Civica helps improve security for 25,000 users at eleven NHS trusts
SUSSEX HEALTH INFORMATICS SERVICE CHOOSES CIVICA ASIMPLEMENTATION PARTNER IN JOINED-UP NHS IT SECURITYINITIATIV
Civica Services is working with Sussex Health Informatics Service (HIS), which provides IT services to all eleven NHS trusts in the Sussex region, to deploying Sophos’s security and management solutions to consolidate and strengthen IT security across the board.
The rollout is due for completion in December 2007, and Civica will help protect 25,000 users. Civica will manage the deployment of Sophos and the replacement of a range of disparate solutions, thereby streamlining efficiency and reducing costs whilst increasing functionality and raising defences.
Sussex HIS is currently in the process of standardising on best of breed technology, and has recognised that security is a crucial component of this overhaul. The decision was taken to deploy a complete and consolidated security solution, provided by a single vendor, not only to fend off dangerous malware attacks, but also to ease pressure on IT staff by simplifying management and to significantly reduce costs.
Sophos was chosen after a full tendering process, which was organised by Civica Services, an experienced provider of managed services to the public sector and implementation partner to Sussex HIS for this project. This decision was based on Sophos’s understanding of the organisation’s complex business and IT requirements, as well as its comprehensive, round-the-clock
support offering.
“We’re delighted with the solution Sophos is putting in place, which is completely in line with our complex operational requirements,” said Steve Orman, head of IT services at Sussex HIS.
Civica Services, which was the natural choice to carry out the security overhaul because of its signifi cant experience in implementing IT solutions for the public sector, is a gold Sophos Partner.
“Our twenty year relationship with the NHS and our strong partnership with Sussex HIS ensured that the organisation had complete trust in our ability to come up with the right security solution for the job,” said Steve Reynolds, managing director of Civica.
“After considering several vendors, Sophos was the clear favourite; offering the best implementation and ongoing support package, as well as demonstrating a willingness to take on board the complex needs of the organisation. Crucially, Sophos has made it possible for Sussex HIS to migrate over to the new security solution gradually vital to the success and smooth running of the project.”
“By consolidating its security solutions, Sussex HIS has bolstered defences at the region’s NHS trusts and removed the need for separate deployments that could have left the network vulnerable’.