Defending the NHS from cyber-attacks in 2022

Cyber security threats to the healthcare sector have become increasingly severe, with attacks resulting in cancelled appointments, delayed patient care, and potentially life-threatening circumstances. CyberGuard Technologies’ head, Sean Tickle, notes the necessity of security improvements across the sector. Guidance includes backing up files, increasing log retention and availability, implementing solutions to contain active threats, establishing strict access controls, and using multi-factor authentication for all internet access. Top-down solutions will not work, so individual healthcare organisations need to implement bespoke systems, potentially with the help of managed security service providers (MSSPs).