CIS Hardening – Boring, Repetitive, but Absolutely Worth It
Let’s face it — system hardening isn’t glamorous.It’s not as exciting as catching a
Welcome to Perennial Consultancy
Pass Your SSCT & SSAT
Secure Project Acceptance
Navigate Mandatory Cybersecurity Requirements for DSTA & SG Gov Agencies with Expert Guidance
Specialized cybersecurity audit and documentation for vendors supporting DSTA and Singapore Government Agencies projects.
We handle the technical burden so you can get paid on time.
What are SSCT & SSAT ?
In Singapore, SSCT (System Security Compliance Test) and SSAT (System Security Acceptance Test) are mandatory cybersecurity audit frameworks for vendors delivering IT and/or OT (Operational Technology) systems to government agencies. While terminology varies—with SSCT often used by DSTA and its managed projects—both serve as a “Security Gatekeeper.” Your system cannot be commissioned or connected to government networks until these requirements are fully met and documented.
SSCT and SSAT are most common for on-premise deployments within Singapore Government networks, often in air-gapped (isolated) environments. To ensure the integrity of the infrastructure, the process is audit and documentation-heavy. It must be performed by an independent assessor like Perennial Consultancy. The scope typically includes System Hardening, Host Configuration Review, Audit and VA (Vulnerability Assessment) with Penetration Test sometimes required.
For M&E (Mechanical & Electrical) vendors, the most scrutinized component of a SSCT/SSAT is the network architecture. Because solutions like CCTV, Visitor Management, and Building Management Systems (BMS) bridge the gap between OT (Operational Technology) and IT, they are viewed as high-risk entry points where security requirements are exceptionally stringent. This is often the bottleneck which blocks the rest of the progress.
Why Cybersecurity Requirements are Often Missed?
In our experience supporting government contractors, we found that vendors are often caught off-guard by the cybersecurity requirements. Failing to factor these in early can turn a profitable project into a financial liability.
Common Reasons for the Oversight:
Information Gaps: Cybersecurity requirements are rarely in the main scope; they are often buried in Annexes or Appendixes. Main contractors sometimes overlook sending these specific cybersecurity Annexes to their M&E subcontractors.
The “Someone Else’s Job” Assumption: Many vendors assume the Main Contractor handles all compliance, only to realize their specific scope (CCTV, BMS, etc.) carries its own independent obligations.
Underestimation of Scope: Vendors may assume requirements are small enough to handle internally, only to discover later that the audit and documentation are far more demanding than expected.
How Missed Cybersecurity Requirements Eats into Profit?
Mandatory Compliance is the Critical Milestone that stands between your system go-live and your payment
Failing to cater for cybersecurity requirements risks:
- Delayed payment: Not passing SSCT means a blocker for UAT. No sign-off means no payment
- Costly design rework: Post procurement or additional hardware changes to meet stringent requirements blow your budget
- Liquated Damage (LD): Compliance delays push back handover, triggering penalties
- Manpower burn: Divert your team to audit paperwork they are not familiar with reduces operational efficiency
- Last-minute 'Fire Drills': Emergency compliance fixes are significantly more costly than planned audits
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Our Cybersecurity Compliance & Audit Services
Getting You Ready for Project Sign-Off
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Road to Passing System Security Compliance Test
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Why Choose Us to manage your CyberSecurity Requirements?
Track Record in SG Gov Projects (click to view)
With a strong track record in SG Gov projects, we understand agency expectations and proactively resolve issues before they become blockers
CSRO Licensed & Cyber Essentials Certified
Singapore regulated entity, vetted and verified by CSA. Licensed since June 2022 - Licence No CS/PTS/C-2022-0123R
100% Singapore Based
Our team is based locally and meets the stringent clearance requirements to handle restricted government project data and on-site assessments
CREST Certified & Network Experts
With > 20 years of experience in network and infra, we provide expertise in network design, the phase you have to sign off before audit can begin
Direct Access to Lead Consultant
(click to view)
No account managers or middle-men. You speak directly with the expert
FAQ's
System Security Compliance Test (SSCT) and System Security Acceptance Test (SSAT) are audit processes required by Singapore Government agencies to verify that a vendor’s IT system (on premise) meets the respective Government agency’s cybersecurity requirements. This verification must be completed and documented before a system can connect to government networks.
SSCT/SSAT is required whenever a vendor delivers on-premise system within Government Network. This is especially true if the agency is DSTA or if the project is managed by DSTA. Without passing SSCT, vendor will not be allowed to connect to the network.
A standard System Security Compliance Test (SSCT) involves a three-stage process: Pre-test Planning (Network architecture, SCCT Plan submission), System Hardening (aligned with CIS or OEM guidelines), and Technical Verification (Host Configuration Review and VA). The process concludes with a formal report in the specific format required for project sign-off.
Because these audits typically require all non-compliance issues to be remediated, Perennial also provides expert assistance in drafting technical justifications for Waivers or Mitigations when full compliance is not feasible due to legacy or operational constraints.”
Yes. For Singapore Government projects overseen by agencies like GovTech or DSTA, the System Security Compliance Test (SSCT) must be conducted by an independent third-party cybersecurity firm. This ensures an unbiased, professional verification of your security controls. Without an independent third-party audit report, the system cannot meet the mandatory security clearance required for final project sign-off and the release of project payments.
To prevent project delays, vendors should integrate cybersecurity planning as early as the Presales/Tendering stage. Perennial Consultancy offers zero-cost presales consultation to help you assess the audit scope, design a compliant network architecture, and factor the necessary cybersecurity effort into your project bid.
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