DISA
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1963
- HeadquartersHanley Swan, United Kingdom
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What DISA does
DISA (legal name: DISA Ltd; formerly The Defence Industry Security Association) is a UK-based professional membership association founded in 1963 and headquartered at Hanley Swan, Worcestershire. It serves individuals and organisations working with His Majesty's Government, the Ministry of Defence, their subcontractors, and UK Critical National Infrastructure (CNI) operators who are responsible for implementing UK Government security requirements or handling classified material. Membership is held by individuals, is non-transferable, and is open to any person employed by a company, organisation, or non-decision-making Government department that contributes to UK Government or CNI security requirements.
DISA's core offering sits on three pillars: Training, Government Liaison, and Network & Community. The Training pillar delivers specialist, City & Guilds-assured face-to-face courses tutored by industry specialists, covering Personnel Security, Security Vetting, IT & Cyber Security, the Role of the Facility Security Controller, and Document Handling. Courses are delivered at Puckrup Hall Hotel, Tewkesbury, capped at 30 delegates per course to encourage networking. The Government Liaison pillar provides a structured channel for industry feedback into HM Government security policy. The Network & Community pillar runs virtual and face-to-face seminars with Government and industry speakers, regular news updates, and an annual conference.
The business model is a hybrid of recurring individual membership fees (annual subscription) and one-time training course fees, with optional in-house training for organisations with multiple delegates. Distribution is direct: applications via the website, course bookings through the DISA Administration Office, and engagement through email and the CRM-backed members portal (sheepcrm.com). DISA operates with a lean team of approximately 10 employees, has no disclosed parent company, no external equity backing, and is registered as a private limited company in the United Kingdom.
DISA firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- DISA
- Legal name
- DISA Ltd
- Website
- https://thedisa.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1963
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
DISA industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Defence and Security Professional Training and Membership Services
- NAICS
- Professional Organizations (81392)
- SIC
- Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Educational Services (8200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Security Sector Reform (SSR) & Defense Institution Building (BPADAFAE)
Keywords
Where DISA is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Hanley Swan
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
DISA business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others
Revenue model
- Membership Fees: Individual membership fees for professionals operating within the defence and security sectors. Membership is specific to individuals and cannot be transferred or corporate.
- Training Course Fees: Fees charged for specialist training courses including IT & Cyber Security, Security Vetting, and Facility Security Controller courses. In-house training options may be available for organisations.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Annual | Individual membership with access to training, government liaison, and professional network |
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels4 records
DISA product offering
Product offeringCore offering
DISA is a UK professional membership association that provides specialist training on HM Government security guidance and policy for the defence and security industry, alongside structured government liaison and professional networking. It sells individual annual memberships and fee-paying training courses covering Personnel Security, Security Vetting, IT & Cyber Security, the Role of the Facility Security Controller, and Document Handling. Training is delivered face-to-face by industry specialists and assured by City & Guilds.
Product overview
DISA (formerly The Defence Industry Security Association) is a professional membership association that provides a unified platform for professionals in the defence and security sectors in collaboration with HM Government and its agencies. The organisation offers specialist training courses (Personnel Security, Security Vetting, IT & Cyber Security, Facility Security Controller, Document Handling), government liaison services, and professional networking opportunities. The training is assured by City & Guilds and delivered in face-to-face environments by industry specialists.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- IT and Cyber Security Course
Companies that use DISA
Customer profileNamed customers2 records
Segments2 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
DISA technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
DISA partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators1 record
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights4 records
DISA competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- ADS Group: UK aerospace, defence, security and space trade association representing industry to Government. Directly comparable to DISA as a UK defence/security membership body with a Government liaison remit, though broader in scope (aerospace, space, maritime).
- The Risk Management Institution (RMI): UK professional body for risk management practitioners, with membership, training, and standards-setting functions. Comparable as a UK professional membership association delivering training and engaging with industry on standards, adjacent to DISA's defence-security remit.
- Defence Manufacturers Association: UK trade association representing defence manufacturers. Comparable as a UK defence industry membership body engaging with Government on procurement and policy, though oriented to manufacturers rather than security professionals.
- Chartered Institute of Information Security: UK-based professional membership body for information and cyber security practitioners, offering chartered status and continuous professional development. Comparable as a UK security professional association with membership, training, and Government engagement functions overlapping DISA's IT & Cyber Security course offering.
- Security Institute: UK professional membership body for security practitioners, offering chartered registration and professional development. Closely comparable to DISA as a UK security-focused professional association serving individuals working in defence, security, and resilience roles.
- Make UK Defence: The defence division of Make UK, supporting UK defence manufacturers with policy, training, and Government engagement. Directly comparable in mission and structure as a UK defence industry association with training and policy liaison functions.
Broad incumbents
- techUK: UK trade association for the technology sector, with a defence and national security programme. Comparable as a UK industry association engaging Government on policy, though operating across all of tech rather than defence/security specifically.
- ASIS International: Global professional association for security management practitioners, offering certifications (CPP, PSP, PCI), training, and chapters worldwide. Comparable as a security professional membership body, but operates globally and at much larger scale with broader security management scope.
Regional players
- International Association of Security and Investigative Regulators: International body of security regulators and associated professionals. Comparable in subject matter (security industry standards and professionalisation) but operating globally across regulators rather than as a UK national defence-industry membership body.
Emerging players
- Resilience First: UK-based cross-sector membership network focused on organisational resilience, including security, cyber, and business continuity. Comparable as a UK resilience/security networking body serving CNI-adjacent organisations, though with a broader resilience remit than DISA's defence-security focus.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights5 records
Customer concentration
DISA social profiles
Digital presenceDISA financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
DISA leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
DISA funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
DISA M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about DISA
What does DISA do?
DISA is a UK professional membership association that provides specialist training on HM Government security guidance and policy for the defence and security industry, alongside structured government liaison and professional networking. It sells individual annual memberships and fee-paying training courses covering Personnel Security, Security Vetting, IT & Cyber Security, the Role of the Facility Security Controller, and Document Handling. Training is delivered face-to-face by industry specialists and assured by City & Guilds.
Is DISA a public or private company?
DISA is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was DISA founded?
DISA was founded in 1963. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is DISA based?
DISA is headquartered in Hanley Swan, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does DISA make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Membership Fees are the primary driver. The others are training Course Fees.
Who are DISA's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are ADS Group, The Risk Management Institution (RMI), Defence Manufacturers Association, Chartered Institute of Information Security, Security Institute and Make UK Defence. Broad incumbents are techUK and ASIS International. International Association of Security and Investigative Regulators is listed as a regional player. Resilience First is listed as an emerging player.
Does DISA have an API?
No public API is recorded for DISA.
What industry is DISA in?
DISA's product category is Defence and Security Professional Training and Membership Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPADAFAE, Security Sector Reform (SSR) & Defense Institution Building. Its NAICS code is 81392 and its SIC code is 8600.