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NHS Great Yarmouth and Waveney Primary Care Trust (PCT) can now actively enforce its security after becoming the first organisation to install NAC Advanced software in enforcement mode.

In common with many large corporate networks, the PCT faces an increasing problem from flexible and remote working. On the one hand, the Trust needs to allow visitors and staff to use their own hardware on the corporate network, both on and off site. On the other hand, it needs to retain the integrity of its own systems and protect them from viruses and other threats posed by unauthorised network access. The threat level is significantly increased by users connecting to the corporate network from their own PCs, as such use potentially causes real disruption and significantly increases the risk of virus infection. Although the problem was easy to identify, the solution was less simple. It needed to fit the PCT’s needs for a defence in depth model, providing a mechanism to control endpoint health and activity. It also needed to limit the network access of unknown devices and ensure that known devices met a strict set of IT criteria.

After a phase of testing and assessment, the PCT chose Sophos NAC Advanced. Andrew Brinded, IT Services Engineer for the PCT and technical lead for the implementation of Sophos NAC Advanced, explains why. "We’ve used Foursys in the past and have always been impressed with their ability to deliver and support projects. For a project as high risk as this, we needed a company who were both knowledgeable and would take every precaution to reduce the risk. I have been extremely happy with both the implementation and the support received from Foursys. The product is equally impressive. We can now say with a degree of certainty that our endpoints are complying with our defined baseline policies. We also have the ability to ensure that an issue is immediately resolved. Sophos NAC is also flexible. It allows a phased deployment, enforcing different policies for different users or sites and Mr Brinded is confident that the product’s reach will expand to cover other departments."

“We will be starting several projects shortly, involving the majority of our GP sites and all of our community sites (over 50 sites). This will include the deployment of Sophos Anti-Virus, Sophos NAC and Utimaco SafeGuard.”
 

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