Healthcare Practices: Addressing Cybersecurity Risks

Medical staff in a Lancashire GP surgery using secure IT systems to manage patient data

30 Jan, 26

In a modern healthcare setting, the stethoscope and the blood pressure cuff aren’t the only essential tools for patient care. Today, your digital infrastructure, your patient records, e-prescribing tools, and communication systems is just as vital.

However, as healthcare practices across Lancashire and the North West move further into the cloud, the risks have shifted. In 2026, a cyberattack isn’t just an IT headache; it is a direct threat to patient safety and practice continuity.

Here is why cybersecurity is no longer just a ‘back-office’ concern, and how you can protect your practice.

1. The “Human Firewall”: your strongest (or weakest) link

Cybercriminals rarely spend their time trying to brute-force a complex firewall. Instead, they hack people. In a high-pressure environment like a GP surgery or dental practice, staff are often multitasking, juggling phone lines, patient check-ins and urgent admin.

It only takes one distracted second for a staff member to click a link in a sophisticated phishing email disguised as an ‘Urgent NHS Update.’

The Solution: You don’t need long, boring seminars that staff forget a week later. At J700 Group, we advocate for automated security awareness training. By using bite-sized, 10-minute modules, we help your team build a security habit, turning your staff into a proactive Human Firewall that spots threats before they hit your network.

2. Protecting the foundation of trust: GDPR and CQC compliance

Trust is the currency of healthcare. Patients share their most sensitive life details because they believe their data is safe. A data breach doesn’t just result in a fine from the ICO; it shatters that trust and can lead to a devastating ‘inadequate’ rating from the Care Quality Commission (CQC).

Under the ‘well-led’ and ‘safe’ criteria, inspectors are increasingly looking for evidence that practices are proactively managing digital risks.

The Risk: Losing patient data or having it leaked can lead to massive legal liabilities and a damaged reputation in your local community.
The Solution: We provide the reporting and audit trails that inspectors love to see. We encrypt your data, train your staff and document your compliance.

3. Clinical continuity: the power of a “plan B”

If your internet goes down, does your practice stop? For most modern surgeries, the answer is yes. Without connectivity, you lose access to clinical systems, you cannot process prescriptions, and you cannot communicate with secondary care.

In healthcare, downtime means lost revenue and a delay in patient treatment.

The resilience edge: We help practices implement intelligent failover solutions. If your primary fibre line fails, a plan B (like a 4G/5G or Starlink satellite backup) kicks in automatically. Your staff stays online, and your patients stay cared for.

4. The Microsoft 365 backup gap

There is a common misconception in healthcare management that because data is in Microsoft 365, it is automatically backed up.

This is not the case. Microsoft operates on a shared responsibility model. They guarantee the platform stays up, but the data remains the responsibility of the practice. If a file is accidentally deleted or a mailbox is corrupted, Microsoft may not be able to recover it.

For a healthcare provider, losing access to clinical emails or patient correspondence is not an option. A dedicated, third-party cloud backup is the only way to ensure 100% data recoverability.

Is your practice protected?

Cybersecurity in healthcare isn’t about buying the most expensive software; it’s about creating a culture of resilience. It’s about ensuring that your staff are trained, your connection is redundant, and your data is backed up.

At J700 Group, we specialise in helping Lancashire and North West healthcare providers navigate these challenges without adding to their already heavy workloads.

Stop wondering “what if” and start feeling secure.

Request a Free Health Check for your healthcare organisation.