Ensuring 100% Uptime and Data Security for Over 6 Million COVID-19 Tests with Innovative Connectivity Solutions
In early 2020, as the COVID-19 pandemic began to escalate, the UK Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) needed a rapid and effective response to ensure widespread testing across the nation. The solution required mobile testing units (MTUs) that could securely handle the sensitive data generated by COVID-19 tests.
The DHSC plays a crucial role in shaping and delivering health policy, setting the direction for healthcare, ensuring accountability, and troubleshooting complex issues.
As part of its response to COVID-19, DHSC sought a partner to provide a robust and secure connectivity solution for MTUs. This partnership needed to facilitate real-time communication and secure data transfer between testing sites and central laboratories.
To successfully implement the mobile testing unit strategy, each MTU needed reliable, secure, and compliant connectivity. The requirements the DHSC set out included:
o Secure Data Transfer: Ensuring private and sensitive data from tests could be securely transferred to central labs for processing.
o Network Stability and Uptime: Guaranteeing a 100% uptime by leveraging all four UK networks, ensuring continuous operation regardless of location.
o Regulatory Compliance: Adhering to strict data protection regulations and maintaining a private network to avoid unauthorised access.
o Rapid Deployment: Enabling a plug-and-play solution that required minimal setup and could be deployed swiftly across the country.
“Digital Inc’s secure connectivity solution was a game-changer for our
A representative from the DHSC
mobile testing efforts. The ability to ensure constant connection and have
peace of mind around the data transfer security across all UK regions
allowed us to deploy tests rapidly and effectively. We couldn’t have
achieved this scale without the innovative solutions provided by Digital Inc.”
After evaluation, Digital Inc.’s SIFT connectivity platform was selected to provide the secure cellular network necessary to manage these connections, ensuring compliance, security, and reliable data transfer for MTUs deployed nationwide.
The SIFT connectivity platform has been designed to offer customisable, secure, and regulation-ready connectivity solutions, according to Digital Inc.’s mission to redefine the future of digital communication by seamlessly integrating security and compliance into every data interaction. The features ultimately delivered during the project were:
100% Uptime: using all four UK cellular networks to enable the most robust coverage and maintain constant connectivity.
Secure, Compliant Connectivity: SIFT’s secure cellular network ensured all data met UK compliance standards, protected by the best security protocols.
Plug-and-Play Deployment: Pre-configured SIMs were deployed in every testing device, ensuring they were ready to operate immediately upon delivery.
Data Inspection and Reporting: SIFT’s unique ability to monitor and report on data usage provided DHSC with critical insights and performance metrics.
These features demonstrated Digital Inc.’s dedication to being an enabling, collaborative guardian, providing bespoke solutions that empower their customers.
By implementing the SIFT connectivity platform, Digital Inc. achieved the following for DHSC:
o Over 6 Million Tests Conducted: Enabled secure data transfer for 6,211,703 tests across a few
hundred mobile testing units.
o Fast, Secure Data Handling: Facilitated the secure handling and transfer of 739,821 positive test
results, ensuring data integrity and privacy.
o Cost-Effective and Scalable: Eliminated the need for additional infrastructure or on-site
engineering, saving time and resources.
A representative from DHSC praised the partnership saying that the “Digital Inc’s secure connectivity solution was a game-changer for our mobile testing efforts. The ability to ensure constant connection and have peace of mind around the data transfer security across all UK regions allowed us to deploy tests rapidly and effectively. We couldn’t have achieved this scale without the innovative solutionsprovided by Digital Inc.”
The collaboration between DHSC and Digital Inc. highlights the strategic importance of customisable, secure, and regulation-ready communication solutions. By integrating the SIFT platform, Digital Inc. not only met all compliance and security requirements but also ensured the rapid and effective deployment of COVID-19 testing units nationwide. Digital Inc. is committed to pioneering secure digital solutions to transform how businesses manage and secure their data communications.