CDS Defence & Security Launches Official Podcast: The Briefing Room

Giving clients, colleagues, and anyone curious about defence, government, or cyber a front-row seat to the conversations that matter.

Hosted by Karl Rees, The Briefing Room takes a different approach. Karl doesn’t come from a military, cyber or engineering background. Instead, he plays the role of the curious listener, asking the questions many of us would, cutting through jargon and uncovering insights that are accessible and engaging for everyone.

“I like to think I play the role of the listener who doesn’t know the subject, If I can walk away from an episode with a base knowledge of the topic, hopefully our audience will too.” – Karl Rees, Digital Design & Brand Manager.

Why a podcast?

For us, the podcast is more than content, it’s a platform to showcase the depth and diversity of expertise within CDS DS. At trade shows and industry events, we talk about our services, but the real value lies in our people. With The Briefing Room, we can share their knowledge directly, whether that’s breaking down what Secure by Design really means, or exploring the challenges of Digital Engineering.

It’s also a space for connection, not only with customers and clients, but with our own employees. With such a wide range of services under one roof, even colleagues sometimes don’t know the details of what other teams are working on. The Briefing Room gives everyone inside CDS DS a chance to learn more about the breadth of our work.

What we’ve covered so far

The first three episodes are already live on YouTube and Spotify, covering topics such as:

• Digital Engineering – what is it, how it differs from traditional engineering support, and why it matters to the MOD.

• Secure by Design – breaking down what it really means in the cyber landscape, what it isn’t, and why it’s so vital for resilience.

• E-Learning Explained – exploring how digital design and learning consultancy come together to create DSAT-compliant digital training that works.

And this is just the beginning. Future episodes will explore everything from human factors and insider threats to how new policy and strategy shifts affect defence and government.

 Partnering with Industry

Our launch of The Briefing Room also comes at an exciting time for CDS DS. We’ve recently become Level 3 members of Make UK Defence, as part of the Fit-for-Defence programme.

With ever-changing requirements across the Defence landscape, from interoperability across platforms and operators to tighter budgets demanding greater value-for-money, supporting in-service platforms is more important than ever.

That’s why we’re proud to be working with Make UK Defence and fellow members to deliver safe, supported, and secure equipment, while maximising in-service support solutions.

As thought leaders in this space, The Briefing Room is another way we’re helping industry navigate the complex world of supportability, breaking down big topics and sharing insight directly from the people who live and breathe them.

Looking ahead

We’re excited about the journey ahead. With more episodes in production, The Briefing Room will continue to shine a light on the expertise that sets CDS DS apart. Opening up conversations, demystifying complex topics, and sharing knowledge across industries.

So whether you’re a client, a colleague, or simply curious about the world of defence, cyber, and beyond grab your front-row seat.

👉 Listen and subscribe on Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/7doUL2Jwb0bVn39gwDKBMd?si=Fld4WRrQS3SCxcy4AZOn2w
📺 Or watch and subscribe on YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLYbN8MKCzXTpvecV_WlXOHoTVj06Dhnom