What is Cyber Essentials?
The Cyber Essentials scheme is a UK government-backed initiative aimed at helping organizations, regardless of size, protect themselves from common cyber threats. By outlining a straightforward set of technical security controls, the scheme enables organizations to significantly reduce their attack surface when properly implemented. This is especially crucial for NHS and healthcare organizations, which handle sensitive NHS data that requires robust protection. Think of Cyber Essentials as laying down a strong foundation of cybersecurity practices—a first line of defense against the myriad of lurking threats online.
Is Cyber Essentials Mandatory For NHS Compliance?
Yes, Cyber Essentials certification is becoming increasingly mandatory for NHS compliance. Many NHS trusts and government contracts now require this certification, making it essential for organizations working within or alongside the NHS to meet their contractual obligations with insurance providers or suppliers. In essence, Cyber Essentials is becoming the standard for demonstrating cyber resilience in the healthcare sector.
Regulatory compliance requirements, such as the Data Security and Protection Toolkit (DSPT) and the Digital Technology Assessment Criteria (DTAC), specifically call for Cyber Essentials certification, secure coding practices, and penetration testing exercises to validate security controls. While Cyber Essentials certifications align with NHS England’s security standards and signal a commitment to data protection, they are not part of healthcare regulations like the DSPT, which is mandatory for all NHS organizations handling patient data.
Achieving Cyber Essentials Plus certification can streamline compliance statements within the DSPT submission process, thereby reducing the overall compliance burden.
Data Security Risks Associated with Healthcare Organizations
NHS Foundation trusts and their supply chains manage millions of accounts, including those of patients, staff, and approved third parties. Therefore, their processes, personnel, and technical controls must be dynamic and capable of responding to emerging cybersecurity threats.
Healthcare organizations face unique cyber risks due to their responsibility to safeguard patient data across IT and operational technology (OT) networks. A notable example is the Synnovis attack in June 2024, which highlighted the vulnerabilities in healthcare supply chains. This incident resulted in canceled appointments, a return to manual processes, and the leak of patient data onto the dark web.
The lack of robust data security practices can lead to several risks, including:
- Data Breaches: Healthcare data is a prime target for cybercriminals, making it one of the most valuable commodities on the dark web.
- Ransomware Attacks: Malware and ransomware can disrupt critical healthcare services, putting patient lives at risk.
- Phishing Attacks: Successful phishing attempts can harvest staff credentials, allowing unauthorized access to sensitive networks.
- Supply Chain Attacks: Vulnerabilities in third-party systems can be exploited to gain unauthorized access to NHS networks or disrupt OT networks.
Benefits of Cyber Essentials for NHS and Healthcare
Cyber Essentials Plus certification offers numerous business advantages over the basic Cyber Essentials self-assessment certification. This is primarily due to the stringent criteria demanded by the certification process, which includes an independent audit and a push for adopting proactive technical controls.
Some of the key benefits for organizations that achieve Cyber Essentials Plus certification include:
Demonstrating Cyber Security Compliance
Healthcare organizations can showcase their adherence to strong technical security controls aligned with NHS England’s security standards, thereby demonstrating compliance.
Building Trust
Achieving Cyber Essentials certification fosters trust among patients, partners, and stakeholders, sending a strong message about the organization’s commitment to cyber hygiene.
Reduced Insurance Premiums
Many cyber insurance providers offer lower premiums to organizations with Cyber Essentials Plus certification, leading to significant cost savings. Thorough security assessments can also highlight areas for IT investments and operational efficiencies.
Competitive Advantage
Cyber Essentials Plus certification is often a prerequisite for tenders and contracts in various industries, providing a competitive edge in the marketplace.
Enhanced Security Posture
Cyber Essentials Plus significantly strengthens an organization’s defenses against common cyber threats, ensuring that IT teams can effectively manage risks.
Cyber Essentials Requirements for NHS and Healthcare Organizations
Cyber Essentials evaluates organizations based on cybersecurity requirements across five technical control areas:
Firewalls
Organizations must implement secure hardening of Internet-facing firewalls to prevent unauthorized access to and from their networks.
Secure Configuration
Software and systems should be securely configured to minimize the attack surface through measures such as authentication, encryption, and hardening.
User Access Control
An effective user management access mechanism is essential to limit access to sensitive data and systems based on necessity. This includes access controls and privilege access management.
Malware Protection
Endpoint protection against malware is crucial to limit and reduce the likelihood of infections.
Patch Management
Organizations must demonstrate effective patch management, addressing high-risk vulnerabilities within a 14-day window and maintaining an overall patch management process.
How Can NHS and Healthcare Organizations Achieve Cyber Essentials Certification?
Cyphere is an IASME-accredited certification body that can assist organizations in obtaining Cyber Essentials Plus and IASME Cyber Assurance certifications. We understand the broader cybersecurity strategy required to help you meet your CE certification objectives efficiently.
Achieving Cyber Essentials certification involves a straightforward process:
Step 1: Self-Assessment Cyber Essentials
Organizations begin with a self-assessment questionnaire that awards basic Cyber Essentials certification.
Step 2: External Assessment (for Cyber Essentials Plus)
For Cyber Essentials Plus, an external assessor conducts a technical audit to verify the implementation of security measures across the five key control areas. This includes an external vulnerability scan and checks for secure communication, malware protection, and user access control.
Step 3: Certification
Upon successful completion of the assessment, organizations receive their Cyber Essentials Plus certificate. If any issues are identified, they have 30 days to address them and resubmit for certification.
Our Cyber Essentials Plus Certification Process
From initial consultation to certification, our approach ensures successful outcomes without unnecessary retesting or additional costs. If needed, the Cyber Essentials Plus certification process can also align with your penetration testing requirements.
Our CE+ certification process includes:
- Initial Consultation: We discuss your cybersecurity needs and goals to determine the best timing for Cyber Essentials Plus and your annual security assessments.
- Gap Analysis: We identify gaps between your current security posture and the certification requirements through a readiness exercise.
- Implementation Support: Our team guides you through implementing the necessary controls, providing resources and recommendations.
- Technical Verification: Our IASME-accredited assessors conduct a thorough audit to verify the implementation of your technical controls.
- Certification Award: Upon completion, you’ll receive your official Cyber Essentials Plus certificate.
Cyber Essentials or Cyber Essentials Plus?
While basic Cyber Essentials provides a solid starting point, Cyber Essentials Plus offers a higher level of assurance through an independent technical audit. For NHS and healthcare organizations handling sensitive data, Cyber Essentials Plus is generally the preferred option, as it demonstrates a more significant commitment to cybersecurity.
How Much Does NHS Cyber Essentials Cost?
The cost of Cyber Essentials certification varies based on the size and complexity of the organization and whether they opt for basic or Plus certification. Cyphere offers a comprehensive pricing model that covers the entire certification process, including resubmission, readiness audits, and ongoing support.
Summary
Cyber Essentials provides a vital foundation for following cybersecurity best practices. While having a certification does not guarantee complete safety for your data and systems, it is an essential step toward securing your organization against common cyber threats. Organizations with mature security programs adopt a proactive approach to people, processes, and technical controls.
Choosing between Cyber Essentials and Cyber Essentials Plus will depend on the specific needs and risk appetite of the organization. However, for many in the healthcare sector, the added assurance of Cyber Essentials Plus makes it the more compelling choice.