As the sector accelerates its shift to digital records, telecare and Technology Enabled Care, a clear leadership priority has moved to the top of the agenda. Cyber incidents are ranked as the number one risk for UK businesses in the Allianz Risk Barometer 2026 — the highest score recorded in the survey’s history — and the DHSC’s State of Cyber Security in Adult Social Care report (published March 2025, still the benchmark reference) shows that around one in three providers has already experienced a cyber incident or unsuccessful attack in the past three years. At the same time, the renewed £21 million Better Security, Better Care programme (confirmed October 2025 and running to March 2029) is available right now and remains significantly underused.
This is not a story of rising threat alone. It is a moment of genuine opportunity. Providers who treat cyber resilience as a board-level strength — and who actively use the free support on offer — are protecting their residents, their teams, their insurance position and their reputation while turning digital investment into a real competitive advantage.
The Real Picture Behind the Numbers
The Allianz data is unambiguous: cyber incidents now sit ahead of every other corporate risk, including AI, business interruption and macroeconomic pressures. In adult social care, the picture is even more focused. As digital records become standard (exactly as we explored in our 24 March feature) and telecare moves fully post-analogue (covered in our infrastructure series), the attack surface has grown. Yet the DHSC research shows that many providers still see cybersecurity as a technical issue rather than a whole-organisation leadership responsibility.
The good news? The £21 million Better Security, Better Care programme — delivered by Digital Care Hub — is specifically designed for care providers like yours. It offers free data and cyber health checks, practical guidance to complete and go beyond the Data Security and Protection Toolkit (DSPT), and support to embed good practice into everyday operations. Because it is voluntary and locally delivered through care associations, it is low-effort, high-impact, and still open for immediate use.
What This Means for Your Organisation in 2026
For most providers, these findings translate into three immediate, positive realities:
- Board-level visibility is now expected — CQC, commissioners and insurers are all looking for evidence that cyber resilience is owned at the leadership level, not just by IT.
- Digital gains are protected — the telecare readiness and TEC adoption you are investing in (as highlighted in our recent features) only deliver their full benefit when underpinned by strong cyber hygiene.
- Insurance and leadership exposure improve — proactive steps taken now directly strengthen your insurance renewal conversations and reduce personal liability for directors.
The programme is already helping providers move from basic compliance to genuine resilience — and those who engage early are seeing measurable reductions in risk exposure.
Your Practical Playbook: Turning Insight into Stronger, Positive Outcomes
Here is the exact framework that forward-thinking providers are using right now to turn the £21m programme into real protection and advantage:
1. Book Your Free Cyber Health Check This Month. Contact your local care association or go directly via the Digital Care Hub to arrange a voluntary data and cyber health check. It takes one focused session and gives you a clear baseline against the DSPT, plus a prioritised action plan. Providers who have completed it report immediate confidence that their digital records and telecare systems are properly safeguarded.
2. Make Cyber a Standing Board Agenda Item. Add one short resilience update to every board meeting. Use the free Data Policy Builder tool (part of the programme) to develop or refresh your data protection and cyber policies. This simple step demonstrates leadership ownership and provides the exact evidence insurers and commissioners now ask for.
3. Link Cyber Resilience to Your Existing Digital Projects Tie your TEC rollout and digital records work directly to the programme. Many suppliers now offer “secure-by-design” integrations that align with DSPT standards. By showing commissioners that your digital investments are cyber-resilient, you strengthen your case for any additional support or recognition in 2026/27 fee discussions.
4. Turn Staff Confidence into Your Strongest Defence Use the programme’s bite-size training resources to run short “Cyber Champion” sessions (15–20 minutes) for care teams. Focus on everyday actions such as recognising phishing and safe use of connected devices. Providers who have done this report higher staff engagement and fewer near-miss incidents because the training feels relevant rather than burdensome.
5. Share Your Progress with Commissioners and Insurers Lead your next conversation with: “We are actively using the national £21m programme to protect the digital systems that deliver better outcomes for residents — here is our latest health-check summary.” This positions you as a mature, responsible partner and often results in more favourable insurance terms and stronger commissioning relationships.
Looking Ahead: Cyber Resilience Is Becoming the New Standard of Excellent Care
The digital shift is exciting and unstoppable — and cyber resilience is now the essential foundation that lets you capture every benefit safely. Providers who engage with the Better Security, Better Care programme today are not only reducing risk; they are future-proofing their services, protecting their teams and strengthening their position as leaders in the sector.
Care Circle Network will continue to bring you the latest tools, case studies and expert connections to make this straightforward. If you would like a ready-to-adapt cyber resilience checklist, an introduction to your local Better Security, Better Care delivery partner, or a simple board briefing template, simply reply to this feature or use our contact form.
The direction of travel is clear and positive. The providers who act now with insight, practical support and a focus on people-first outcomes will not only meet today’s expectations — they will set the new standard for safe, high-quality, digitally enabled care across the country.
We’re here to help you lead the way.
