New information added to NHS Digital’s cyber security campaign

New advice and information has been added to NHS Digital’s Keep IT Confidential campaign which aims to protect NHS staff from cyber attacks.

The cyber security awareness campaign aims to help NHS staff understand more about the online security threats they may face and how they can minimise the risk of falling prey to them.

The online tool kit is available for free to help NHS trusts and healthcare organisations better understand and implement common-sense security measures. These measures may include setting secure passwords, ensuring devices are locked when not in use and being aware of cyber attacks like phishing, email scams and social engineering.

The practical steps have been designed to be easily adopted by staff into their everyday routines at work. The campaign was launched in 2019 by NHS Digital’s Data Security Centre and enables organisations to run their own awareness campaigns how and when it suits them.

The online toolkit was particularly relevant during the pandemic when some NHS staff would be working from home and the need to stay cyber-secure was even more pressing. The most recent update has covered data security and the importance of not sharing too much information online to ensure it keeps pace with ever-evolving best practice in the world of online security.

Neil Bennett, NHS Digital’s chief information security officer, said: “Taking small simple steps such as setting a strong password and keeping your screens and devices locked when they’re not in use, are vital for the NHS and patient safety. Considering cyber security in your day-to-day lives can make a huge difference and help to keep ourselves and patients protected online and in our workplaces.

“We know how busy NHS staff are, so we want to help them understand the importance of cyber security and how it can benefit their working lives in a quick and simple way.”