737-304-6185How to Prepare AWS or Azure for NHS DSPT Without Slowing Your Engineers Down
One of the biggest fears HealthTech SaaS teams have about DSPT is the impact on engineering.
And it’s a fair concern.
Handled badly, compliance can:
- Distract engineers
- Create admin overhead
- Slow delivery
Handled well, it does the opposite.
This post explains how to prepare AWS or Azure for DSPT in a way that reduces disruption, not increases it.
The Mistake: Treating DSPT as Extra Work
When DSPT is layered on top of existing systems:
- Engineers are asked for screenshots
- Teams scramble for explanations
- Knowledge lives in people’s heads
This creates friction and resentment.
The Better Approach: Make Compliance a Side Effect
Well-prepared platforms don’t “do DSPT work”.
They operate in a way that naturally produces evidence.
This comes down to a few key design principles.
1. Centralise Visibility
Engineers shouldn’t jump between tools to explain the platform.
Centralise:
- Monitoring
- Logs
- Alerts
This reduces cognitive load and improves reliability at the same time.
2. Design Clear Environment Boundaries
DSPT reviewers expect:
- Separation between production and non-production
- Controlled access
- Reduced blast radius
Clear boundaries help audits and reduce incidents.
3. Keep Access Understandable
Over-engineered IAM causes audit pain.
Better is:
- Fewer roles
- Clear naming
- Regular access review
Simplicity scales better than complexity.
4. Automate Evidence Where Possible
Automation isn’t about removing people — it’s about removing repetition.
Examples:
- Log retention policies enforced automatically
- Alert review tracked centrally
- Architecture diagrams kept current
Automation reduces human error and audit stress.
5. Define Ownership Once
Every control should have:
- A named owner
- A review cadence
This prevents engineers being dragged into audits unexpectedly.
Why This Actually Helps Engineers
Platforms built this way:
- Are easier to operate
- Fail more predictably
- Scale more cleanly
DSPT becomes a by-product of good engineering, not a tax on it.
Preparing Early Saves Time Later
Teams that prepare early:
- Spend less time answering follow-ups
- Avoid last-minute fixes
- Reduce mental load during audits
The time saved outweighs the upfront effort many times over.
Final Thought
DSPT doesn’t have to slow your team down.
When compliance is treated as an architectural concern — not a documentation task — engineers stay focused, audits get easier, and NHS trust increases.