Security Basics You Can Check in 5 Minutes (No IT Degree Required)

For GP practices and healthcare providers, your website is part of your clinical front door. A few simple, non-technical checks can highlight basic security issues that put patient data, NHS reputation and DSPT compliance at risk. You can do all of the following in under 5 minutes.

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Why Website Security Basics Matter in Healthcare

In UK healthcare, website and portal security are not just “IT issues” – they link directly to:

• Data Security and Protection Toolkit obligations
• GDPR and UK data protection law
• National Data Guardian data security standards
• Patient trust and your CQC/NHS England reputation

Even if your site doesn’t host full clinical records, it may handle:

• Online appointment forms
• Repeat prescription requests
• Contact details and symptoms
• Staff contact data and login pages

Weak basic security (no HTTPS, poor SSL, mixed content) makes it easier for attackers to intercept or tamper with this information and undermines your wider Cyber Essentials / DSPT posture.

This article gives you three instant checks, explains what they mean in plain English, and shows you quick wins you can action with your web provider.

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The Three 5‑Minute Security Checks

1. SSL Grade – Is Your “Padlock” Actually Strong?

SSL (or TLS) is the technology that encrypts data between a visitor’s browser and your website. Without it, data sent via contact or triage forms can be read in transit by anyone on the network.

In plain English, an SSL grade is like an MOT score for your website’s encryption:

• You enter your domain (e.g. www.yourpractice.nhs.uk) into an online SSL checker
• It runs tests on your certificate and configuration
• It gives you a grade (A–F) with some details about what’s wrong

For GP practices and healthcare providers, you should aim for:

• Grade A: This indicates modern, correctly configured encryption

• Anything below B is a warning sign that needs attention
  Why this matters in NHS / healthcare context

• DSPT and Cyber Essentials expect strong encryption as a basic control

• Poor SSL can leave you open to downgrade attacks or weak ciphers

• A “valid but badly configured” certificate can give a false sense of security

What to do if your grade is low

• Ask your web host or supplier to:
  • Disable outdated protocols (e.g. TLS 1.0 / 1.1)
  • Use modern ciphers and strong key sizes
  • Enable HTTP Strict Transport Security (HSTS)
  • Ensure your SSL certificates auto-renew and are monitored

You don’t need to understand the technical jargon; your job is to check the grade and insist on A.

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2. Security Headers – Extra Seatbelts for Your Website

Even with good SSL, your site can still be vulnerable to common web attacks. Security headers are simple settings sent from your server to the browser that tell it how to behave.

In non-technical terms, they are safety instructions your site gives to a visitor’s browser, such as:

• “Only load scripts from these trusted places”
• “Never embed this page in other sites”
• “Treat all content as secure”

If you paste your URL into a security header scanner, you’ll get:

• A list of headers you have / are missing
• A grade (often A–F or 0–100)

For a healthcare website, aim for B or better as a minimum.

Common useful headers include:

Content-Security-Policy (CSP)

• Helps prevent injection attacks and certain types of data theft
• Restricts where scripts, images and frames can come from
  Strict-Transport-Security (HSTS)
• Forces browsers to use HTTPS only
• Reduces risk of downgrade or “stripping” attacks

X-Frame-Options / frame-ancestors

• Stops your site being embedded in other sites for clickjacking
  X-Content-Type-Options
• Reduces risk of browsers misinterpreting content types

Why this matters for GP practices

• Protects simple features like:
  • Online triage or contact forms
  • Patient registration forms
  • Staff login areas
  • Demonstrates you’re following “secure by design” principles aligned with national data security standards and DSPT expectations.

Fast win

• Share your header scan report with your web supplier and request:
  • At least HSTS, X-Frame-Options and X-Content-Type-Options
  • A basic CSP that allows only your own domain and any key NHS/triage services

Again, you don’t need to configure this yourself – just ask for a B+ with core headers in place.

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3. Mixed Content – Is Your “Padlock” Broken?

“Mixed content” happens when a page is loaded over HTTPS, but some images, scripts or styles are loaded over HTTP (insecure). Browsers often show:

• A broken padlock
• A warning like “Not fully secure”

In everyday terms: your front door is locked, but a window is open.

