Healthcare's reliance on sensitive data, outdated IT systems and digital transformation makes it a primary target for cybercriminals.
Cyberattacks are wreaking havoc across the industry, but healthcare suffers the biggest losses, with the average cost of a data breach reaching $10.93 million. As digital transformation accelerates, experts warn that the industry’s vulnerability is increasing, making it an irresistible target for cybercriminals.
“Healthcare remains one of the most attractive targets for cybercriminals due to the vast amount of data it manages and its access to uninterrupted access to digital infrastructure,” explained Seonji Lee, consulting assistant at Frost & Sullivan. The industry's reliance on electronic health records, connected medical devices, and financial systems puts it at a higher risk of attack.
“Telehealth platforms, remote patient monitoring and AI-powered diagnosis have reshape the healthcare industry, but they have also opened up new vulnerabilities that allow attackers to break up or shut down operations, putting lives at risk,” she stressed.
Many healthcare organizations continue to operate using outdated IT infrastructure and legacy systems as they are already troubled by rising costs and staff shortages.
To address these rising threats, Lee recommends that healthcare organizations adopt a “deep defense” cybersecurity strategy tailored to their unique needs. Regular risk assessments are essential to identifying vulnerabilities. Additionally, AI-powered detection tools can help speed up violation response times and identify exceptions faster.
“Employee training is also the key to minimizing human error, which remains a major cybersecurity risk,” Lee stressed. Many employees in healthcare organizations may not be aware of the latest cybersecurity best practices, making them a potential entry point for cybercriminals.
“The real cost of cybersecurity is not just financial organizations. Healthcare organizations also need to consider non-financial impacts, such as operational disruption, harm and even loss of life.” Cyber attacks can severely undermine health care, affect patient care and damage the reputation of the institution.
