The ADS Security and Resilience Team supports members with their business development at home and internationally, providing assistance around government stakeholder engagement and input into a wide range of security-related government policies and initiatives. We help members to navigate a security and resilience landscape that is characterized by complexity and a diverse mix of organisations, including (amongst others): government departments, law enforcement and other security agencies, first responders, critical infrastructure operators, wider business sectors, academic institutions, think tanks and trade associations.
To help members in this sector, ADS aims to identify opportunities for them to ensure ‘resilience’, both in the UK and internationally, which in essence means increasing the capability of any country to predict, prepare for, respond to and recover from a wide range of threats, risks and civil emergencies. Materials such as our programme guide and a paper on how we define resilience are available in the Members Area.
Through its work, ADS provides members with:
ADS facilitates access to decision-makers and customers at home and internationally, fostering our members’ ability to develop partnerships across the security and resilience landscape.
Through these comprehensive services and activities, we’re embedding our members at the heart of a thriving sector that has seen turnover increase by 176% since 2024.
Find out more in our latest brochure.
AI is transforming security, both as a defensive tool and an enabler of new threats. Cybercriminals are increasingly using AI to automate attacks, manipulate digital identities, and conduct large-scale fraud. Deepfake technology is already being used to target businesses and individuals, posing a rising threat to both political stability and commercial security.
The Cyber Security and Resilience Bill will place greater obligations on companies to safeguard digital infrastructure. Businesses should prioritise investment in AI-driven cybersecurity, with security requirements linked to deepfake detection and biometric identity systems: providing opportunity for industry alongside a need to keep pace with evolving threats.
The nature of crime is changing. Violent crime rates have declined but theft, fraud, and organised retail crime are on the rise. New security solutions, such as electronic article surveillance and biometric authentication, are essential to tackling these challenges. Policing continues to grapple with the challenges and opportunities of managing ever larger sets of data.
The introduction of Martyn’s Law in the UK will require organisations to strengthen protective security in public spaces, generating demand for security tech, crowd monitoring systems, and risk assessment tools.
Counter-terrorism policy is undergoing a strategic refresh with the Government expected to take a more proactive approach, leading to greater investment in surveillance and behavioural analytics. This Government also has a mission to deliver Safer Streets and tackle violence against women and girls (VAWG), which will shape future investment.
The UK continues to reassess its approach to national resilience, which will shape policy in areas such as disaster response and infrastructure resilience, meaning a drive in industrial capabilities that support crisis response, including surveillance, communications, and protective equipment.
The Strategic Security Review will define key priorities for UK security in the years ahead. However, for industry, uncertainty remains over whether this will translate into tangible opportunities.
Security and defence companies are set to have a greater role in the UK’s economic and foreign policy, particularly in response to geopolitical instability. A potential UK-EU defence and security pact should open new opportunities for industry, particularly in cybersecurity, border security, and intelligence cooperation.
Economic security has moved up the political agenda, with greater scrutiny on foreign investment in sensitive sectors and an increased focus on supply chain resilience.
The UK-US relationship and Five Eyes alliance remain critical to defence and security partnerships but concerns over China’s cyber capabilities and influence in global supply chains are likely to shape future policy.
The UK’s 100-year partnership with Ukraine, aimed at supporting reconstruction and security cooperation, presents opportunities for UK businesses in defence, infrastructure, and border security.
ADS operates the following Special Interest Groups to support the UK security industry’s activities:
ADS runs a number of dedicated Boards and Committees for members which are focused on the strategic planning and operational delivery relating to topics of importance for the Sectors.
The ADS Security and Resilience Team works closely with our in-house Policy Team, within which dedicated policy advisers for the sectors we represent work to shape the political, economic and business environment within which our members operate. ADS is founding member and strong supporter of the work of the UK Security and Resilience Industry Suppliers’ Community (RISC), for which we provide secretariat support and through which we work with partners to advance our members’ objectives within the policy environment.
We facilitate the showcasing of security capabilities by co-ordinating UK Pavilions at key global Security exhibitions. Many of these are hosted in partnership with the UK Government.
ADS organise the annual Home Office Security and Policing event together with a series of Public Security Exhibitions throughout the year.
We also host topical monthly Member briefings cover key domestic and international security related programmes and initiatives.
Contact us to find out more about any of the areas that you may be interested in.