Meet Evolving UK Healthcare Compliance Demands

GP surgeries in the UK operate under stringent data protection rules, including the Data Protection Act 2018. Every organisation with access to NHS patient data must complete the Data Security and Protection Toolkit (DSPT) assessment annually. This framework mandates a formal backup policy and requires that data restoration is tested at least once a year. Failure to comply can result in loss of access to essential NHS systems like NHSmail. The landscape is tightening further, with the DSPT now aligning with the National Cyber Security Centre's Cyber Assessment Framework (CAF) for enhanced security standards. This regulatory pressure requires a proactive approach to your data compliance strategy.

These standards demand a verifiable and secure approach to GP surgery data backup, moving beyond simple onsite copies. The introduction of the UK NIS Regulations also extends cybersecurity obligations, focusing on supply-chain security and incident reporting for the entire healthcare sector. This makes choosing a storage partner with built-in compliance features a critical business decision.

Achieve Digital Sovereignty for Patient Data

Storing patient data outside the UK or EU introduces significant legal risks, including exposure to foreign laws like the US CLOUD Act. A majority of EU decision-makers now demand European solutions to maintain control over critical data. Impossible Cloud provides a sovereign-by-design solution, operating exclusively in certified European data centres to guarantee GDPR compliance. This ensures patient data is governed solely by EU and UK law. Our platform offers country-level geofencing, allowing you to lock data within a specific region, providing full data residency. This is a core requirement for handling the special category health data that GP surgeries manage every day.

By using a truly European sovereign cloud, you eliminate the legal ambiguities associated with non-UK providers. This provides the legal certainty needed to protect your practice and your patients, ensuring data is shielded from foreign government access requests. This focus on data sovereignty is the foundation of a trustworthy GP surgery data backup plan.

Build an Impenetrable Defence Against Ransomware

Ransomware is the single biggest cyber threat to UK healthcare, with attacks surging by 77% in 2022. A staggering 44% of healthcare organisations that refused to pay a ransom demand lost their data permanently. A standard backup is no longer enough; modern ransomware actively targets and encrypts backup files. The ultimate defence is a backup that cannot be altered. Impossible Cloud's Immutable Storage, using S3 Object Lock, creates a Write-Once-Read-Many (WORM) copy of your data. Once written, this data cannot be changed or deleted by anyone-not even an administrator with full credentials-for a defined period.

This technology renders ransomware attacks on your backups ineffective. Key features of a resilient backup strategy include:

• Immutable Backups (Object Lock): Creates unchangeable copies of patient records, guaranteeing a clean recovery point.
• Multi-Layer Encryption: All data is encrypted both in transit and at rest, meeting strict NHS security guidelines.
• Geofenced Storage: Data is kept within specified EU regions, ensuring regulatory compliance.
• Full S3 API Compatibility: Seamlessly integrate with your existing backup software, like Veeam or NovaBackup, with zero code changes.

This approach provides a guaranteed, clean copy of your data for restoration, making ransomware recovery a predictable process rather than a crisis.

Streamline Operations with an Always-Hot Architecture

In a clinical environment, immediate access to patient records is essential for continuity of care. Complex tiered storage models, which move data between hot and cold layers, introduce delays and unpredictable fees during a restore. Impossible Cloud's architecture is "Always-Hot," meaning 100% of your data is immediately accessible without any restore delays or hidden retrieval costs. This eliminates the operational complexity and API timeouts common with tiered systems.

This model simplifies your entire disaster recovery plan. When you need to restore a patient database or an entire system, the process is fast and predictable. Full S3 compatibility ensures your existing tools and scripts continue to work flawlessly, protecting your past IT investments and minimizing migration risk. This operational simplicity allows your IT team or MSP to focus on patient care, not storage management.

Enable MSPs with a Predictable, Partner-Ready Platform

For Managed Service Providers (MSPs) serving GP surgeries, predictable margins and simplified management are key. Impossible Cloud is predictable by design, with a transparent pricing model that includes zero egress fees, no API call costs, and no minimum storage durations. This allows MSPs to build profitable and defensible Backup-as-a-Service (BaaS) offerings for the healthcare sector. Our partner-ready platform provides the tools needed to efficiently manage multiple clients.

The partner console offers the following capabilities:

1. Multi-Tenant Management: Securely manage multiple GP surgery clients from a single interface with robust role-based access control (RBAC).
2. Full Automation: Utilize the API and CLI to automate provisioning, management, and reporting tasks.
3. Simplified Compliance: Offer clients a GDPR-compliant, sovereign storage solution without the complexity.
4. Fast Onboarding: Get new clients set up and protected in minutes, not days.

With UK distribution through partners like Northamber plc, local access and support for resellers and MSPs is readily available. This empowers partners to deliver a superior cloud backup service to the healthcare market.

Prepare for the Future of Data Regulation

The regulatory environment continues to evolve, and your data strategy must keep pace. The EU Data Act, which takes effect from September 2025, mandates data portability and interoperability by design. It gives users the right to access their data and move it to another provider, reinforcing the need to avoid vendor lock-in. Impossible Cloud is built on open standards, ensuring you can always move your data freely. This commitment to portability protects your long-term freedom of action.

Similarly, the UK NIS Regulations requires continuous security processes and supply-chain assurance baked into operations. Our platform's robust security features, including IAM with MFA, multi-layer encryption, and immutable storage, help you meet these heightened standards. By choosing a forward-looking platform, you ensure your GP surgery data backup strategy remains compliant for years to come.

Implement Your Sovereign Backup Strategy Today

Transitioning to a secure, sovereign cloud backup solution is a straightforward process. Protecting your GP surgery's most critical asset-patient data-starts with a few practical steps. A 3-2-1 backup rule, with one copy stored offsite on immutable, sovereign cloud storage, provides a robust defence. Talk to an expert to design a solution that fits your specific needs and ensures you meet all NHS and GDPR requirements. Start a free trial to experience the performance and simplicity of an always-hot, S3-compatible platform. A secure and compliant future for your patient data is just one step away.