The $30 million toe in the water

NHS England has increased its recorded risk level for cyber security to the highest possible grading of 25 out of 25 , according to a new risk assessment published by the organisation.

The risk is unlikely to abate for at least four years, with the impact considered the biggest single threat to the NHS.

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NHS suppliers are particularly vulnerable, with an attack on pathology provider Synnovis in 2024 leading to blood test delays and a consequent patient death .

NHS England is planning to send a message to local leaders to set out several basic things all organisations must do to reduce risk .

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According to a cyber security expert,increased interoperability between systes and more use of AI have left the NHS more vulnerable.

This includes new AI tools that can potentially identify and weaponise vulnerabilities in IT systems and apps .

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Some NHS open source coding, for the likes of the NHS App, have been temporarily taken down from the internet because of the Mythos threat.

NHS England and the Department of Health and Social Care are prioritising funding bids for cyber security improvements and ambient voice technology, which can listen to conversations and create automated transcripts for doctors.

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A major cyber security exercise is planned for next month, and NHS England is working on a comprehensive list of potentially vulnerable organisational assets.

The 'insider threat monitoring' is likly in response to official and unofficial use of AI in the NHS, as well as third-party contractors.

Cyber security consultant Saif Abed said that the recognition of this ongoing risk exemplifies the accelerating public health and national security threats facing the NHS stemming from both technology and a complex,ungoverned supply chain.

He added that the scale and clinical impact of cyber attacks will only grow with increasing interoperability and AI adoption across the NHS.