NHS England is intensifying its compliance requirements for (HSCN) health technology suppliers to integrate with the Health and Social Care Network  

The HSCN, which replaced N3, provides a reliable, efficient, and flexible platform for health and care organisations to access and exchange electronic information. The network facilitates the integration and transformation of health and social care services, enabling reliable and flexible information access and sharing, leading to improved efficiency, bandwidth capacity, financial savings, and smoother access to clinical systems.  Suppliers who demonstrate compliance with the HSCN standards, detailed in the HSCN Obligations Framework, are eligible to sell and deploy the HSCN network services to the health and care sector.  This now includes a requirement for suppliers to evidence compliance with the internationally recognised ISO 27001 (Security Management) and ISO 9001 (Quality Management) standards.

What does this mean for health tech suppliers in, or looking to adopt the HSCN?

ISO 27001 provides a framework for establishing, implementing, and maintaining an information security management system, ensuring risk management and adherence to best practices. With cyber-crime on the rise and new threats emerging, ISO 27001 helps organisations become risk-aware, proactively identify vulnerabilities, and foster cyber-resilience. It takes a holistic approach to information security, covering people, policies, and technology, making it a valuable tool for risk management, operational excellence, and cyber protection. Complying with ISO 27001 will increasingly become more important to ensure the security of the HSCN network, recognising the importance of safeguarding information in the face of ever-evolving cyber threats.

Could your business be impacted?

The way your business uses and protects corporate information can be the decisive factor between securing or losing contracts. By adhering to the prestigious ISO 27001 standard, your business showcases a serious commitment to information security, instilling confidence in both current and potential clients that your operations adhere to the highest security standards. With ISO 27001 certification, your business will be robustly protected against all forms of threats, assuring your customers (in this case, NHS England) that they can do business with you with complete confidence.  If you’re on the HSCN network and are not yet ISO 27001 certified, get in touch. Our team will be able to streamline your compliance to ensure your business and operations are not impacted by any potential changes on the horizon.  Simply book a no-obligation discovery call with a member of our team to discuss your requirements today.

Not yet integrated with the HSCN? 

Integrating with HSCN offers improved connectivity options. It facilitates collaboration between health and social care organisations, streamlining information sharing, and providing easier access to NHS Digital’s national applications. It also enhances security with measures like the Network Analytics Service (NAS) and the NHS Secure Boundary internet filtering service, making it a more reliable and efficient network solution for health and care services.

If you want to get ahead of the game, we’re on hand ready to guide and support you through the entire process. All it takes is 30 minutes of your time – and you can book this using the link below.

Read more about the importance of ISO 27001 compliance for data protection in health tech.

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