The healthcare sector, like many other critical industries, is increasingly under siege from cybercriminals intent on exploiting vulnerabilities to disrupt operations, compromise sensitive data, and jeopardise patient safety.
The rise of AI-enabled cyberattacks has only intensified this threat. In just three months, our threat intelligence team identified over 800,000 attacks against critical infrastructure, with government and public sector organisations facing the broadest range of threats – accounting for over 45% of unique malware hashes.
The NHS has unveiled its ambitions to consolidate patient records into a single database
Amid this challenging landscape, recent findings reveal that NHS employees are continuing to use consumer messaging apps to share information. While these apps offer convenience, they fall short of meeting the rigorous security standards required to protect sensitive healthcare data.
The NHS has unveiled its ambitions to consolidate patient records into a single database. Yet, these latest findings show there is an urgent need for the NHS to enhance its secure communications capabilities to safeguard sensitive information and documents from bad actors that seek to bring down critical infrastructure. So, what are the key considerations for healthcare IT leaders?
Balancing collaboration and security
The NHS is right to address the risks of staff using consumer-grade messaging apps, which are designed for ease of use rather than enterprise-grade security. With a stringent focus on privacy and security requirements, these apps can expose metadata and telemetry that can be intercepted to reveal critical insights into user activities and potentially compromise sensitive data.
Fortunately, NHS Trusts have the power to take proactive steps. NHS IT leaders can adopt trusted secure communications solutions that strike a balance between a seamless user experience and defence-grade security, end-to-end encryption.
The NHS is right to address the risks of staff using consumer-grade messaging apps
Employees still need the capabilities to quickly access email, calendar, and contact synchronisation when needed. At the same time, IT leaders need the assurance that employees are utilising messaging apps that still offer protection inside and outside of the firewall.
Ideally, secure communications solutions should provide staff with direct and secure access to internal applications, including your ERP platform, CRM platform, and file access. Above all, staff should be able to use their smartphones for secure, encrypted contact inside and outside of the network, whatever their location and on whatever device they wish to use. With a secure communications platform, all this can be achieved without compromising sensitive data or disrupting workflow.
Proving ROI for secure comms investments
Investing in secure communications might appear costly upfront, especially for NHS Trusts that are working within restrictive budgets. However, the investment costs pale in comparison to the losses associated with data breaches.
In fact, our research shows that organisations suffer financial losses (64%), data losses (59%), and report reputational damage (58%) following a single breach. By investing in secure communication, NHS Trusts can protect their digital infrastructure while maintaining compliance with tough data protection regulations.
Fostering a culture of compliance is equally important alongside the implementation of secure communications technologies
After all, we’ve seen what a single cyberattack can do to an NHS organisation in terms of compromised patient records, disruption to vital healthcare delivery, and tarnished public trust.
Fostering a culture of compliance is equally important alongside the implementation of secure communications technologies. To maximise ROI for investments, NHS organisations must educate healthcare workers about the risks associated with using consumer apps and the advantages of adopting secure platforms.
Education must be supported by implementing clear policies that mandate the use of approved tools for sharing patient information. Additionally, regular assessments, including audits and penetration tests, are essential to identify vulnerabilities and reinforce the resilience of communication systems against evolving cyber threats.
A look to the future
The NHS is not alone in facing these challenges. Globally, the increasing sophistication and volume of cyber threats have drawn attention to the importance of secure communication in critical sectors. As healthcare organisations become increasingly interconnected and reliant on technology, secure communication platforms will be integral to delivering safe, efficient, and uninterrupted citizen care. Investing in secure communication will provide these capabilities while also meeting data privacy and compliance standards security.
Secure communication represents more than just a new technology investment
Secure communication represents more than just a new technology investment – instead, it is a vital tool to empower healthcare teams to deliver exceptional care while building resilience against nation-state attacks that seek to target critical infrastructure.