certifications. The essence comes down to a simple idea: assess a supplier on its real experience and its ability to prove its controls and add the right ones at the right time, rather than on the number of its accreditations.

If you are preparing a software project in a demanding environment and looking for a partner able to deliver at that level, let's talk.