Strengthen Healthcare Endpoint Security and Cyber Resilience with the NCSC CAF
Explore how a preventative endpoint security architecture can support NCSC Cyber Assessment Framework outcomes
Healthcare organisations depend on endpoints to give clinical and operational teams secure access to patient information, applications and care-critical services.
But traditional endpoint architectures can introduce complexity, configuration drift and additional attack surface that security and IT teams must continually manage.
Download the whitepaper to explore how the IGEL Adaptive Secure Endpoint Platform® can support a preventative approach to endpoint security and help healthcare organisations address relevant NCSC Cyber Assessment Framework outcomes.
What is the NCSC Cyber Assessment Framework?
The National Cyber Security Centre Cyber Assessment Framework (NCSC CAF) helps organisations assess how effectively they manage cyber risks to essential services.
Rather than prescribing a fixed security checklist, the framework focuses on whether an organisation’s security controls deliver the required outcomes, using indicators of good practice and professional judgement.
For healthcare IT leaders, this creates an opportunity to assess whether the underlying endpoint architecture supports the security and resilience outcomes the organisation needs.
Get the whitepaper: Improving Healthcare Endpoint Security and Cyber Resilience Under the NCSC Cyber Assessment Framework.
Why does endpoint security matter for NCSC CAF in healthcare?
The endpoint is where clinicians and operational teams connect to patient information, applications and critical services.
Many healthcare endpoint estates continue to rely on general-purpose operating systems that support local software, local updates and multiple layers of security tooling.
Over time, this can contribute to:
- Configuration drift: Differences develop between devices and require ongoing monitoring and remediation.
- A larger attack surface: Unnecessary software and endpoint components can increase potential exposure.
- Greater management complexity: Security and IT teams must maintain multiple endpoint controls and configurations.
- Risk to patient information: Lost or compromised devices can put confidential information at risk.
- Risk to continuity of care: Endpoint disruption can interrupt access to clinical systems and critical services.
- Potential wider network exposure: A compromised endpoint can become another route for threats into the environment.
As healthcare increasingly extends beyond traditional hospital environments and closer to the patient, securing the endpoint becomes an important part of cyber resilience.
How can a preventative endpoint architecture support cyber resilience?
The IGEL Adaptive Secure Endpoint Platform® provides an alternative approach to traditional general-purpose endpoint architecture.
At its foundation, IGEL OS™ is a purpose-built endpoint operating system designed around preventative security principles.
The approach combines:
Centralised management
Maintain endpoint configuration and policy centrally rather than relying on unmanaged local changes.
Controlled application delivery
Control which applications are available and how they are delivered to the endpoint.
Trusted user access
Apply appropriate user access privileges to help users reach the resources required for their role.
Reduced local data exposure
IGEL OS is designed so user data is not stored on the endpoint.
Reduced endpoint attack surface
The IGEL Preventative Security Model® focuses on reducing unnecessary endpoint components and risk before access occurs.
What does the whitepaper cover?
A practical look at endpoint architecture through the NCSC CAF lens
Download the paper to explore:
Endpoint security and architecture
Understand how endpoint design can influence cyber risk, operational complexity and resilience.
NCSC CAF outcomes
Explore where an architecture based on preventative security principles can support relevant CAF security outcomes.
Identity and access
Consider how trusted user access and identity controls fit into the broader endpoint security model.
Network and monitoring controls
Understand why endpoint security must operate alongside appropriate network, monitoring and governance controls.
Business continuity
Explore the role endpoint architecture plays in maintaining access to essential applications and services.
Governance and surrounding controls
Understand where endpoint technology contributes to the security architecture and where complementary organisational controls remain essential.
Can endpoint architecture alone deliver NCSC CAF compliance?
No.
The NCSC CAF evaluates broader organisational cyber resilience outcomes. Endpoint architecture is one part of that picture.
Technology must operate within appropriate governance, identity, network security, monitoring and business continuity controls.
The whitepaper examines where IGEL’s preventative security principles can support CAF outcomes while identifying the surrounding controls organisations must consider as part of their wider security strategy.
Who should read this whitepaper?
This paper is designed for healthcare professionals responsible for cybersecurity, endpoint architecture and operational resilience, including:
- CISOs and security leaders
- CIOs and healthcare IT leaders
- Endpoint and EUC architects
- Cyber resilience and risk teams
- Infrastructure and operations leaders
- Digital workplace teams
- Business continuity and disaster recovery leaders
Rethink the Healthcare Endpoint Through the NCSC CAF
Healthcare cyber resilience depends on more than detecting threats after they reach the device.
Explore how a preventative approach to endpoint architecture can reduce unnecessary endpoint risk, simplify control and support the security and resilience outcomes healthcare organisations are working to achieve.