Information security strategy for the UK healthcare sector

Information security is the practice of protecting data and systems (information) from unauthorised access and use.  

In healthcare, information security is the backbone for:

• Data breaches: medical histories and personal identifications can be stolen and leaked 
• Regulatory penalties: non-compliance can result in heavy fines and legal action 
• Operational disruption: cyber-attacks can shut down systems, delaying patient care and emergency responses 
• Loss of trust: patients may lose confidence in the organisation’s ability to protect their data 
• Financial loss: costs from recovery, legal fees, and compensation can be significant 

The “Cyber Security Strategy for Health and Social Care: 2023 to 2030” document created by the UK government outlines a comprehensive plan to achieve cyber resilience across the health and care sectors by 2030 (Cyber Strategy 2023-2030). The strategy is based on five key pillars: 

• Focus on the greatest risks: identifying critical services where disruption would cause significant harm 
• Defend as one: leveraging national resources for collective defence 
• People and culture: upskilling the workforce and fostering a security-conscious culture 
• Build secure for the future: embedding security in emerging technologies 
• Exemplary response and recovery: ensuring rapid recovery from cyber incidents 

The strategy aims for all health and social care organisations to achieve cyber resilience by 2030. This involves protecting patient data, ensuring quick recovery from attacks, and building trust in digital systems. 

We understand that with high operational pressures, limited cyber workforce, and legacy technology, ensuring full cyber security can be a challenge. That’s where we come in.  

Our Information Security Strategy Service outlines a multi-phased approach to developing and implementing a risk-aware information security strategy. We help you every step of the way, ensuring all of your bases are covered. 

These four steps follow: 

1. Gathering business requirements: understanding the specific needs and risks of your organisation 
2. Conducting a gap analysis: identifying gaps in current security measures 
3. Prioritising and planning initiatives: developing a prioritised action plan based on risk assessment 
4. Executing the strategy: implementing the plan with continuous support and check-ins for improvement 

Key features include tailored strategy development, expert guidance, and integration with standards like NIST, ISO 27001:2022, and the NCSC Cyber Assessment Framework (CAF). For the NHS, this approach can address specific needs, such as securing electronic health records (EHRs) or ensuring the resilience of telemedicine platforms.