Imagine telling an exhausted nurse, mid-12-hour shift, that their most important duty isn’t saving lives, but remembering to lock their screen. Or reminding a surgeon, between back-to-back procedures, to update their password before it expires. It sounds absurd... because it is. Yet, for years, the NHS has quietly relied on overworked staff to double as frontline cyber security officers.
The reality? Cyber security shouldn’t depend on who last remembered their training module. It should be built into the very fabric of the network - invisible, automatic, and unshakable. Because when the stakes are high and the seconds matter, the NHS needs staff focused on patients, not phishing.
The problem
Right now, NHS Trusts are asking, “How do I ensure my NHS staff are following best practices in relation to cyber security and are keeping security front of mind at all times?”
However, this is not the question that should be asked. It’s a well-known fact that the NHS in the UK is over-worked, under-staffed, and under-pressure, with one study finding that nearly three-quarters of employees in the NHS face unrealistic pressures.
The majority of staff are working long hours with barely enough time to stop for a bite to eat - so is it reasonable to expect these people to find time in their day to complete their mandatory cyber security training or remember to lock their PC when they get called away?
It may seem like a small thing to ask your staff to be just a little more diligent in their behaviours, but the reality is that cyber security is far down the list of priorities for nurses and doctors - and quite rightly!
So, what if instead of nudging staff harder, you simply remove the burden from them?
Shift the responsibility - let technology do the heavy lifting
Ensuring you’re protected from cyber threats without putting extra strain on your already overworked staff is imperative. To do this, you need to build a secure network that is built to handle the attacks when they inevitably come.
We’ve reached a point where the smart move is not to rely on human vigilance but to embed security into the very architecture of your network. This shift isn’t just theory; it’s an operational imperative.
Rather than layering assorted point tools (Secure Web Gateway, CASB, DLP, ZTNA, etc.) and expecting busy IT teams to stitch them together, modern NHS Trusts need an integrated, resilient, frictionless architecture that anticipates threats and enforces protection everywhere, all the time.
This is where SASE (Secure Access Service Edge) becomes a game-changer.
Why SASE is the answer the NHS has been waiting for
At its core, SASE converges networking and security into a unified, cloud-native fabric combining identity-driven access, on-demand policy enforcement, built-in zero trust, and visibility across every edge.
No more patching together a dozen consoles, no more juggling firewall rules or VPN bottlenecks.
As someone who has consulted with NHS trusts and ICBs as part of network transformation projects and delivered next-gen connectivity solutions to hundreds of NHS locations across the UK, I have seen that the desire for building secure networks is always there, but how to do it has always been the challenge.
NHS networks are often a mish-mash of different technologies and vendors, thrown together as part of a desperate attempt to secure the very precious NHS networks. A pain to manage and expense to maintain.
SASE can take away that pain. A single license, a single dashboard, encompassing all of the network security tools that an NHS organisation may need, at a lower cost than the piecemeal approach.
And the very nature of SASE means you can onboard tools in a phased approach whilst off-boarding your existing tools, meaning you can break down your SASE journey into much smaller and more manageable steps, rather than adding another large-scale project to your IT teams already busy schedule!
SASE at Nasstar
Connectivity, security, and identity are no longer separate topics. At Nasstar, we’ve designed a connectivity fabric that works with single and multi-vendor security setups, letting users access important applications safely and efficiently.
At the same time, organisations can scale their threat protection, block cyber attacks, and apply security controls quickly and easily.
Nasstar’s SASE solution delivers:
Unified visibility and control: One pane of glass, one set of rules, consistent protection regardless of location.
Zero Trust by default: Every access decision is context-aware and identity-verified, reducing the attack surface.
Cloud-native scale: Whether you’re serving a small rural trust or a sprawling Integrated Care Board, your security scales elastically.
Simplified operations: Nasstar manages the SASE stack as a service, so your overstretched NHS IT teams don’t have to become security tool integrators.
Better experience, less friction: Clinicians don’t have to jump through hoops with SASE. They get fast, secure access transparently, so patient care isn’t disrupted.
Given the value of NHS data, and the frequency of attempted ransomware and breach events, the time for an architectural leap is now.
A deeper insight: Security must be enshrined in the network, not appended
Many NHS security strategies today are reactive. Policies are layered after the fact, training is mandated, and alerts are piled on. For some time, people have been treated as a security perimeter, which is proving unsustainable while increasing the fragility of your network. Instead:
The network must be the security perimeter
Access must be continuously evaluated and enforced
Security should live in the flow of connectivity, not in discrete point tools
This shift isn’t just clever - it’s necessary. As staff roam between hospital wings, remote clinics, home settings, or mobile triage pods, you need security that flows with them, invisibly, and always-on.
Why Nasstar is uniquely placed to deliver this for the NHS
When it comes to securing NHS networks, not all partners are created equal. The challenge isn’t just about deploying the latest technology; it’s about delivering solutions that work seamlessly in one of the most high-pressure environments imaginable.
This is where Nasstar stands apart. We combine deep healthcare expertise with cutting-edge secure network services, all wrapped in a fully managed model that removes the day-to-day burden from stretched NHS IT teams.
Deep healthcare experience
Nasstar already serves the healthcare domain, offering cloud-managed services, connectivity over HSCN, and adherence to NHS Digital standards.Comprehensive, integrated service model
Nasstar doesn’t build and walk away; we can both design and manage your infrastructure end-to-end.Trusted security credentials
Our managed services meet rigorous public sector compliance and certification standards, including ISO, Cyber Essentials, etc.SASE as a native offering
Nasstar’s SASE is built in, not bolted on. It’s a modern architecture through which your secure network and identity enforcement are one and the same.Operational relief for NHS IT teams
The burden of managing multiple point tools, alerts, patches, updates, and integrations is removed. Nasstar takes on that load, freeing internal teams to focus on clinical priorities.
Next steps for a secure NHS
Let’s stop asking already overworked staff to do things they weren’t hired for. Instead:
Start by evaluating your network architecture - does it force staff to behave, or does it protect by design?
Run a proof-of-concept with Nasstar’s SASE solution, overlaying it on a pilot trust or department
Use a trusted partner who can deliver design, deployment, and ongoing managed operation at scale
In healthcare, seconds matter. We believe security should be invisible, steadfast, and baked into every connection - not left to chance or human discretion. The time has come to shift responsibility from people to resilient architecture.
Contact our teams today to find out how we can support your Trust.
