Cyber security news round-up

This month’s cyber security news round-up includes new functionality in NHS supply chain tool, the Edge4Health, and a new programme launched to help social care providers be cyber-aware.

Edge4Health implements security rating system for NHS supply chain

NHS procurement platform Edge4Health has implemented an integrated cyber security feature to help improve the security of the NHS supply chain.

The Edge4Health, developed by British software company VirtualStock, is being rolled out to more than 60 NHS organisations and will be used by around 30,000 NHS employees.

The platform now enables suppliers to the NHS to check and improve their cyber security through a rating system.

Suppliers can download a report that provides a detailed explanation of the specific threats and vulnerabilities affecting their individual organisation. Reports show exactly how suppliers can reduce their vulnerabilities, enabling them to improve their own security and that of the NHS.

The functionality has been developed by leading cyber threat intelligence and cyber-risk management company, Orpheus Cyber.

Ed Bradley, co-founder of Virtualstock, said: “In addition to cyber security insights for suppliers, NHS trusts also have a view of their buying community cyber risk scoring via The Edge4Health.

“This type of visibility is likely to become increasingly important as security considerations become ever-more prevalent when organisations take buying decisions.”

Cynerio launches virtual segmentation tool for IoT devices

Healthcare internet of things (IoT) cyber security solution provider Cynerio has launched a virtual segmentation capability to their platform.

The virtual segmentation capability profiles device communications, allowing IT security teams to test the policies and monitor for violations before pushing it to live clinical network environments.

The AI-based technology groups devices and segments them according to network behaviour while risk is prioritised based on device criticality and medical impact. The platform then monitors the network to ensure all traffic is compliant with policy, and provides tools to refine it, sending automatic updates when policy is safe to push to firewall and NAC.

Leon Lerman, CEO and co-founder of Cynerio, said: “The challenge of achieving safe and effective segmentation is what inspired us to develop the virtual segmentation capability for our customers.

“Our top priority is making healthcare IoT security projects as easy and painless as possible by helping hospitals safely navigate the risks of immediately enforcing segmentation policies in clinical environments.

“Adding virtual segmentation to our platform saves hospitals years of time and resources spent on IoT security projects and provides policies that can be easily enforced with confidence.”

Programme looks to help social care providers be cyber-aware

A new project that seeks to better understand the digital, data and technology issues faced by social care providers of services to working age adults and how best to support them implement safe data and cyber security practices has been launched.

The project is led by the Voluntary Organisations Disability Group (VODG) in partnership with the Association of Mental Health Providers.

The project will analyse the preparedness, issues and obstacles facing disability and mental health organisations providing services to adults of working age in relation to data and cyber security and look to promote best practice and information sharing.

Led by Digital Social Care, the Local Government Association and NSHX, it is part of a wider programme supporting the delivery of the National Cyber Security Strategy across adult social care services.

It will specifically engage with providers of services to people with a learning disability, those who are autistic and have physical or sensory impairments and with mental health conditions.

Kathy Roberts, Association of Mental Health Providers chief executive, said: “We welcome the investment in raising awareness of digital and cyber-security across the adult social care sector and this fresh focus on providers that support people of working age, including people with a learning disability and those that experience mental ill health.

“VODG and the Association look forward to working closely together to find solutions that will support providers to address their data any cyber security challenges and digital and tech capacity across the system.”

Cyber security software market to hit £19.5bn this year

Cyber security software revenue is expected to reach $25.1bn (£19.5bn) in 2020, growing 4.8% year-on-year, according to a new report from Precise Security.

The IT security firm forecasts that trend will continue over the following years, predicting the market hit $27bn (£20.9bn) in the next three years.

The cyber security software market refers to all software solutions aiming to protect individual computing devices, networks, or any other computing-enabled device. It includes antivirus software, management of access, data protection and security against intrusions, and any other system-level security risks, both in local installation and cloud service.

“Cyber security has become one of the biggest concerns for both citizens and businesses all around the world,” Precise Security said in its report.

“The growing demand for eCommerce platforms, technology developments including AI and IoT, and the rising number of connected devices have led to the massive adoption of cyber security solutions.”