Press Release ·
All members of the Velocity Interoperability Network will take part in a readiness exercise later this year to test the continuity of shared services under simulated disruption.
Latest news
All news- Department Publishes Readiness Reporting Categories
Members will assign one of five readiness categories to each registered system every quarter, giving the Department a continuous view of the Network's resilience between exercises.
- Members Invited to Register Shared Network Infrastructure
Registration of the systems members operate on behalf of the Network opens today, with Tier 1 systems to be registered by 31 October 2026.
- Incident Reporting Arrangements for Network Members Take Effect
Members must now report significant security incidents affecting shared Network infrastructure to the Department within 24 hours.
About the Department
The Defence Department of the Velocity Interoperability Network is responsible for the security and resilience of the Velocity Interoperability Network and for the protection of its members and infrastructure.
The Department sets the standards members apply when protecting shared systems, coordinates the response to incidents that affect more than one member, and tests the Network's readiness through regular exercises and quarterly readiness reporting.
Guidance for members
Guidance
Network Defence FrameworkHow shared infrastructure is classified and the principles members apply when protecting it.
Guidance
Report an incidentWhat members must report, within what time, and what happens after a report is received.
Guidance
Readiness exercisesHow the Department tests the Network's ability to keep shared services running under disruption.
The Department in figures
History- 3
- Criticality tiers for shared Network infrastructure
- 24 h
- Deadline for members to report a significant incident
- 5
- Readiness categories assigned in each quarterly return
- Q4 2026
- First Network-wide readiness exercise
Readiness reporting
Between exercises, every member assigns one of five readiness categories, R0 to R4, to each system it has registered with the Department and submits the result each quarter as a readiness return.
The first return, covering Tier 1 systems at 31 October 2026, is due by 30 November 2026. A system assessed as not ready is notified to the Department within five working days.
Registers and returns
- Register infrastructure
Register the systems you operate on behalf of the Network. Tier 1 systems by 31 October 2026.
- Readiness reporting
The five readiness categories, the reporting periods and how to submit a quarterly readiness return.
- Security advisories
Advisory levels, the register of advisories issued and what to do on receipt of one.
- Glossary
The terms used in the framework, guidance, returns and advisories, each in its fixed sense.