NEW: Cyber Security Partnership of the Year

newthis
NEW: Cyber Security Partnership of the Year
Read more

How to apply

  1. Register an account.
  2. Start your entry (save it in-progress).
  3. Submit your entry to be in the running.

Best of luck!

Start your entry

As the NHS accelerates the shift from analogue to digital, the volume of people and systems accessing sensitive patient data continues to grow. Greater interoperability, the single patient record and AI all expand what must be protected, and a cyber incident is increasingly understood as a direct risk to patient safety and continuity of care, not only to data. Protecting services, data and patients from disruption is now a day-to-day operational priority for every NHS organisation.

The most successful partnerships build protection into people's working lives, minimise disruption for busy staff and give clinicians the confidence to use digital tools safely. As automation and AI spread, this also means guarding against the use of untested or ungoverned tools, with clear guidance that keeps staff productive while keeping systems safe. Strong user experience and a security-aware culture are as important as the underlying controls.

This award will recognise a partnership between a cyber security provider and one or more NHS organisations that has measurably strengthened resilience while supporting, rather than slowing, frontline care. Judges will be looking for evidence of reduced risk, improved confidence among staff and a collaborative approach that reflects a deep understanding of how the NHS works.

Eligibility

  • Open to cyber security providers, technology companies and other private sector organisations working in partnership with one or more NHS organisations to improve cyber resilience, data protection or information security. 
  • Entries must demonstrate measurable improvements in security posture or risk reduction while supporting safe and effective day-to-day working for NHS staff. 
  • Evidence must relate to work delivered within the past two years up until the awards entry deadline.

Ambition

The challenge and context within which your project, person or organisation is set alongside your goals and targets whether quantitative or qualitative, and how this aligns with national priorities.

  • Describe the cyber security risk or challenge the partnership set out to address and its significance for NHS services.
  • Explain how the work aligns with national priorities to protect NHS data and digital infrastructure.
  • Set out the goals agreed, including targets for risk reduction or resilience.

Collaboration

The stakeholders’ involvement in co-designing and delivering the project. How have patients, staff at all levels, communities and other parties worked together to realise the outcomes?

  • Describe how the provider and NHS partners worked together, and how staff were engaged so security became part of everyday working.
  • Explain how the approach minimised disruption and built confidence among clinical and operational users.
  • Provide evidence of a security-aware culture developed jointly.

Impact

The measurable benefits delivered to patients, staff, your organisation or the wider system. Provide data and evidence showing improvements to outcomes, quality, access, equity or efficiency.

  • Provide measurable evidence of improved security posture, reduced risk or incidents prevented.
  • Share data and feedback showing staff confidence and minimal disruption to care.
  • Demonstrate value for money and protection of services and patients.

Scale

How your work has been shared, adopted or replicated beyond your immediate team or organisation. This includes dissemination through publications, presentations, toolkits, partnerships or inspiring similar initiatives elsewhere.

  • Describe how protection and good practice are maintained as threats, systems and regulation evolve, with continuous monitoring rather than one-off fixes.
  • Explain how the partnership supports long-term resilience.

Sustainability

The potential for the project/work to continue and create lasting impact. Evidence of how it can be sustained or built upon.

  • Describe how protection and good practice are maintained as threats and systems evolve.
  • Explain how the partnership supports long-term resilience.

NEW: Cyber Security Partnership of the Year

Start your entry

To find out more

Partnership opportunities:  Sponsorship Sales Team
Awards entry enquiries: Support Team
Judging and event management: Awards Support