In recent months, an increasing number of companies working within the Defence Industry have begun quietly removing their profiles and listings from public catalogues and databases. What was once a showcase of capability and collaboration has become, for many, a potential liability. The reasons behind this shift are complex, but they reflect a growing anxiety about safety, privacy, and digital security in an age of activism and defence industry business threats.

Rising Fears of Public Exposure 

For years, open industry catalogues and databases were heralded as a way to increase transparency and competition in government contracting. Companies could register, advertise their capabilities, and connect directly with Defence buyers and prime contractors. However, as the geopolitical climate intensifies and defence-related issues draw public scrutiny, visibility is no longer seen as an advantage… it’s a risk.

Defence suppliers are reporting a growing fear of being targeted by protestors, activists, or even cyber criminals who oppose the military sector. The rise of online activism means that a simple public listing revealing a company’s involvement in Defence can make it a target for social media campaigns, online harassment, or worse. For small and medium enterprises that lack dedicated security or communications teams, the potential consequences can be devastating.

Defence Industry Business Threats are on the Rise 

The Defence Industry has long been a high-value target for defence industry business threats and data breaches. But the risk profile has expanded beyond the military itself – the entire supply chain is now under threat. Every contractor, subcontractor, and supplier represents a potential entry point into sensitive systems.

Publicly accessible procurement listings can inadvertently make it easier for malicious actors to identify targets, map out relationships, and exploit vulnerabilities. Hackers don’t need to break into top-secret systems if they can compromise a small engineering firm that provides components or data feeds. The shift away from public listings is, therefore, not just about privacy – it’s a matter of national security.

Balancing Transparency with Security 

Governments and large defence organisations now face a difficult balancing act. Transparency remains vital to ensuring fairness and competition in contracting, but full public exposure is increasingly incompatible with modern security threats. As a result, many organisations are moving toward controlled-access environments where sensitive information is protected, and participation is verified.

At BenchOn, we’ve seen this trend firsthand. Companies want the benefits of digital procurement – efficiency, matching, and visibility to the right buyers – without the risks of public exposure. That’s why secure, invitation-only platforms are becoming the new norm. In these systems, company data remains private, only visible to verified and approved partners, rather than the general public.

A Call for Smarter Protection

The Defence Industry’s withdrawal from open portals should not be mistaken for secrecy – it’s a call for smarter, safer ways to connect. As threats evolve, so must the systems that support collaboration. Protecting industry partners is not only good business; it’s essential to national resilience.

In this new era, companies shouldn’t have to choose between opportunity and safety. With the right technology and governance, they can, and must, have both.

FAQs about Defence Industry Business Threats

Q1: What are defence industry business threats?   

Defence industry business threats refer to the increasing commercial and reputational risks faced by Defence suppliers, contractors, and SMEs when their information is made public through catalogues or listings. These risks include unauthorised data use, targeting by activist groups, and exposure of sensitive commercial relationships.

In Australia, the Department of Defence recommends companies limit unnecessary exposure by using verified systems and following the Defence Industry Security Program (DISP) requirements.

Q2: Why are defence industry companies leaving public catalogues?   

Many defence industry companies leaving public catalogues are adapting to heightened national and commercial risks. Instead of relying on open exposure, they are shifting to verified and invitation-only defence sourcing platforms that connect approved buyers and suppliers while protecting sensitive business details.

BenchOn supports this transition through secure, private systems that maintain visibility with genuine Defence buyers without public exposure.

Q3: How can SMEs in the defence sector protect their business information?  

For the Australian SME Defence Industry, best practice is to minimise public disclosure and use secure systems that restrict visibility to verified procurement contacts. BenchOn provides platforms that support this approach, allowing SMEs to manage relationships and opportunities within a trusted network.

This approach helps reduce defence supplier visibility risk while maintaining strong links to government and industry partners.

Q4: What role does BenchOn play in supporting Australian defence supply-chain confidentiality?  

BenchOn supports Australian defence supply-chain confidentiality by providing invitation-only systems where suppliers and Defence buyers can collaborate securely. Its platform protects company data, prevents unauthorised access, and enables efficient capability matching across the Defence ecosystem.

This approach complements Australia’s national resilience frameworks and supports Defence priorities by helping businesses stay both connected and protected.

Connect with BenchOn

Contact BenchOn if you would like to discuss how your business can protect your supply chain while also providing efficient and comprehensive access to capability from thousands of suppliers.