NHS & Healthcare Cyber Security Services
Claranet helps healthcare organisations strengthen cyber security, protect sensitive patient data and improve resilience against ransomware, while supporting organisations with the security requirements of the NHS Data Security and Protection Toolkit (DSPT).
From 24/7 Managed Detection and Response (MDR) to CREST-certified pentesting of EPR and IoMT systems.
Penetration testing for Healthcare systems
Our CREST-accredited testers simulate real-world attacks to find vulnerabilities in your critical systems. We specialise in testing clinical applications like EPR and PACS systems, external HSCN connections, and vulnerable Internet of Medical Things (IoMT) devices. Our reports provide clear, actionable remediation steps to protect patient data and meet compliance. See how our team supported a secure rollout in our NHS Trust penetration testing case study.
24/7 MDR & EDR to protect patient Data for Healthcare
Healthcare is a top target for ransomware. Our 24/7/365 Security Operations Centre (SOC) provides Managed Detection and Response (MDR) and EDR to hunt for threats. We monitor your servers, endpoints, and medical devices in real-time to detect and stop attacks before they can encrypt patient data and cause critical downtime, ensuring GDPR and CQC compliance.
Managed ISMS Platforms & ISO 27001 for Healthcare
Go beyond a one-time audit. We provide a Managed ISMS (Information Security Management System) service, acting as your virtual CISO. We continuously manage your risk register, conduct internal audits, and run your security committee, ensuring your ISO 27001 framework is a living process. This provides constant assurance and auditable evidence for the CQC and NHS Digital.
Supporting Your NHS Data Security and Protection Toolkit (DSPT) Requirements
The Data Security and Protection Toolkit (DSPT) is NHS England's mandatory annual self-assessment for data security and information governance. Any organisation with access to NHS patient data or systems - NHS Trusts, GP practices, ICBs, dentists, opticians, pharmacies, social care providers and IT suppliers to the NHS - must complete and publish a DSPT return, measuring their controls against the National Data Guardian's data security standards and the NCSC Cyber Assessment Framework. Our managed data solutions for healthcare can also audit your data platforms directly against DSPT requirements.
Cyber security sits at the core of the DSPT: strong technical controls, evidenced through testing, monitoring and a managed information security framework, are what the toolkit's assertions are actually assessing. Weak or unproven controls are one of the most common reasons organisations fall short of "Standards Met." For ransomware resilience beyond detection and response, see our sovereign private cloud for healthcare, including immutable, air-gapped backup.
Claranet doesn't complete or submit your DSPT return for you - that responsibility, and the toolkit itself, sits with NHS England and your organisation. What we do is strengthen and evidence the underlying security controls the DSPT assesses: CREST-accredited penetration testing of clinical systems, 24/7 Managed Detection and Response against ransomware and other threats, and a Managed ISMS aligned to ISO 27001. Together, these give your information governance team the technical assurance and auditable evidence to support a stronger DSPT position - before your submission deadline, not after an incident force the issue.
Trusted by Healthcare Providers Across the UK
See how we helped Priory Group protect patient confidentiality without compromising performance
Ready to Strengthen Your Healthcare Cyber Security?
Let's talk about your pentesting, MDR and ISO 27001 needs — and how our security controls can support your NHS DSPT evidence, without adding to your team's workload.
Speak to a healthcare cyber security specialist
Or call us on 0330 390 0507
Cyber Faqs for Healthcare
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The DSPT is NHS England's mandatory annual self-assessment for data security and information governance. It measures an organisation's controls against the National Data Guardian's data security standards and the NCSC Cyber Assessment Framework, and results in a published status of "Standards Met," "Approaching Standards," or "Standards Not Met."
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Any organisation with access to NHS patient data or systems must complete the DSPT. This includes NHS Trusts, GP practices, ICBs, dentists, opticians, pharmacies, social care providers, and IT suppliers delivering services under an NHS contract.
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NHS DSPT guidance recommends penetration testing at least annually, and some NHS services — such as MESH API onboarding — require a CHECK/CREST-accredited test before go-live. Our CREST-accredited penetration testing of clinical systems like EPR, PACS and IoMT devices provides the independent evidence many DSPT assertions ask for.
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Healthcare providers store highly sensitive patient data and rely on critical systems like EPR (Electronic Patient Records) and PACS (medical imaging). A pentest is essential to identify vulnerabilities in these systems and in connected IoMT (Internet of Medical Things) devices before attackers can exploit them. It is a key requirement for HSCN and ISO 27001 compliance.
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Our 24/7 Managed Detection and Response (MDR) service is a continuous SOC-led service, not a one-off scan. Our team watches for the behaviours of a ransomware attack in progress — such as a device attempting to encrypt files — and can isolate that device from the network immediately, containing the attack before it spreads to patient data or clinical systems.
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No. The DSPT return is submitted by your own organisation to NHS England - that responsibility can't be outsourced. What Claranet provides is the underlying security evidence many DSPT assertions rely on: penetration test reports, MDR/SOC monitoring records, and ISO 27001-aligned ISMS documentation, all of which your information governance team can use to support your submission.
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An ISMS (Information Security Management System) is the framework for ISO 27001. A Managed ISMS means we run this for you as an ongoing service. For a CQC audit, this provides a complete, up-to-date record of risk assessments, security controls, and incident response plans, proving that you are actively managing and protecting patient data.
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IoMT (Internet of Medical Things) refers to all connected medical devices, like infusion pumps, patient monitors, and scanners. These devices are often old, cannot be patched, and are a major security risk. Our MDR and network segmentation services can monitor these devices for threats and isolate them, preventing them from being used as an entry point to your network.