Department of Health partners with HSV to enhance cyber security for health services

Victoria’s Department of Health is working with HSV to procure cyber security tools for health services that protect against phishing attacks and improve cyber security for individual end users.

The first of the cyber security-related tenders managed by HSV for an endpoint detection and response tool (EDR), was completed in six weeks and secured significant cost savings for the state.

EDR software monitors end-user hardware devices across the health service’s network for suspicious activities and behaviour, reacting automatically to block perceived threats and saving data for investigation. All Victorian public health services are required to have this protective system in place.

While health services are free to choose which vendor they wish to use, HSV Head of Sourcing IT John McKinlay estimates 90 per cent of Victorian health services and community services will opt to access the new agreement.

“It makes sense for health services from a cost perspective. Also, this system is a market leader in threat detection and endpoint security,” he says.

“It continuously monitors devices to detect and respond to cyber threats like ransomware and malware. It means that if a hacker tries to communicate with a user at a health service, it can detect the threat and lock down the communication.”

Acting Director of Cybersecurity and Assurance for the Department of Health Michael Read says the EDR agreement will help to protect patient data and ensure health services are staying cyber safe.

He says it makes sense for HSV to take over the procurement work for IT contracts such as cyber security tools.

“HSV has the maturity and expertise in the procurement space and combining this with the department’s cyber security expertise has been very effective. We recognise that we can achieve the best results by working together,” he says.

Michael says he expects that future tenders run by HSV will include cyber tools to manage system vulnerabilities, including phishing attacks as well as multifactor authentication and password management.

“We are leading the way in procuring next-generation cyber tools and HSV is helping us to maximise savings and opportunities for the health sector.”

If you are interested in finding out more about how HSV can help with cyber security software procurement, please speak to a Customer Relationship Manager.