From 3 October 2011 DVA became Defence Business Services National Security Vetting (DBS NSV).
In March, the Secretary of State for Defence announced the intention to establish DBS, by bringing together the delivery of a range of corporate service functions to support all areas of the Department from one organisation. The DBS was launched in July and has been established to be an efficient and integrated organisation that provides customers from across the Department with a single point of contact that delivers real benefits, provides services that add value and has the full commitment and involvement of its staff.
This change in operating status will have no adverse impact on the service we provide to you. In fact, being part of a larger organisation will reinforce the DBS NSV ability to deliver the next phase of business improvements to the Cerberus IT system. These changes will continue to improve the service to all DBS NSV customers.
Since the DVA was launched, it has been at the forefront of modernising the NSV process across government, improving the speed and quality of vetting decisions. Whilst it may have a new owner, DBS NSV will continue to move NSV policy forward. At this time DBS NSV is currently being considered with its FCO counterpart (FCO Services) as the single provider of NSV to the whole of government (excluding the intelligence agencies). DBS NSV will continue its close relationships with the Cabinet Office on NSV policy issues and with our valued repayment customers governed by Joint Business Agreements.
We look forward to our continued engagement and further development of our NSV partnership.
Background to the Defence Business Services National Security Vetting (DBS NSV)
We are the UK's largest government organisation carrying out National Security Vetting (NSV) and the only government organisation whose core business is NSV.
Within the defence community we provide NSV through direct financing to the three Armed Services, MOD civil service and defence contractors.
We also deliver a range of NSV services on a repayment basis to 86 customers across the public sector. We have more repayment customers than any other UK NSV organisation and this number is increasing.
Our customers are provided with assurances ranging from site admission to unrestricted access to material classified up to Top Secret. This assurance can be tailored to individual risk management needs. We also provide a service of help and customer engagement through visits and group open days to support this work.
For Important Announcements & Information please follow the link under Related pages.
If you are an applicant completing a vetting e-Form, or you are sponsoring an applicant who is requesting help completing a vetting e-Form, please follow the Cerberus & e-Forms Information & Assistance link under Related pages.