Small adult social care providers across the UK are being offered free support to improve their cyber resilience. The initiative is a collaboration between the Digital Care Hub, national cybersecurity experts, and local support organizations, with funding from the Department of Science, Innovation and Technology’s Cyber Local program. This program targets small providers in the South West, West Midlands, and North West regions, offering a range of services such as facilitated exercises, cyber vulnerability assessments, and webinars. The program aims to enhance cybersecurity practices, helping care providers better protect their services from potential threats.
The Cyber Resilient Care support is tailored specifically for small adult social care providers, particularly those employing up to 50 staff members. The program leverages official resources and processes, such as those developed by the National Cyber Security Centre and the police-led Cyber Resilience Centres, to provide practical tools and strategies for improving cybersecurity. Participating organizations can benefit from a series of workshops, vulnerability scans, and incident response guidance, all delivered by cybersecurity and social care experts. This approach ensures that the support is both relevant and actionable for the care providers involved.
Workshops are an integral part of the support offered, focusing on common cyber threats and incidents faced by care providers. These hands-on sessions use real-world scenarios such as phishing attacks, power outages, and lost devices, to help participants develop responses to cyber incidents. The workshops will be delivered on-site, with sessions tailored to the specific needs of the region and the type of care services provided. Additionally, care providers can participate in vulnerability assessments, which offer a detailed evaluation of their IT systems and devices, helping them identify potential risks and weaknesses. These assessments will be followed by reports that guide providers on improving their cybersecurity measures.
In addition to the workshops and assessments, the program includes cyber incident webinars, where participants can engage with real-time cybersecurity scenarios and vote on the best course of action. These webinars are open to all small adult social care providers, whether registered with the Care Quality Commission or not. The initiative also provides ongoing outreach to ensure that care providers are aware of the resources available to them, with updates published through newsletters and regional events. This comprehensive approach aims to foster a proactive cybersecurity culture among small care providers, helping them mitigate risks and ensure the security of both their staff and service users.
