CfH awards encryption contracts to three suppliers

Three GP system suppliers have signed a deal with Connecting for Health (CfH) to supply back up tape encryption services that meet the Department of Health’s new data security requirements.

INPS, iSoft and Healthy Software have agreed details of their encryption services with CfH and PCTs can now order the services using the GP Systems of Choice (GPSoC) framework. 

CfH announced in April that most GP systems would require security upgrades to protect patient identifiable data in the practice and in transit. Since then CfH has been negotiating prices with GPSoC suppliers although the cost of the services must be met locally by PCTs.

The licence price per practice is £104.14 for INPS and Healthy Software users and £81.23 for iSoft practices. Healthy Software will provide instructions to PCTs about installation. INPS and iSoft are offered two implementation options, remote installation (at a total cost including the software of £290 and £314 respectively) and on site installation for which the total cost will be £560 for INPS practices and £572.90 for iSoft practices.

CfH says a number of GP system suppliers, including INPS, iSoft and Healthy Software, have chosen Symantec Backup Exec as their solution for back up encryption and that CfH has committed to funded 4,000 Symantec licences initially to reduce the price of licences to the NHS.

CfH has asked PCTs to place orders as soon as possible so that the IT agency can recover its initial investment in the licences as trusts order and pay for services from the relevant GPSoC supplier.

Services from other suppliers are to be added to the list as they are agreed, according to CfH.

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