11,000+
appointments and procedures delayed following one NHS supplier cyberattack
Source: NHS England – Synnovis cyber incident
Cyber security weaknesses are not always caused by one missing tool. Risk can develop across user access, devices, networks, cloud services, applications, data, suppliers and internal processes especially as your organisation and technology environment change.
Ultralink’s Cyber Security Assessment Service gives UK healthcare and pharmaceutical organisations a clearer view of their current security position. The result is a clearer basis for deciding whether immediate remediation, control improvements or further investigation is required.
Cyber incidents can interrupt critical services as well as expose sensitive information. Yet many organisations still lack a current view of where their most important security risks exist.
11,000+
appointments and procedures delayed following one NHS supplier cyberattack
Source: NHS England – Synnovis cyber incident
43%
of UK businesses experienced an identified cyber security breach or attack in the previous 12 months
Source: UK Government – Cyber Security Breaches Survey 2025
41%
of UK small businesses carried out a cyber security risk assessment
Source: UK Government – Cyber Security Breaches Survey 2025
Security controls that worked when they were introduced may no longer reflect your current users, systems, suppliers or threats.
Your organisation may benefit from a cyber security assessment if:
An assessment establishes what is currently protected, where control gaps may exist and which improvements could provide the greatest reduction in risk. It gives leadership a stronger basis for setting remediation priorities and allocating security budgets.
We can assess your complete technology environment or selected areas where you need greater assurance.
We review security responsibilities, policies, risk ownership, technology oversight and the processes used to identify and manage cyber security risks. This helps establish whether important security decisions have clear ownership and whether existing policies reflect how your organisation currently operates.
We assess user accounts, privileged access, authentication, joiner-mover-leaver processes and access provided to administrators, suppliers and other third parties. The review can identify excessive permissions, inactive accounts, weak authentication and access that no longer reflects operational requirements.
We examine the security controls protecting your networks, servers, administrative services, internet-facing systems and connections between locations or technology environments. This may include firewall controls, network segmentation, remote access, unsupported systems and unnecessary exposure.
We review how laptops, desktops, mobile devices and other endpoints are configured, protected, updated and monitored. The assessment can consider malware protection, device encryption, patching, administrative rights, security policies and the organisation’s ability to identify unmanaged devices.
We assess relevant identity, email, collaboration and cloud security controls across the services included within the agreed scope. This can include Microsoft 365 security, multi-factor authentication, administrative roles, email protection, information sharing, cloud configurations and security monitoring.
We examine how your organisation identifies, prioritises and remediates software vulnerabilities across relevant devices, servers, applications and infrastructure. The objective is not simply to count missing updates. It is to determine whether weaknesses affecting important or exposed systems are being addressed within appropriate timescales.
We assess how sensitive and business-critical information is accessed, stored, shared, backed up and protected. The review may cover access restrictions, encryption, retention, data transfer, removable media and controls protecting information from unauthorised access, loss or disruption.
We review whether important security activity is logged, monitored and escalated—and whether your organisation has a defined process for responding to a suspected cyber incident. This can include alert ownership, incident responsibilities, investigation capability, communication processes and lessons learned from previous events.
We assess whether backup and recovery arrangements provide appropriate protection against operational disruption, system failure, accidental loss and ransomware. The review can consider backup isolation, access controls, recovery testing, restoration priorities and dependencies affecting critical services.
We examine how suppliers, contractors and technology partners access your systems and data and how those relationships are managed. This helps identify unnecessary access, unclear responsibilities and dependencies that could introduce risk beyond your directly managed environment.
A cyber security assessment and a cyber security audit can involve similar areas, but they do not always have the same objective.
A Cyber Security Assessment Service identifies weaknesses, evaluates their potential impact and creates a prioritised plan for improving your security position. It is the appropriate starting point when you need to understand where risk exists and decide what should be addressed first.
