Government enhances health cybersecurity defence

Friday 18 December 2020

The Government of Jersey has become the first customer to be onboarded into the UK’s first ‘healthcare dome’ funded by an alliance of cyber professionals working to protect healthcare organisations across the UK and Europe.

Following a surge in cyber attacks on UK healthcare systems, providers and laboratories, C5 Capital (C5) formed an alliance of cyber professionals to offer healthcare organisations in the UK, Europe and USA with free access to world-class cyber security solutions.

The Cyber Alliance to Defend our Healthcare operates in the UK, Europe and the USA and has 35 cyber security firms who have pledged their support to the industry.

This announcement that the Government of Jersey would be the first managed customer to be onboarded formalises the launch of the first UK healthcare dome as a Collective Defence framework dedicated to the healthcare sector. 

Stuart Powell, the Government's CISO, said: “This initiative is a welcome addition to our security operations, particularly as healthcare providers continue to be targeted by cyber criminals. With ITC’s technical expertise through The Cyber Alliance, we are delighted to unlock first class collective threat intelligence and protection for our island’s Health Service.”

Arno Robbertse, ITC Secure’s Chief Executive, said: “The volume of cyber attacks on our healthcare sector and its supply chain has increased exponentially since February of this year. We want to protect these organisations who are working at the forefront of the epidemic, so they can focus on their mission of defending our communities and preserving the health of our fellow citizens.”

ITC and the Government of Jersey have been working in close collaboration with ITC’s exclusive partner in the Channel Islands, JT Group. 

Daragh McDermott, JT’s Managing Director, commented: “We are delighted that JT is able to share a key role alongside ITC in protecting government healthcare services from cyber threats and defending their critical systems throughout the current crisis and beyond.”