Cybersecurity Lessons from DTAC: What Every Health Tech Founder Should Know
When health tech vendors think about NHS adoption, most imagine clinical validation or user engagement as the big hurdles. But the major blocker is cybersecurity.
The NHS DTAC explicitly tests vendors on whether their products are secure enough to handle sensitive health data. It’s not an optional extra – a single weak link can kill your procurement chances.
🔑 Three cybersecurity essentials in DTAC (and why they matter)
Cyber Essentials certification
The NHS baseline: prove you’ve implemented core controls (firewalls, patching, malware protection, secure config).
Cyber Essentials Plus (audited) carries more weight – some NHS buyers already make it a tender requirementHealthcare AI Regulatory Readin….
Penetration testing
DTAC expects evidence of an independent penetration test within 12 months, focusing on OWASP Top 10 vulnerabilities (SQL injection, XSS, etc.) .
Even startups are not exempt: NHS security teams will ask to see the report.
Multi-Factor Authentication on privileged accounts
It sounds basic, but failure here has already led to NHS-wide service disruption.
DTAC assessors will look for evidence that all admin access uses MFA.
🚨 Why this matters beyond compliance
Cyber lapses aren’t just a “box-ticking” issue. In healthcare, downtime equals delayed diagnoses, missed medications, or worse. NHS buyers are acutely aware of the risks – and that’s why DTAC cybersecurity evidence isn’t negotiable.
💡 Takeaway for founders
If you’re preparing for NHS procurement, don’t treat security as paperwork to be done later. Make it a core design principle from day one. Evidence of proactive cybersecurity not only clears DTAC but also signals to commissioners that you are a trustworthy, low-risk partner.
📌 Next step: Our Fast-Track Compliance Playbook maps every DTAC security requirement to the exact evidence you need – with templates and accelerators to cut months off your timeline.
