Case Study: F4 IT strengthens NHS data security and threat visibility with WatchGuard

Managing Risk in the National Health Service

F4 IT, part of Care Plus Group in the UK healthcare sector, needed to protect sensitive patient data and secure its network against growing ransomware threats like WannaCry and Petya. To strengthen perimeter and internal defenses across its distributed environment, F4 IT turned to WatchGuard, using WatchGuard firewalls and the WatchGuard Security Suite to improve visibility, control, and risk management.

WatchGuard implemented a layered security approach with M4600 Firebox appliances at two datacentres, M200 appliances at more than 20 remote sites, and WatchGuard Total Security Suite services including IPS, gateway antivirus, URL filtering, application control, advanced malware protection, data loss protection, and TDR. The solution helped F4 IT detect suspicious traffic, isolate threats at the IP level, and maintain resilience during WannaCry, protecting services with minimal user impact while reducing the risk of a major outage or ransomware event.

F4 IT

Darren McKay

IT Manager