If your organisation handles government information, operates under a government contract, or provides services to a public sector body, you are likely subject to the HMG Security Policy Framework — whether or not you are fully aware of it. Our SC Cleared security services page outlines how Veritech supports compliance for organisations in these environments. Understanding what the framework requires, and how SC clearance fits within it, is essential for anyone responsible for security procurement or compliance.
The HMG Security Policy Framework — now updated and replaced by the Government Functional Standard GovS 007: Security, published by the Cabinet Office — is the mandatory security policy framework that applies to all UK government departments, their arm’s-length bodies, and any organisations that handle government assets — including information, systems, and physical premises — under contract.
The framework is published by the Cabinet Office and administered through the Government Security Group. It sets out the minimum security standards that organisations must meet across personnel security, physical security, information security, and cyber security. Non-compliance is not a technicality — it is a breach of the terms under which government contracts are awarded and maintained.
The framework operates within the Government Security Classification (GSC) system, which defines three tiers of information sensitivity:
The classification of information on a site determines the clearance level required for anyone with access — including security personnel. A site that holds or processes SECRET material requires SC cleared security officers wherever those officers could encounter that material, directly or indirectly.
The framework’s personnel security requirements are built on a principle of proportionality: the level of vetting applied to an individual should be proportionate to the sensitivity of the material, systems, or areas they can access.
For security officers, this creates a clear obligation. A guard patrolling a building that contains SECRET material, or managing access to a controlled area, is not in a lower-risk category simply because their primary role is physical security rather than information handling. Their access makes them a personnel security risk, and the framework requires that this risk be managed through appropriate vetting.
The specific requirement is clear: individuals with regular, unsupervised access to SECRET assets must hold SC clearance. This applies to directly employed staff and to contracted personnel — including security officers provided by a third-party security company.
This is the point where many organisations get caught out. The framework’s requirements flow down through contracts. When a government department awards a contract for security services, it is required to include personnel security obligations in that contract — and the contractor is required to comply with them.
This means the obligation sits not just with the government department, but with the security provider it appoints. A security company that cannot provide SC cleared personnel for a SECRET-level environment is not compliant with the framework, regardless of any other credentials or accreditations it holds.
For organisations further down the supply chain — a facilities management company contracted to manage a government building, or a principal contractor on a government construction site — the obligation is the same. The framework flows to all personnel with access to classified areas, regardless of their employer.
Each government department appoints a Departmental Security Officer (DSO) who is responsible for implementing the framework within that organisation. The DSO’s responsibilities include overseeing personnel security for both directly employed staff and contractors, setting minimum vetting requirements for contracts, reviewing and approving security arrangements for sensitive sites, and managing escalations where breaches or non-compliance are identified.
If you are procuring security services for a government-adjacent environment, the DSO (or their equivalent in your organisation’s security structure) should be involved in defining the vetting requirements for your security specification.
The consequences of non-compliance range from formal remediation requirements through to contract termination. For organisations subject to audit — either by their contracting authority or by the Government Internal Audit Agency — gaps in personnel security provision are a material finding.
Beyond formal consequences, a breach creates practical liability. If a security incident occurs at a site where vetting obligations were not met, the absence of appropriate clearance becomes a significant factor in any subsequent investigation or legal proceedings.
GovS 007: Security is a living document, updated periodically by the Cabinet Office. Recent years have seen increasing integration with cyber security requirements, updated guidance on contractor obligations, and changes to how classification levels are applied to legacy information holdings.
Organisations with ongoing security obligations under government contracts should ensure they are working from the current version of the standard, and that their security provider is familiar with its requirements. A provider that references outdated guidance — or that isn’t aware of the framework at all — is not adequately equipped to advise on compliant provision.
Veritech Security works with government departments, defence contractors, infrastructure operators, and sensitive commercial organisations across the UK to provide SC Cleared security officers for environments where standard vetting isn’t enough.
Our SC Cleared security services include:
We hold SIA Approved Contractor status alongside BS7858:2019 compliant vetting, and employ SC Cleared officers available for immediate deployment — the credentials that government and defence procurement managers need to see.
If you have an SC Cleared security requirement, speak to Veritech today.
Call: 0800 799 9800 (available 24/7) Email: info@veritech-security.com Or request a consultation online
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