NHS Digital launches staff campaign to boost cyber security in the workplace

And the CSP’s health informatics lead Euan McComiskie said CSP members and other frontline clinicians can be the best defence in cyber security.

‘Even the simplest knowledge around spam email and insecure websites can help avoid the inevitable threats experienced at home and at work.’

The new resource will help to improve that knowledge and help improve cyber security, he said.

The ‘Keep I.T. Confidential’ campaign aims to educate staff across the NHS on the direct impact of data and cyber security on patient safety and care. It improves knowledge of data and cyber security practices which can be adopted in their everyday work, to embed a culture of cyber security throughout the NHS.

The campaign materials have been designed to support NHS trusts and other health care organisations to run their own cyber security campaigns in a way that suits them and their organisations locally.

Keep I.T. Confidential reinforces the message that data security is an extension of patient confidentiality and good patient care. It highlights key cyber security threats and the actions that staff can take to mitigate risk in these areas including:

• weak passwords and password theft
• phishing scams and emails
• tailgaters at NHS sites
• unlocked screens and devices
• social engineering to manipulate people into divulging confidential or personal information

The campaign has been launched by NHS Digital’s Data Security Centre (DSC) to support health and care organisations to use data and technology safely and securely to deliver improved patient care.

The DSC provides a range of specialist services that help health and care organisations manage cyber risk and recover in the event of an incident.

Daily best practice

NHS Digital deputy chief executive Rob Shaw said: ‘Cyber security is the responsibility of all NHS staff and we want to inspire a cultural change by supporting health and care organisations to embed it in their daily best practice.

‘To do this, we need to support all NHS staff on the direct impact of data security on patient care, and the steps they can take personally to reduce this threat.

‘We know how busy NHS staff are so we are helping them to understand the importance of data security and how it can impact on and benefit their working lives, including patient care.

‘NHS organisations are vast and diverse so Keep I.T. Confidential can be tailored to suit the individual needs of health and care providers and their staff.’