map marker United Kingdom | 06 February 2026
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Digital transformation is reshaping healthcare across the UK, enabling more connected, efficient and data-driven patient care. However, with this progress comes risk, as cyber criminals increasingly target the sensitive data housed by Trusts.

In fact, a recent cybersecurity research report shows that close to 41% of UK health and social care organisations faced cyber breaches or attacks in 20241 – highlighting the scale and urgency of online threats.

With services already under pressure, Trusts must ensure robust cybersecurity is built into every layer of their digital infrastructure. This protects patient care from disruption and prevents critical funds from being lost to online threats. In this article, Betty Helienek and Oluwabanke Eniolorunda outline the practical steps Trusts can take to strengthen their cybersecurity.

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How NHS Trusts can set up hospitals for digital resilience

There are various practical steps that Trusts can take to strengthen their defences, from developing staff awareness programmes and improving governance to securing clinical systems and embedding security into digital systems. A coordinated approach across people, processes and technology is essential to reduce vulnerabilities and maintain trust in patient care.

1. Build a security-aware team

One of the most effective steps NHS Trusts can take is to develop a workforce that understands its role in protecting digital services and patient data. Human error continues to be one of the main factors of cyber incidents. By regularly training and educating teams on cybersecurity, you can help them better detect, report and prevent scammers from infiltrating Trust-wide systems.

Measures to support this may include integrating online phishing simulations into onboarding curriculum and running clinical context staff training to highlight any potential cybersecurity risks relevant to specific departments. Trusts can also establish a champions programme, so each department has advocates to drive and disseminate cyber-aware thinking with teams through meetings.

2. Strengthening governance and data security

Cyber incidents aren’t just technical failures, they’re governance failures. Resilience relies on strong governance structures that define accountability, manage risk and ensure regulatory compliance with the Network and Information Systems (NIS) Regulations and General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). 

Trusts can align governance with recognised frameworks that support consistency and maturity: 

  • National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Cybersecurity Framework: This is a globally recognised model that offers a structured, flexible and outcome-driven approach to managing cyber risk. It covers how to identify, protect, detect, respond to and recover from online threats, and the steps Trusts can take to enhance IT security in line with best practices and regulations.

  • NCSC Cyber Assessment Framework (CAF): Provides a structured approach for assessing and improving cyber resilience across critical services, helping organisations like the NHS measure, manage and strengthen their security maturity against evolving threats. 

By aligning governance with the latest regulations, Trusts can ensure sensitive patient information is secured and prevent penalties for inadequate cyber practices. 

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3. Securing IoT and medical engineering systems

Securing clinical environments starts with knowing what’s connected, how it behaves and where it’s vulnerable.

For NHS Trusts, improving cyber resilience in medical engineering and healthcare systems means taking deliberate, practical steps, which includes: 

  • Maintaining a live asset inventory: Catalogue all connected medical devices, such as the location, function, software version and network status. This creates visibility and enables targeted risk management.

  • Segmenting the network: Isolate clinical systems from general IT infrastructure. This limits exposure and contains potential threats before they reach critical devices.

  • Applying vendor patching policies or use compensating controls: Where patches aren’t available or feasible, implement alternative safeguards such as access restrictions, monitoring or virtual patching.

  • Designing with security from the start: Adopt a secure-by-design approach for new systems and upgrades. This means embedding cybersecurity into procurement, configuration and lifecycle planning – rather than reactively adding this later. 
 
Securing clinical environments starts with understanding the full landscape of connected devices and their vulnerabilities. By taking strategic steps, like segmenting networks and embedding secure-by-design principles, Trusts can reduce exposure and keep critical care systems running safely.
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4. Embedding security into smart hospitals and building estates

As NHS Trusts accelerate their digital transformation like adopting cloud platforms, AI-driven diagnostics, connected medical devices and automated workflows – cybersecurity must evolve with it. To protect smart infrastructure against attackers, Trusts can:

  • Embed secure software development from the start: NHS systems should follow a Secure Software Development Life Cycle (SSDLC), integrating threat modelling, secure coding and continuous testing throughout every phase of software development. This is especially critical for AI-enabled tools and automated workflows, where vulnerabilities can spread rapidly.

  • Test and validate continuously: Regular vulnerability scanning and penetration testing can help Trusts identify and address risks across cloud infrastructure, IoT devices and digital patient record systems. These checks should be part of routine governance, not reserved for post-incident reviews.

  • Encrypt data everywhere: Whether it’s a diagnostic image sent from an IoT device or a patient record stored in the cloud, encryption must be applied in transit and at rest. This protects sensitive information and supports compliance with UK data protection laws.

  • Adopt Zero-Trust Architecture: Zero-trust means verifying every user, device and system continuously through multi-factor authentication. It’s a mindset shift that helps contain threats and reduce the impact of breaches.

5. Work with a cybersecurity advisor

Working with data and cybersecurity consultants gives Trusts access to specialist knowledge, ensuring frameworks, systems and digital workflows meet regulatory requirements and industry best practice. Our healthcare specialists work with Trusts to devise and implement compliant and secure-by-design cybersecurity strategies, mitigating risks and optimising operations so vital care can be delivered to people and communities without disruption.

References

1 : https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/cyber-security-breaches-survey-2025/cyber-security-breaches-survey-2025

Authors

Oluwabanke Eniolorunda updated
Oluwabanke Eniolorunda
Assistant Engineer, WSP in the UK and Ireland
United Kingdom
Betty Helienek updated
Betty Helienek
Global Digital Lead - Director OT Cybersecurity
United Kingdom
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