5‑second check

• Open your homepage in Chrome, Edge or Firefox
• Look in the address bar:
  • Solid padlock: good
  • Triangle, “Not secure” or crossed padlock on an HTTPS page: likely mixed content

For GP practices, mixed content is a red flag because:

• It can allow attackers to tamper with scripts or forms

• It may break or weaken encryption on that page

• It can reduce trust; patients see “Not secure” and worry about submitting details
  Typical causes in healthcare websites

• Old images or documents still referenced with http://

• Embedded content from third-party tools (maps, old widgets, legacy booking systems)

• Hard coded links in older templates or plugins

Fast fixes

• Ask your web team to:
  • Update all internal links to https://
  • Remove or update insecure third‑party widgets
  • Use a content security policy (CSP) and tools that automatically correct internal links

If your homepage fails this check, assume other key pages (forms, online triage) might also be affected and get them checked.

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Fast Wins You Can Action This Week

You don’t need to become an IT expert; you just need to set expectations and ask the right questions of your suppliers.

Force HTTPS Everywhere

Your site should automatically redirect all traffic from http:// to https://.

What to ask your web host / supplier

• “Please ensure site‑wide HTTPS is enforced with a 301 redirect.”

• “Please enable HSTS with an appropriate max‑age and includeSubDomains.”
  Benefits for healthcare

• Stronger alignment with DSPT expectations around encryption

• Consistent experience for patients (always see the padlock)

• Reduces the risk of data interception on public Wi‑Fi (common for patients on mobile)

Fix Mixed Content Systematically

A one‑off manual fix is not enough; you want a repeatable approach. Practical steps

• Run a link checker / mixed-content scanner against your domain
• Prioritise:
  • Homepage
  • Online consultation / triage pages
  • Registration and repeat prescription request pages
  • Staff login pages
  • Update content templates in your CMS so new content is always inserted with https://

Tidy Up Plugin Sprawl

If your website runs on a CMS like WordPress or Joomla, plugin sprawl is one of the top reasons basic security fails. Risks of plugin sprawl

• Outdated plugins introduce known vulnerabilities
• Conflicting plugins break security headers or HTTPS redirection
• More moving parts = more for your supplier to patch and monitor

Quick tidy‑up actions

• Ask for a list of all currently active plugins or extensions
• Remove:
  • Anything not in active use
  • Plugins with no recent updates or support
  • Where possible, consolidate functionality into fewer, well‑supported tools

This directly supports Cyber Essentials‑aligned guidance on keeping software to a minimum and properly maintained.

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Why “Security Plugins” ≠ Secure Architecture

It’s common for practices to assume that installing a “security plugin” is enough. Unfortunately, this can create a false sense of safety.

What Security Plugins Typically Do

Many plugins focus on:

• Brute force protection (login attempt limits, CAPTCHAs)
• Simple firewall rules
• Malware scanning
• Basic file integrity checks

These can be useful, but they sit on top of your stack, they don’t fix its foundations.

What They Don’t Do

Security plugins generally do not:

• Correct poor server configuration or weak SSL/TLS
• Implement robust security headers at the web server level
• Replace OS‑level patching and routine vulnerability management
• Provide DSPT / Cyber Essentials‑compatible governance or logging
• Control how patient data is stored, encrypted, backed up and accessed end‑to‑end

For NHS digital services, regulators expect:

• Secure architecture – from hosting, to network, to application
• Documented processes – covered in DSPT and data security standards
• Ongoing monitoring and incident response, not “set and forget” plugins

How to Use Plugins Safely

If you do rely on plugins:

• Keep them:
  • Minimal
  • Updated
  • From reputable, actively maintained vendors
  • Ensure your supplier:
    • Reviews them against Cyber Essentials / DSPT requirements
    • Checks they are compatible with your security headers and HTTPS configuration
    • Removes or replaces anything unmaintained

Think of security plugins as an alarm system; useful, but only after you have good locks, solid doors, and no open windows.

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A Monthly “Security Pulse” Checklist for GP Websites

A short, regular “security pulse” puts you in control as an information asset owner or practice manager, without needing deep technical skills.

5–10 Minute Monthly Review

Basic visual and browser checks

• Open your homepage and key patient‑facing pages
• Confirm the padlock is present and not showing warnings
• Check that forms load without “Not secure” messages

Spot‑check SSL and headers

• Run your domain through:

  • An SSL checker – confirm grade A
  • A security header scanner – maintain B or above Content and plugin sanity check

• Ask your supplier (or review your CMS dashboard) for:

  • A list of active plugins/extensions
  • Confirmation that all are up‑to‑date
  • Confirm no new third‑party widgets or iframes have been added without review

Access and governance

• Confirm:
  • Admin accounts are still appropriate (no ex‑staff)
  • Multi‑factor authentication is enabled where supported
  • An audit log is retained by your hosting / CMS platform

These touchpoints map to NHS data security standards such as managing data access, ensuring secure configuration, and reviewing processes regularly.

