Current Landscape and Challenges
The NHS continues to face a growing wave of cyber threats as the healthcare landscape becomes more digitised and interconnected. Recently, attackers have exploited newer vulnerabilities within both legacy systems and emerging technologies like IoT-connected medical devices. The shift to remote work and increased reliance on digital communication channels has expanded the attack surface, exposing the NHS to sophisticated threats, including supply chain attacks and advanced persistent threats (APTs). The escalation of AI-powered malware, ransomware-as-a-service (RaaS), and deepfake technologies poses a heightened risk to patient data security and service continuity, underscoring the need for robust, adaptive defences.
Given these evolving threats, the NHS must enhance its cyber resilience by focusing on pre-emptive measures, such as predictive threat modelling and AI-enhanced threat detection. This conference will address these critical areas, providing insights into risk assessment, system fortification, and resilience strategies tailored to the healthcare sector.
Timeliness of the Event
This conference arrives at a pivotal time as the NHS intensifies its cybersecurity efforts to achieve full resilience by 2030. The increasing frequency and sophistication of attacks, such as the recent Log4j vulnerability exploitations that affected healthcare systems worldwide, underline the urgency for proactive defence measures. With the NHS striving to align with the UK government's cybersecurity objectives, including the 2022 National Cyber Strategy, this event offers a timely platform to discuss the latest threats, regulatory updates, and best practices in healthcare cybersecurity.
Key Topics
- Ransomware and Advanced Malware Defence: Delve into the latest ransomware trends, including RaaS, and explore effective strategies for preventing and mitigating these attacks within healthcare settings.
- Medical Device and IoT Security: As more IoT-connected medical devices are deployed, securing these endpoints becomes paramount. This session will cover safeguarding medical devices and integrating IoT security within broader cybersecurity frameworks.
- Cloud and Data Storage Security: With increasing volumes of patient data stored and processed in cloud environments, this discussion will focus on cloud security architectures, data encryption, and access management to prevent unauthorised access and breaches.
- Supply Chain and Vendor Risk Management: Recent breaches have highlighted vulnerabilities in supply chains, particularly with third-party vendors. This topic will cover how to vet, monitor, and secure third-party providers to mitigate supply chain risks.
- Incident Response and Resilience Planning: Learn how to build and implement effective incident response frameworks that minimise operational disruptions, prioritise patient safety, and enable rapid recovery from attacks.
- Identity and Access Management (IAM): Effective IAM practices, including multi-factor authentication (MFA) and role-based access control (RBAC), are essential in mitigating unauthorised access. This session will explore the latest IAM solutions and best practices.
Why Attend?
This conference is essential for NHS leaders, IT professionals, and cybersecurity specialists aiming to navigate the rapidly evolving cyber threat landscape. Participants will benefit from:
- Expert Insights: Gain in-depth knowledge on the latest cybersecurity strategies tailored to healthcare, presented by industry leaders and cybersecurity experts.
- Collaborative Knowledge Sharing: Engage with peers across the NHS, private sector, and governmental bodies to share experiences, challenges, and solutions.
- Real-World Case Studies: Access actionable insights from case studies showcasing how healthcare organisations are effectively addressing cybersecurity challenges.
Attendees will leave the event with advanced strategies and tools to protect against sophisticated cyber threats, ensuring that the NHS remains resilient, safeguarding patient data, and maintaining continuity of services amidst growing cybersecurity risks.
