NHS Digital has launched two new cyber security resources for health and social care professionals, further bolstering the Keep I.T. Confidential toolkit.
The free materials have been developed to help NHS organisations manage their own cyber security awareness campaigns, with the ultimate aim being to upskill and educate staff on everything from phishing and unauthorised data sharing to unlocked screens and weak passwords.
One of the resources is designed for staff who work in clinical settings, whilst the other is aimed at those working in adult social care.
The launch is part of the NHS’s Keep I.T. Confidential campaign which aims to inform healthcare staff on the volume and danger of the various cyber security threats – whether they are intentionally deployed by malevolent third parties or are as a result of lackadaisical behaviours.
Executive Director of Cyber Operations at NHS Digital, Mike Fell, said: “Good security practices are our shared responsibility and being cyber aware can significantly reduce the chance of cyber events affecting people’s care.
“We know how busy staff are, but we encourage everyone to prioritise reducing security risks as much as they can to protect the NHS and social care against vulnerabilities. Taking small, simple steps and considering security in your day-to-day work can make a huge difference and we hope that these resources can really play a part in helping to drive that change.”
Mike Fell joined NHS Digital in the middle of last year when he shared his top tips for good cyber security in the health sector. They included information on passwords, phishing scams, tailgating, data training, and Wi-Fi.
The material for clinicians is available here; the resources for adult social care is available here.
