Gloucestershire firm, Cylera, has just signed a new three-year deal with the NHS to provide its patented technologies to one of Kent's largest hospital trusts.
The deal will see the Cheltenham-based company working with Dartford and Gravesham NHS Trust, which serves a local population of over 500,000 people. The trust has more than 11,000 connected medical and IoT devices as well as other digital equipment used for patient care and building management — a figure which has doubled over the last four years as the NHS has adopted new technology to help it streamline patient services.
The partnership with Cylera will allow the trust to view, manage and risk assess these medical and connected IoT devices through one centralised dashboard, giving it 'a true, high-fidelity asset inventory of all devices connected to the network', which could prove vital to its cyber security.
The NHS is a key target for cyber criminals who aim to disrupt national infrastructure networks and essential services — and attacks on the healthcare sector are on the rise across the world, with an average of 1,426 cyber attacks on healthcare organisations every week, costing an estimated £7.8 million per successful breach.
Recently, two NHS ambulance trusts reported breaches affecting NHS workers' access to patient records, with Cylera hoping to help the Dartford and Gravesham NHS Trust prevent these kinds of attacks.
Gary Hickinson, head of IT at Dartford and Gravesham NHS Trust, said: 'Investment in our digital infrastructure is fundamental as we continue our drive to provide better care for patients. Our agreement with Cylera is a key part of our overall continuous cyber investment strategy.
'Over the next few years our digital landscape will continue to develop, with new medical devices and systems coming online. Solutions such as Cylera enable the trust to have full visibility into all connected medical devices, IoT, and other systems on the network.
'The solution provides full, accurate, and live profiles of each and every device, allowing the team to better manage the maintenance of this equipment, assess any potential risks, and proactively work with our suppliers and vendors to ensure any vulnerabilities are mitigated quickly and effectively.
'We have been working closely with Cylera since 2021. After researching the market and speaking with multiple suppliers, Cylera was the obvious choice. Their solution identified the most vulnerabilities, around 15 per cent more than competitor products.
'Cylera’s team of
experts also understand our digital estate and how we are building for the
future and are always on hand when we need them. As our hospital environments become more connected, it’s
vital that we have in place the best systems to help protect what matters most — our patients and staff.'
Steve Brigden, head of Cylera UK and Ireland, added: 'It’s a pleasure to continue our relationship with Gary and the team at Dartford and Gravesham NHS Trust. Healthcare settings across the country are investing in new digital strategies as they take strategic steps to streamline services.
'Cylera’s mission is to ensure these
digital environments are secure, patients can receive the care they need, and
NHS staff have a safe work environment.'
