Insurance, protection, prevention: find the right partners to protect you against cyber threat

Cyber security has recently started to feel like more of a looming worry for many independent pharmacy owners. For many years, it might have been comfortable to think attacks were a "big company problem", but as Ian Smith, Head of Primary Care at Howden points out, that's no longer the case;

“There's a greater number of claims for incidents amongst SMEs in the UK. It's not just 3rd party incidents either. Pharmacists can press the wrong button, and patient data on their system can be jeopardized and find themselves subject to action.”

Community pharmacies face a unique set of threats. Legacy systems, complex digital processes, and time pressures mean that generic solutions often fall short. Steve Thompson, Managed Service Director of Global4 points out:

“Healthcare is the second most attacked market for hackers—and not everyone has the right advice‍. There's been a rush of moving many aspects of healthcare online, with a race to be the first to promote services.
When working with so many providers and third parties, due diligence can be missed—but actually the threat is increased.”

Cyber security can feel overwhelming for busy pharmacy owners. But with the right support, protecting your business is manageable—and increasingly essential. By focusing on three pillars—protection, prevention, and insurance—you can keep your pharmacy, your data, and your patients safe.

Prevention and the Value of the Right Partners

Most cyber incidents start with a simple mistake, which is why prevention is about more than just technology—it’s about people and processes. As Steve Thompson notes:

“My first real tip with everything is try to have your roadmap built so you know what you're working towards. Cyber threats unfortunately still start with human error... Training makes a huge, huge difference.”

For pharmacies, having access to practical support and relevant training is critical. Global4, for example, offers user-focused support contracts and regular guidance, recognising that every pharmacy’s needs are different:

“We become the I.T. department. And whether you’re a single standalone pharmacy or part of a group, we understand the needs are different. We can handle all the reports, and roadmaps and blueprints, and our support team are there as much as pharmacies need."

On the insurance side, Howden’s team brings sector-specific knowledge to the table. Their understanding of pharmacy operations, patient confidentiality, and NHS requirements means their cover is designed to address the actual risks pharmacies face. Ian Smith advises pharmacy owners:

“You should be dealing with an insurer or broker who understands the sector you’re in... you want to know that you’re working with someone who has experience and is careful in watching out for what could happen on your behalf.”

By working with partners who understand pharmacy, owners can access training, support, and cover that is relevant to their day-to-day realities—not just generic solutions.

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What good cyber security protection looks like for pharmacies:

Protecting a pharmacy means thinking beyond the basics. With so much sensitive data and so many moving parts, it’s not enough to rely on off-the-shelf solutions or a single layer of defence. Here are the key protections Global4 recommends for real-world pharmacy risks:

• Vulnerability scanning: “Pharmacies tend to have a lot of software—so using vulnerability scanning will identify any security weaknesses. This can notice misconfigurations or software that needs updating.”
• Ongoing staff training and support: “Training makes a huge, huge difference. Making clear these things aren’t simply boxes to tick and giving your whole team training upfront helps.”
• Multi-factor authentication: “We enforce multifactor authentication wherever possible. And if it’s not possible, we would question the systems that you’re using and look at other ways to give you that second layer of protection.”
• Immutable, offsite backups: “We offer what’s called an immutable backup. These can’t be touched. Having that protects you in the case of hacking and allows you to restore vital systems.”
• Real-time threat detection and managed response: “Real time threat detection is important when your team is so busy. Fixing a problem that’s hour old rather than weeks is far easier, and is why we offer a fully managed response service.”
• Advanced antivirus with EDR: “With more complicated threats, endpoint protection (EDR) is a proactive form of protection that’s more robust in preventing complex threats than traditional antivirus.

Insurance: Cover That Understands the Realities of Pharmacy

When a cyber incident hits a pharmacy, the fallout is rarely straightforward. It’s not just about lost data or a temporary I.T. glitch - there are patient safety concerns, reporting requirements, and the risk of business interruption that can affect everything from prescriptions to staff rotas.

As Ian Smith explains:

“You’d have to notify patients, inform the ICO, investigate what went wrong, and possibly pay fines or lose income while you get back on track. All those costs fall to you as a business.”

With a complex web of potential assets and costs at risk, it's just as important to have bespoke cover as well as protection.

Howden’s support goes beyond paperwork. They help you navigate through NHS and ICO reporting, guide you through the claims process, help cover business interruption and the costs of getting back up and running.

‍“In the event of an incident, you will be supported by our dedicated risk claims professionals every step of the way as well as your account management team. We take a hands-on, proactive approach because we know how stressful it is. We're your advocates, not administrators."

What to Do If You’re Attacked

If the worst happens, don’t panic - but do act quickly.

• Contact your I.T. and insurance partners immediately.
• Gather information on what happened and isolate affected systems if possible.
• Follow your incident response plan - your partners will guide you through recovery, compliance, and communication.

Steve Thompson explains how this support plays out in practice:

“If there’s a cyber incident, we work with you step by step—helping you contain the problem, gather the right information, notify the authorities like the ICO, and communicate with NHS contacts. It’s about making sure nothing is missed, and that you’re supported through every stage of the response.”

A well-prepared pharmacy doesn’t need to rely on luck if the worst happens. Regularly reviewing your cyber response plan, training your team, and building a strong relationship with your I.T. and insurance partners are what keep disruption to a minimum and get you back to serving patients faster. Being ready is as important as being protected.