NHS Digital and Microsoft enter cyber security deal

NHS Digital has entered a new deal with Microsoft that supports health and care organisations in protecting their IT infrastructure against cyber threats.

NHS Digital’s Data Security Centre is to use Microsoft’s Enterprise Threat Detection Service to provide targeted alerts to organisations that enable it.

The alerts use Microsoft’s cyber security expertise to provide organisations with detection of issues, down to individual computers and other devices.

The contract was agreed following a successful pilot with NHS Digital and Blackpool Teaching Hospitals Foundation Trust.

The service has already been deployed on over 300,000 machines and has the ability to cover all devices within health and care settings in England.

Dan Taylor, director of security at NHS Digital, said: “This deal will further bolster protection against cyber security issues in the NHS.

"It is our role to alert organisations to known cyber security threats and advise them of appropriate steps to minimise risks. This marks a step change in our capability to provide high quality, targeted alerts to allow organisations to counter these threats and ensure patients' needs continue to be met.”