Microsoft Windows operating system licences (including Advanced Threat Protection)

Advanced Threat Protection (ATP) gives local organisations such as hospitals and GP surgeries better cyber security protection. It is also linked to the Data Security Centre (DSC), which improves cyber security protection for local health and care communities, and the NHS as a whole.

ATP monitors the Microsoft Windows operating system on a PC or laptop to identify any abnormalities in how it is working, it can then take immediate action to address the problem before it spreads.  It also alerts local system managers and the DSC. These alerts give an NHS wide view of system status, to device level, in real time. This allows the DSC to more quickly and effectively coordinate the overall NHS response to cyber threats as they happen. 

Local organisations continue to be responsible for managing their own devices and will lead on any intervention necessary. The DSC response to any threat identified in a local system will be managed collaboratively with the local organisation.

We have worked with an advisory group of approximately 90 local organisations to develop this offering. A user group will be maintained to support ongoing development.

The information generated by ATP is securely partitioned and is only available to the organisation that is responsible for the devices, and to the DSC.  ATP records machine level information, but does not access patient records or documents such as Word/Excel/emails, and does not record or share patient information.

Joining the ATP service is optional, however central funding for Windows 10 operating system licences is only available to your organisation if you join.  Any organisation joining the service must commit to migrating from their current Windows 7/8 estates to Windows 10 by no later than 14 January 2020. The Windows 7 operating system will be unsupported after that date.  

To sign up, a service agreement with our licensing partner Bytes Software Services needs to be completed and returned. You can contact Bytes via nhsea@bytes.co.uk or by calling 01372 418 763.