The Five Security Controls Every Digital Health Company Needs

In digital health, data is your most valuable asset and your biggest liability. Whether you’re developing clinical apps, integrating IoT medical devices, or delivering cloud-based healthcare platforms, you’re operating in one of the most regulated and high-risk environments in the world.

That’s why frameworks like Cyber Essentials are so critical. Backed by the UK government and recognised by the NHS, the scheme provides a set of five practical, cost-effective security controls. When implemented correctly, these controls not only reduce your cyber risk — they also help you demonstrate compliance to healthcare buyers, regulators, and international partners.

Why Cyber Essentials Matters in Digital Health

For digital health suppliers, Cyber Essentials certification is about more than security:

• NHS supply chain compliance: Cyber Essentials supports NHS Digital’s Data Security and Protection Toolkit (DSPT) and is increasingly required in tenders.

• Regulatory alignment: The controls map to GDPR (EU/UK), HIPAA (US), and MDR/IVDR security obligations for medical devices.

• Market trust: Certification is an immediate signal to patients, providers, and insurers that you prioritise data security.

• Barrier removal: Many NHS contracts, grants, and innovation partnerships are closed to firms without Cyber Essentials.

Put simply, if you’re in digital health, certification is not optional; it’s your ticket to operate and grow.

The Five Cyber Essentials Security Controls

Let’s break down the five controls and what they mean in a digital health context.

1. Firewalls and Internet Gateways

Purpose: Securely control traffic between your network and the internet.

Protects patient platforms, clinical data flows, and device connectivity from external threats. Proper firewall configuration also ensures compliance with DSPT requirements for network protection.

2. Secure Configuration

Purpose: Ensure systems are set up securely by disabling unnecessary services, removing default accounts, and hardening settings.

Many breaches stem from default configurations in cloud platforms or medical devices. A secure baseline demonstrates regulatory due diligence under NHS and EU medical device regulations.

3. User Access Control

Purpose: Ensure only authorised individuals have access to systems and data.

Access controls are vital when handling sensitive patient records. MFA and least-privilege access help meet GDPR Article 32 requirements and HIPAA access safeguards.

4. Malware Protection

Purpose: Prevent malicious software from executing on systems.

Malware can compromise clinical systems and patient safety. Anti-malware tools, whitelisting, and sandboxing support DSPT and HIPAA requirements for protecting data integrity.

5. Patch Management (Security Updates)

Purpose: Ensure devices and applications are updated against known vulnerabilities, ideally within 14 days.

Legacy software and IoT medical devices are common weak points. Patch management is essential for MDR/IVDR compliance, as regulators expect proactive management of vulnerabilities in clinical technologies.

Compliance Benefits for Digital Health

Implementing these five controls has direct compliance benefits:

• DSPT / NHS supply chain: Cyber Essentials evidence key DSPT criteria, unlocking procurement eligibility.

• GDPR: Supports obligations around “appropriate technical and organisational measures” for protecting personal data.

• HIPAA: Strengthens technical safeguards for access, integrity, and malware prevention.

• ISO 27001: Provides evidence of control implementation within an ISMS framework.

By mapping Cyber Essentials to these frameworks, digital health firms can reduce audit friction, win contracts faster, and reassure international stakeholders.

Why Aim for Cyber Essentials Plus

While Cyber Essentials (self-assessment) is a strong start, Cyber Essentials Plus is often the expectation in healthcare. It adds independent testing, vulnerability scanning, and external verification — providing stronger assurance for:

• NHS procurement teams evaluating suppliers.

• Insurers assessing cyber liability.

• International buyers in regulated markets.

For digital health, Plus certification demonstrates a higher level of maturity and credibility.

How Periculo Helps Digital Health Companies Achieve Certification

At Periculo, we specialise in guiding health tech and digital health organisations through the Cyber Essentials journey. Our services include:

• Readiness assessments and scoping support.

• Mapping Cyber Essentials to DSPT, NHS requirements, GDPR, HIPAA, MDR/IVDR.

• Technical remediation — from patch management to secure configuration.

• Preparing evidence and board-level governance reviews.

• Coordinating Cyber Essentials Plus audits for maximum assurance.

We help digital health innovators achieve certification quickly, avoid delays, and strengthen trust with healthcare stakeholders.

For digital health companies, Cyber Essentials isn’t just an IT checkbox; it should be seen as a compliance enabler. By implementing the five essential controls, you reduce cyber risk, prove alignment with NHS supply chain guidance, and build credibility with regulators and partners worldwide.