A cyber security audit reviews defined controls, processes and evidence against an agreed policy, standard, contractual requirement or assurance objective. Ultralink’s Cyber Security Audit Services can help establish whether the controls included within the agreed scope are implemented, documented and operating as expected.
The purpose, assessment criteria and expected outputs are agreed before work begins. Formal certification requires the relevant authorised certification process.
We begin by understanding your organisation, critical services, sensitive data, technology environment, suppliers and reason for requesting the assessment. This allows us to agree on a scope that supports the decision you need to make.
We confirm which systems, configurations, policies, reports and stakeholders are needed for the assessment. Access requirements are agreed before work begins. Where appropriate, permissions can be restricted to the level required for the approved review.
We use appropriate assessment tools alongside consultant-led analysis to examine the agreed systems and controls. Automated tools can identify possible issues, but consultant validation is needed to remove irrelevant alerts, recognise connected risks and understand the importance of the affected systems.
Findings are considered in relation to exposure, data sensitivity, service importance, existing protections and the potential consequences for your organisation. They are then organised into immediate, planned and longer-term actions.
You receive a structured report with clear priorities and practical recommendations. We review the results with your stakeholders so decision-makers understand the business implications and technical teams understand the required actions.
We agree which actions your internal team will own and where Ultralink’s remediation or ongoing security support may be required.
Your cyber security assessment can evaluate relevant controls against requirements and guidance associated with:
Ultralink identifies control gaps and provides evidence-based recommendations to support your security and assurance activities. The assessment does not provide formal certification, guarantee compliance or replace specialist legal advice.
A useful assessment should help you make better security decisions. It should not leave your organisation with a long technical report and no clear course of action.
Cyber security assessments designed around your organisation and objectives
Experience supporting UK healthcare and pharmaceutical organisations
Consultant-validated findings, not raw automated alerts
Coverage across users, devices, networks, cloud services, data and processes
Recommendations explained clearly to both technical and business stakeholders
Clear priorities for immediate and planned remediation
Recommendations that consider your existing technologies and licences
Assessment and implementation support available through one partner
Sophos and SonicWall partner capability
As a Sophos Partner and SonicWall Partner, Ultralink can help strengthen protection across users, endpoints, networks, email and connected technology environments.
We recommend additional technology only where the assessment identifies a clear security requirement. Where existing controls can be configured or managed more effectively, that should be considered first.
Tell us what has changed, where you need greater assurance or which security concerns are holding back a decision. We will help define an appropriate assessment scope and explain the next steps.
Request a Cyber Security AssessmentDepending on your objectives, the assessment can cover governance, access, networks, endpoints, Microsoft 365, cloud services, applications, data protection, monitoring, incident response, recovery and third-party access.
A vulnerability assessment focuses primarily on technical weaknesses in systems, software and devices. A cyber security assessment examines wider technical and organisational controls, with vulnerability assessment potentially forming part of the engagement.
No. Penetration testing actively attempts to exploit weaknesses within an authorised technical scope. A cyber security assessment reviews a broader range of controls without intrusive testing unless this is separately scoped and approved.
An assessment identifies and prioritises cyber risks. An audit checks defined controls and evidence against agreed requirements. Ultralink can combine both when risk analysis and control assurance are required.
The timescale depends on your organisation’s size, environment complexity and assessment scope. Ultralink confirms the required access, deliverables and expected timescale before work begins.
The assessment is planned to minimise disruption. We do not conduct intrusive testing or make production changes unless these activities are explicitly scoped and authorised.
The assessment can identify control gaps affecting readiness for Cyber Essentials, the DSPT or ISO 27001. It supports improvement and evidence gathering but does not replace certification or guarantee compliance.
Yes. Your team can follow the remediation plan, or Ultralink can scope and implement approved improvements. Any remediation work is agreed separately, giving you control over priorities, responsibilities and costs.
Tell us what has changed, where you need greater assurance or which security concerns are holding back a decision.