Providers welcome Government's new Cyber Action Plan

Care sector technology providers have welcomed the publication of the Government’s new <ahref="https:>Cyber Action Plan</ahref="https:>, which they claim will improve safety, data collection, and service delivery.

Commenting on the publication, Scott Bordoni, chief operations officer at digital health specialist, Sync, said: “The Government’s renewed focus on cyber security is an important step for organisations delivering complex and specialist care.

“These providers support some of the most-vulnerable people in society, often across systems that involve the NHS, local authorities, independent providers, and multiple technology partners.

“In this environment, cyber resilience is directly linked to patient safety,continuity of care, and day-to-day operations.

“Complex care services rely heavily on secure buildings, digital systems and connected care tools and when those systems are disrupted, whether by a cyber incident or supplier failure, the impact can be immediate; affecting staff, safety, data,and service delivery.

“Strengthening supply chain security is therefore critical to reducing risk across these highly-connected environments.”

He said cyber security in the care sector should ‘no longer be treated as a purely-technical issue’, adding: “It is a core part of running safe, efficient care facilities.

“Building cyber resilience into new and redeveloped care settings from the outset helps avoid disruption, reduces long-term costs, and gives confidence to commissioners, investors, and regulators.

“We welcome the Government’s commitment to cyber security and see this as an opportunity to raise standards across the complex care sector.

“At Sync, we remain committed to working with care providers and partners to deliver practical, proportionate cyber resilience; helping ensure services are secure, reliable, and trusted by the healthcare estates who depend on them for smooth running.”

The strategy was launched last week by Rt Hon Ian Murray, Minister of State for Department for Science, Innovation and Technology.

He said: “The digitisation of public services offers huge advantages to the UK: we can deliver services that are more-efficient, convenient, and better value for money for taxpayers.

“However, realising these benefits relies on securing public services so that they are trustworthy and resilient.

“Without achieving this, increasing digitisation exposes us to increasing levels of cyber and digital resilience risk.

“The Government Cyber Action Plan defines how we will secure public services so they are trustworthy and resilient, as part of the broader <ahref="https:>Roadmapfor a Modern Digital Government.</ahref="https:>