How secure are NHS eportfolios?

When it comes to storing confidential data, security is key.

In May this year (2017), the NHS was the highest-profile victim of a global ransomware attack that affected computers in nearly 100 countries.

While it's not clear whether patient data was breached during the attack, it's only natural for NHS trusts to have concerns about information security - especially as our world becomes increasingly reliant on technology. But don't worry - that's where we come in. We're here to dispel any doubts you may have about online security and bolster your faith in eportfolios.

They're much more secure than people think. In fact, eportfolios provide far more security benefits than traditional paper-based portfolios.

1. Data protection

All information stored in an eportfolio is extremely secure. Individual security measures will vary depending on your provider, but as a rule, data should be fully encrypted and stored on multiple secure servers. This means it cannot be lost, stolen, hacked or damaged – unlike paper-based portfolios.

2. Electronic signatures

Electronic signatures work in the same way as inked signatures when it comes to assessments. They can be used to verify assessments, comments and evidence, enhancing the security of submitted work. Online signatrues can also be used to lock-in evidence so it can’t be altered, lost or damaged.

3. Disaster recovery

Data stored in eportfolios should be fully backed up by the software provider, so if something goes wrong at the server no work is lost.

4. Verification and audit trails

The internal and external verification processes are the same if you use paper or technology, it's just much easier, more secure and convenient to use an eportfolio. If you manage the entire assessment process online – from planning to feedback – the entire audit trail is securely stored in one place and can be reviewed remotely at any time. This is much more secure and efficient than paper portfolios which are difficult to track.

5. Hacking

If you follow the news, it may seem like cyber attacks happen almost every day – but this simply isn't the case. Attacks are rare, and a smart software company will have robust protection in place to block any unwanted access. They'll also perform regular penetration tests to see how their system reacts when under attack.

 

At OneFile, we take security seriously. We have loads of features and measures in place to protect data and minimise threats.

To find out more, book a demo with one of our eportfolio experts.