HMGCC Co-Creation Challenge: Managing Cyber-Security Risk Through Network Monitoring

Summary of Challenge

Cybersecurity is key as adversaries continue to exploit public and private sector networks. Network monitors and penetration testing are one layer in this defence.

HMGCC Co-Creation is launching a 12-week challenge to find organisations able to develop a small, low-power, low-cost network monitor to improve observability and allow network packet modification for penetration testing.

HMGCC Co-Creation will provide funding for time, materials, overheads and other indirect expenses for successful applicants.

Context of Challenge

All organisations are aware of cybersecurity risks, with several recent high-profile cases. There are numerous online guidance and resource documents to help organisations protect themselves, notably published by the National Cyber Security Centre.

To protect the UK government against potential risks and new attacks, greater visibility and network testing are required. To enable this, the use of low size and cost network monitors is being explored. These would enable advanced penetration testing capabilities to be used against networks including packet manipulation as well as increasing network visibility.

The Gap

There are some existing tools that can directly monitor network traffic, but these are typically targeted towards large operators and are scaled for much higher network volumes than is needed for this use case, resulting in higher price tags. There is a requirement to develop a low size, weight and power variant, which can operate within small data centres. It should also be low-cost to encourage wider adoption.

The critical technical requirement is a network pass-through (optical or copper) that allows the network to be unaffected by the network monitor, even if the network monitor were to fail in operation.

Dates

• Competition opens: Monday 20 October 2025
• Clarifying questions deadline: Tuesday 4 November 202025
• Briefing Call: Tuesday 4 November 2025 at 10am
• Clarifying questions published: Tuesday 11 November 2025
• Competition closes: Thursday 20 November 2025
• Applicant notified: Wednesday 3 December 2025
• Pitch day in Milton Keynes: Thursday 11 December 2025
• Pitch day outcome: Monday 15 December 2025
• Commercial onboarding begins*: Tuesday 6 January 2025
• Target project kick-off: Mid to late January 2025

*Please note, the successful solution provider will be expected to have availability for a one hour onboarding call via MS Teams on the date specified to begin the onboarding/contractual process.

Clarifying questions or general requests for assistance can be submitted directly to co-creation@dstl.gov.uk and cocreation@hmgcc.gov.uk before the deadline with the challenge title as the subject. These clarifying questions may be technical, procedural, or commercial in subject, or anything else where assistance is required. Please note that answered questions will be published to facilitate a fair and open competition.

Eligibility

This challenge is open to sole innovators, industry, academic and research organisations of all types and sizes. There is no requirement for security clearances.

Solution providers or direct collaboration from countries listed by the UK government under trade sanctions and/or arms embargoes, are not eligible for HMGCC Co-Creation challenges.

How to Apply

Please submit your application on the HMGCC website. Any queries please email Co-Creation@dstl.gov.uk and cocreation@hmgcc.gov.uk.

All information you provide to us as part of your proposal will be handled in confidence.

Applications must be no more than six pages or six slides in length. HMGCC Co-Creation reserve the right to stop reading after 6 pages if this limit is breached. The page/slide limit excludes title pages, references, personnel CVs and organisational profiles.

There is no prescribed application format, however, please ensure your application includes the following:

• Applicant details: Contact name, organisation details, and registration number
• Scope: Describe how the project aligns to the challenge scope
• Innovation: Describe the innovation and technology intended to be delivered in the project, along with new IP that will be generated or existing IP that can be used
• Deliverables: Describe the project outcomes and their impact
• Timescale: Detail how a minimum viable product will be achieved within the project duration
• Budget: Provide project finances against deliverables within the project duration
• Team: Key personnel CVs and expertise, organisational profile if applicable

Challenge Documents

• Full challenge document >>
• Terms and conditions >>