Fractional CISO for Healthcare
Protecting patient data and medical infrastructure in an increasingly digital NHS
Cybersecurity Leadership for Healthcare
Healthcare organisations hold some of the most sensitive and valuable data imaginable - comprehensive medical records, mental health histories, genetic information, and payment details. This data commands premium prices on the dark web, making hospitals, clinics, and healthtech companies persistent targets for cybercriminals.
The digital transformation of healthcare has created an expanded attack surface. Electronic patient records, connected medical devices, telemedicine platforms, and cloud-based health apps all introduce vulnerabilities. NHS trusts face particular challenges with legacy systems, complex supply chains, and the life-or-death nature of their operations.
Regulatory requirements are stringent and growing. NHS Digital's Data Security and Protection Toolkit (DSPT) is mandatory, GDPR penalties for health data breaches can reach 4% of turnover, and the CQC now inspects cybersecurity as part of its assessments. Yet many healthcare organisations lack the internal expertise to navigate this landscape effectively.
Patient Safety Focus
Healthcare breaches aren't just data incidents - they can directly impact patient care. Our CISOs understand that in healthcare, cybersecurity is patient safety.
NHS & HealthTech Expertise
From NHS trusts to digital health startups, our CISOs bring sector-specific knowledge of healthcare systems, regulations, and the unique challenges you face.
Healthcare's Costly Breaches
Real incidents where healthcare organisations suffered breaches that a CISO could have prevented
NHS WannaCry (2017)
19,000 appointments cancelled, £92M cost
The ransomware attack exploited unpatched Windows XP systems across 80 NHS trusts. A CISO would have established patch management, ensured critical security updates were deployed, and maintained incident response capabilities to isolate affected systems quickly.
Bupa (2017)
547,000 customer records stolen
An employee copied customer data and attempted to sell it on the dark web. A CISO would have implemented data loss prevention (DLP) systems, user activity monitoring, and strict access controls that could have detected and prevented the exfiltration.
NHS Surrey (2012)
£200,000 ICO fine, 3,000+ patient records exposed
Patient records were found on hard drives sold on eBay after a third-party disposal company failed to destroy them properly. A CISO would have implemented secure asset disposal procedures, verified destruction certificates, and audited third-party vendors handling sensitive data.
Synnovis Ransomware (June 2024)
800+ operations cancelled, 10,000+ appointments affected
A Russian cyber gang attacked this pathology services provider, causing massive disruption to London hospitals. A CISO would have ensured robust backup and recovery systems, segmentation of critical services, and incident response plans to minimise patient impact.
Advanced Software (2022)
£3.07M ICO fine, 79,000+ records, NHS 111 disrupted
Hackers accessed systems via an account without multi-factor authentication, disrupting NHS 111 and care systems. The ICO issued its first fine against a data processor. A CISO would have ensured complete MFA coverage, vulnerability scanning, and timely patching.
56 Dean Street Clinic (2015)
£180,000 ICO fine, 781 HIV patients exposed
An email newsletter was sent with all patient addresses visible in the 'To' field rather than 'Bcc', exposing recipients' HIV status. A CISO would implement email safeguards, mandatory BCC checks, and staff training on handling sensitive health data.
Critical Risks in Healthcare
The threats targeting patient data and medical systems
Ransomware
Healthcare is the #1 target for ransomware because attackers know hospitals will pay to restore patient-critical systems.
Medical Device Hacking
Connected devices - pacemakers, insulin pumps, MRI machines - often run outdated software and lack security updates.
Insider Threats
Staff with legitimate access can abuse patient data, whether for financial gain, curiosity, or negligence.
Operational Disruption
Unlike other sectors, downtime in healthcare can literally cost lives, making healthcare uniquely vulnerable.
Protect Your Patients and Your Organisation
Healthcare cybersecurity isn't optional - it's a matter of patient trust and safety. Our fractional CISOs bring healthcare expertise to secure your organisation.