Around 33% of adult social care providers in the UK have experienced a cyber incident or unsuccessful attack over a three-year period, according to a study published by the Department of Health and Social Care.
75% of the reported incidents involved phishing, while 35% involved impersonation attacks. Care homes are at a high risk of cyberattacks because they store highly valuable, sensitive data.
In addition, many care providers, especially those running smaller homes, lack dedicated, full-time IT support or regular backups.
Care homes are now adopting various software implementations to ensure that their records are secure and private information is not leaked. Here are four ways in which technology is supporting cyber safety.
AI-powered threat detection
AI-powered threat detection and monitoring in care homes is essentially technology that uses AI to spot potential cyberattacks, suspicious behaviour or security weaknesses before they cause any damage.
There are several ways in which AI threat detection can be implemented. The first way is through 24/7 monitoring systems, where the AI software continuously monitors a care provider’s IT network, such as digital care planning systems and electronic resident records.
The AI can also learn what normal activity looks like and flag anything unusual, such as a staff member logging in from an unusual location or multiple failed login attempts. Detecting phishing and ransomware attacks and sending real-time alerts about suspicious activity are also things that AI can do.
Systems that are known to provide this service to care homes include Microsoft Azure Sentinel and IBM QRadar, AI-driven SIEM tools that use machine learning to correlate multi-source logs and prioritise alerts.
Multi-factor authentication and biometric security
Multi-factor authentication (MFA) adds an extra layer of protection when staff access care systems, requiring more than just a complex password.
There are three main types of authentication: something you know, such as a password or PIN; something you have, such as a security key, authentication app or registered device; and something you are, such as a fingerprint or facial recognition.
These processes make it harder for someone to access sensitive information using stolen login credentials alone.
MFA can be used for electronic care planning and resident management systems, medication management platforms, staff scheduling and HR systems, and remote access to care home networks.
Biometrics are also being commonly adopted, such as fingerprint recognition, where a staff member can scan their fingerprint to unlock a tablet or log into a secure system.
Facial recognition allows a camera to verify a staff member’s identity before granting access to a device.
Some larger care homes offer iris recognition, where a device scans a staff member’s iris to add another layer of verification.
This method can help ensure that staff only access systems using their own credentials, improve accountability by linking system activity to individual users, and reduce reliance on easily forgotten or shared passwords.
Data encryption and secure cloud storage
Data encryption is a method of turning readable files into unreadable ciphertext before storage or transmission, ensuring that sensitive cloud-hosted data stays protected even if the infrastructure is breached.
This method can be particularly important for care homes since the UK GDPR and Data Protection Act 2018 state that care providers must implement appropriate technical and organisational measures to protect personal information.
There are two main types of encryption: encryption at rest, which protects information when it is stored on a device or server, such as medical records or staff and payroll records; and encryption in transit, which protects information while it is being transferred between devices, systems or networks.
This can include a care worker updating a resident’s digital care plan on a tablet or information being transferred between a care home and a healthcare professional.
Cloud storage allows care providers to store information on secure remote servers rather than relying entirely on computers or physical servers located within the care home.
This means authorised staff can access relevant information through an internet connection, using approved devices and secure login credentials.
Care homes can use cloud storage for digital social care records, medication administration records and secure backups of important information.
Endpoint Detection and Response
Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR) provides continuous monitoring, threat detection and automated containment for devices like laptops, tablets, desktops and servers in care homes and social care environments.
This technology is relevant for care homes because they increasingly rely on computers, laptops, tablets and smartphones to manage daily operations and care.
EDR helps protect these devices by continuously monitoring their activity, identifying suspicious behaviour and responding to potential cyberattacks.
EDR is software that is connected to an organisation’s network of devices. The software monitors any suspicious activity that could indicate a cyberattack. Unlike traditional antivirus software, which primarily focuses on identifying and blocking known malware, EDR also looks for unusual behaviour that could indicate a new or developing threat.
If something unusual happens, the system flags it for investigation, such as a care worker’s laptop suddenly downloading suspicious files. The system generates alerts so IT teams or cybersecurity specialists can investigate what has happened, which devices are affected and whether information may have been compromised.
Depending on the software and configuration, EDR can take immediate action, such as isolating an infected laptop from the network, blocking malicious files and stopping suspicious applications.
For more caretech news, check out the other articles on the website, and for more information please email us at roshini.bains@starmediaservices.co.uk
