In a speech at the King’s Fund Digital Health and Care Congress yesterday, Matt Hancock announced £150m is to be invested in cyber security.
The speech marked the two year anniversary since the global WannaCry attack which significantly impacted NHS IT systems. He announced £150 million for projects to improve resilience, including further bolstering the capability of NHS Digital’s Data Security Centre.
Sarah Wilkinson, Chief Executive at NHS Digital said: “The government’s ongoing investment in NHS Digital’s Cyber Security Centre is enabling us to provide ever-stronger capabilities, systems and services to prevent, detect and respond to cyber attacks against the health and care system.”
The global WannaCry attack, which affected more than 100,000 computers in 100 countries, caused the NHS to cancel over 20,000 appointments.
In the past three months alone, the NHS has prevented more than 21 million potential attacks – and new measures will help defend vital systems such as MRI scanners and refrigeration units storing organs and drugs.
The Health Secretary outlined in his speech a package including investing £150 million over three years to enhance capability, including of NHS Digital’s Data Security Centre to prevent, detect and respond to cyber attacks in real time.
The centre has prevented over 640 million phishing attempts in the past three months. This includes five nation-wide attacks which were blocked shortly after being detected, protecting vital NHS systems such as MRI scanners, refrigeration units storing organs and drugs, as well as basic IT.
