The British Government recently revealed an innovative cybersecurity plan for the health and adult social care sector in England, with the goal of fostering cyber resilience across the industry by 2030. This initiative aims to shield healthcare services and patients by improving protection against cyber threats, increasing the security of confidential data, and ensuring that patients can safely access care.
As technology continues to have a transformative impact on healthcare, over 40 million individuals now possess an NHS login, and more than half of social care providers have adopted digital social care records. The government’s objective is to equip health and adult social care organizations to tackle future challenges, including identifying susceptible areas and making the most of resources and expertise to prevent cyberattacks.
Lord Markham, Health Minister, highlighted the necessity of reinforcing defenses in health and care services while also capitalizing on technology’s potential for delivering enhanced, secure care. The plan comprises five principal pillars to minimize cyber risks, bolster response and recovery measures, and offer assistance to organizations striving to reinforce cybersecurity.
Following the 2017 WannaCry cyberattack, the health and social care sector has made considerable progress in its defense against cyber threats. NHS trusts currently maintain a direct connection to NHS England’s Cyber Security Operations Centre (CSOC), which offers real-time protection for an estimated 1.7 million devices throughout the health service. Furthermore, over 20 million malevolent emails are intercepted monthly.
In the summer of 2023, a comprehensive implementation strategy will be unveiled, detailing specific activities and benchmarks to develop and gauge resilience over the subsequent two to three years.