Quarterly / Biannual Deep Dives

For a more formal review (often useful before DSPT submission):

• Request a basic vulnerability scan from your IT partner
• Review:
  • Hosting provider’s patching and backup strategy
  • SSL/TLS configuration changes and certificate expiries
  • Ensure your privacy notice, cookies and consent banners are still accurate and reflect current practice

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When It’s Time to Move to a Managed, Modern Stack

There is a point where trying to patch an old DIY website becomes more effort and risk than migrating to a managed, healthcare‑grade platform.

Signs Your Current Setup Is Holding You Back

• Frequent mixed‑content issues, recurring after each content change
• SSL grades stuck at B or below, despite repeated supplier requests
• Legacy CMS versions that cannot be upgraded without “breaking the site”
• Dozens of plugins, some of which are no longer maintained
• Difficulty getting clear answers from suppliers about:
  • Where data is hosted
  • How it is backed up and encrypted
  • How security incidents would be handled

In the UK healthcare context, these are compliance as well as security risks, particularly when evidencing DSPT and aligning with the NHS Cyber Security Strategy.

What a Managed, Modern Stack Should Offer

Healthcare‑aligned hosting

• UK or NHS‑approved hosting

• Clear data processing agreements and IG documentation

• Support for Cyber Essentials / DSPT evidence gathering
  Modern security by default

• Automatic HTTPS enforcement and HSTS

• Properly configured SSL/TLS with regular testing

• Security headers set at platform level

• Regular OS, web server and CMS patching

Reduced plugin sprawl

• Core functionality delivered by the platform itself:

  • Themes and layouts
  • Forms and simple content components
  • Integration points for online consultation / triage tools
  • Fewer, curated extension points, reviewed for security and support Operational maturity

• Monitoring and alerting for downtime and certificate issues

• Backups with tested restore procedures

• Documented incident response aligned with NHS guidance and checklists

Example: GP Practice Website Modernisation

A practice running an older, plugin‑heavy WordPress site:

• Regularly saw mixed content warnings when updating patient leaflets
• Had an SSL certificate that was valid, but scored B because of older protocols
• Used three separate plugins for forms, security and caching, two of which were unmaintained

By moving to a managed, healthcare‑focused web platform:

• HTTPS and HSTS were enforced by default
• Security headers and SSL configuration were owned by the platform provider
• Form handling and caching were built in, allowing removal of most plugins
• The practice could easily demonstrate improved technical controls in their DSPT submission

The practice manager didn’t learn to “do security” – they chose a stack where good security was the default.

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Key Takeaways

• You can spot major web security issues in under 5 minutes by checking SSL grade, security headers and mixed content.
• Aim for:
  • SSL grade A
  • Security header score B or better
  • A solid padlock on all key patient‑facing pages, with no “Not secure” warnings
  • Plugin sprawl undermines security; fewer, well‑maintained components on a modern, managed stack are safer and easier to evidence in DSPT.
  • Security plugins help but are not a substitute for secure hosting, strong SSL/TLS, proper headers and good governance.
  • A simple monthly “security pulse” keeps you in control and supports Cyber Essentials‑style good practice without taking much time.

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Next Steps

To turn this into action for your GP practice or healthcare organisation: This week

• Run the three quick checks on your main website:
  • SSL grade
  • Security header scan
  • Browser padlock / mixed content check
  • Log any issues and raise them with your web supplier, asking specifically for:
    • SSL grade A
    • Security header score B or better
    • Site‑wide HTTPS with no mixed content

This month

• Create a one‑page “Website Security Pulse” checklist based on the monthly review section and add it to your DSPT evidence folder.
• Ask your IT/web provider for:
  • A list of plugins/extensions and their update status
  • A brief statement of hosting location, backup schedule and incident response approach

Over the next 6–12 months

• If your site is hard to secure or relies on numerous legacy plugins, build a business case to:
  • Move to a managed, modern web platform designed for healthcare, or
  • Re‑platform to a supported CMS with a clear security and maintenance plan

By treating these 5‑minute checks as part of your routine information governance, you reinforce patient trust, support NHS compliance, and reduce the risk that a simple website issue becomes a reportable incident.