NHS Digital procures cyber security contract for NHS

The NHS will receive free-to-adopt, world class perimeter security services as a result of NHS Digital signing a new contract with Accenture.

The contract will provide hospital trusts and other care settings the chance to get free, leading-edge perimeter security features and will expand upon the current offer from the Data Security Centre so that NHS organisations will be able to better secure and manage all of the digital networks that they operate and use.

The features include: next-generation firewall; secure filtering for web content; network intrusion detection and prevention capabilities; data loss prevention; and secure DNS services.

The deal also means that expert security specialists within the NHS will now have an even broader view of cyber threats across the NHS, allowing them to spot and respond quickly to emerging problems, while reducing cyber risks.  

Rob Shaw, deputy chief executive of NHS Digital, said: “This deal is great news for NHS organisations.  This is cutting-edge technology that will help keep patient information and NHS systems safe, at no cost to local organisations. For us, the more organisations that join, the better we will be able to see what is happening across the estate. This means that we will be able to monitor for threats more effectively, supporting the NHS to increase data security and helping to provide safer care for patients.”