Cyber theft that worms its way in through emails could soon be a thing of the past for the NHS.
UK cyber security firm Beyond Encryption has been approved as an official accredited digital provider to the organisation.
It means NHS trusts, hospitals and doctors’ surgeries across the country, amongst other public sector businesses, are officially cleared to use Beyond Encryption’s services including Mailock, its military-grade email encryption service. The system seeks to eradicate the theft of money and sensitive medical data that might currently be exchanged using email.
The news comes as the spotlight was firmly placed on the impact of cyber scams on UK bank customers earlier this week. New figures from UK Finances showed that in the first half of 2018 there were 3,866 reported cases of impersonation scams, in which criminals pretend to be from a financial institution or law enforcement, and trick account holders into transferring money.
Using military grade encryption alongside a secondary verification system, Mailock wants email communications to be impenetrable to hackers and ensure messages can only be opened by their intended recipient. The system hooks into the user’s existing email platform, meaning they don’t need to learn how to use a completely different piece of software. For most users it looks, feels and largely behaves the same as their normal email, it’s just more secure.
Aside from preventing unwanted interception, senders can also track when messages have been opened and revoke message access if mistakes are made, invaluable audit and control features.
Beyond Encryption’s CEO, Paul Holland, said: “This is huge news for the NHS. Mailock has the potential to help stamp out phishing scams, which can cost millions of pounds. At a time when the health service is looking to save money and be as efficient as it can, this has huge potential.”
Whether companies or the NHS are sending sensitive financial or medical information, invoices or client records, Mailock can help protect the communications.
For example, when an invoice is sent via normal email it is susceptible to being intercepted by cyber criminals who have repeatedly demonstrated their ability to substitute their own bank account details and pocket the money. The sender of the invoice often has no idea that they’ve paid the money into the wrong account until they are chased for payment by the intended recipient.
Through Mailock the email is encrypted so hackers can’t crack it open and, as a secondary measure, the recipient’s identity can be verified by the sender.
The system also has potential to stop sensitive patient data getting into the wrong hands. The medical sector is a prime target for hackers, who know there is money to be made by holding people and organisations to ransom over sensitive medical information.
With Mailock, hospitals can safely email patient information to doctors, external specialists or insurance companies, as well as consumers themselves, knowing they are exercising caution and securing the digital correspondence.
Paul says: “These kind of ransom demands happen more than people think across a huge range of businesses. Think of any organisation that has sensitive medical information about you – your dentist, your lawyer, your health insurance company – they’re all a target for cyber criminals who know they’d pay anything to stop the reputational – and financial – fallout of your data being stolen.”
To find out more about Mailock, which is used by law firms, financial services firms and other businesses across the UK visit www.beyondencryption.com
