Logan Reid
Hospitals are a prime target for cyberattacks due to the highly sensitive nature of the data they hold. In 2025, a major healthcare data breach exposed the personal and medical data of 5.4 million people. This is not an isolated incident, with healthcare data breaches costing over $10 million on average. The number of breaches in the healthcare sector has been steadily rising, with over 700 breaches in 2021 alone. Healthcare providers are often forced to pay ransoms to restore their systems, with cybercriminals exploiting the urgency of recovering internal systems and data centers. In 2024, a ransomware attack on Change Healthcare, a payment provider subsidiary of United Healthcare, shut down hospitals across the US. Similarly, the Swiss-owned AMEOS Group, which runs over 100 hospitals across Europe, shut down its entire network following a cyberattack.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of hospitals affected by CrowdStrike outage | Minimum of 759 |
| Percentage of hospitals that suffered some type of disruption | 34% |
| Percentage of hospitals that recovered within 6 hours | 58% |
| Percentage of hospitals that took more than 48 hours to recover | 8% |
| Number of people affected by the Episource cyberattack | 5,418,866 |
| Number of people affected by the McLaren Health Care data breach | 743,000 |
| Number of people affected by the Ascension healthcare data breach | Millions |
| Number of hospitals run by the AMEOS Group | Over 100 |
| Number of patients and suppliers notified by the AMEOS Group | 500,000 |
| Number of breaches in the healthcare sector in 2021 | Over 700 |
| Average cost of a data breach in the healthcare industry | Over $10 million |
| Time taken to detect and contain an attack in the healthcare sector | 317 days |
| Cost of downtime for a mid-size hospital | $45,700 per hour |
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What You'll Learn
Hospitals are prime targets for cybercriminals
Secondly, healthcare organizations are open 24/7 and rely heavily on real-time access to patient data. As a result, they may be more likely to prioritize avoiding disruptions and pay ransoms to regain access to their data quickly. Ransomware attacks have become increasingly common in healthcare, with 66% of healthcare organizations impacted in 2021. The average cost of a medical data breach in 2022 was $10.1 million, and the consequences can last for years.
Additionally, healthcare IT organizations often have limited security budgets and zero tolerance for system downtime. A single cyberattack can cause a significant increase in mortality rates, as seen in the 2021 ransomware attack that led to the death of a baby in Alabama. Hospitals may also struggle to keep up with the evolving tactics of cybercriminals, who are becoming more sophisticated, organized, and well-funded, often supported by foreign governments.
Moreover, cybercriminals target hospitals to instill fear, disrupt day-to-day operations, and fund violent crimes or terrorist activities. The notorious WannaCry ransomware attack in 2017, developed by the rogue government of North Korea, infected thousands of medical devices and forced multiple hospitals in the UK to close their emergency departments. Hospitals need to continuously strengthen their cybersecurity measures and adapt their strategies to address these evolving threats.
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The impact of cyber attacks on hospitals
Hospitals are increasingly becoming targets of cyberattacks. In 2021, there were over 700 breaches in the healthcare sector in just one year, a significant increase from the double-digit figures recorded in 2009. The impact of these attacks can be devastating, as hospitals may lose access to critical systems and data, potentially affecting patient care and resulting in substantial financial losses.
One of the most concerning consequences of cyberattacks on hospitals is the disruption to patient care. During a cyberattack, hospitals may lose access to essential systems such as health records, test scans, and monitoring systems. This disruption can delay patient treatment, impacting the health outcomes and increasing the risk of mortality, especially for patients with time-sensitive conditions such as heart attacks or strokes.
The financial impact of cyberattacks on hospitals is also significant. The average breach cost in the healthcare industry exceeds $10 million, with the time to detect and contain an attack contributing to the high costs. Additionally, hospitals may have to pay extortion fees to regain access to their data and systems, as seen during the COVID lockdown when operators of malware families demanded ransoms, even stopping cancer treatments.
Furthermore, cyberattacks on hospitals often result in data breaches, exposing sensitive patient information. Personal health information is a valuable commodity for cybercriminals, who can sell it in underground fraud markets or use it for identity theft, insurance fraud, and financial fraud. The impact of such data breaches can be long-lasting, as healthcare data has an extended shelf life, making it valid for years.
The impact of cyberattacks on hospitals highlights the urgent need for improved cybersecurity measures in the healthcare sector. Hospitals must invest in robust security systems, follow best practices, and regularly update their protocols to protect patient data and ensure the continuity of patient care. The consequences of cyberattacks on hospitals can be life-threatening, and therefore, it is imperative for healthcare providers to prioritize cybersecurity to safeguard their operations and patient information.
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Personal health information is a valuable commodity
In 2024, a Change Healthcare ransomware attack struck the payment provider subsidiary of United Healthcare, causing a shutdown of several hospitals across the US. This is just one example of a cyber attack on hospitals, which are attractive targets for hackers due to the vast amount of personal health information they hold.
PHI is valuable to hackers because it can be used for identity theft, fraud, and blackmail. For example, hackers can use PHI to take out loans in the victim's name or access their financial accounts. Additionally, personal health information can be sold on the dark web, where it is highly valued due to its potential for criminal exploitation. As a result, hospitals and other healthcare providers are increasingly becoming targets for cybercriminals seeking to exploit vulnerabilities in their systems and gain access to sensitive data.
To protect against such attacks, hospitals must invest in robust cybersecurity measures, including advanced antivirus software and complex passwords. Additionally, staff should be trained to identify potential threats, such as phishing emails or suspicious links. By improving their cyber hygiene, hospitals can reduce the risk of data breaches and protect the valuable personal health information of their patients.
Individuals can also play a role in protecting their personal health information. This includes using strong passwords, enabling two-factor authentication, and being cautious when sharing personal information online or with third parties. By being vigilant and proactive, individuals can reduce their risk of becoming victims of cyber attacks targeting their personal health data.
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The number of breaches in the healthcare sector is rising
The healthcare sector is an attractive target for cybercriminals due to the highly sensitive and valuable nature of the data it holds. Personal health information (PHI) is often sold in cybercrime shops and used for identity theft, obtaining services and accounts in the victim's name, insurance fraud, tax return fraud, financial fraud, and more. As such, the number of breaches in the healthcare sector is rising.
In 2021, there were over 700 breaches in the healthcare sector in the US, a significant increase from double-digit numbers in 2009. This rise can be partly attributed to the sector's increasing digitization, with over 90% of clinics and hospitals in the US adopting EHRs and EHR platforms. However, this transition has not been accompanied by the necessary security measures, leaving healthcare organizations vulnerable to attacks.
The impact of these breaches is significant, with the healthcare industry experiencing the costliest data breaches for 12 consecutive years, reaching a new record of $10.1 million in average breach costs. The time it takes for breached healthcare organizations to detect and contain an attack is also the longest compared to other sectors, with detection taking 232 days and containment an additional 85 days. This prolonged lifecycle gives attackers ample time to cause more damage and drive up costs.
The urgency to recover from disruptions further incentivizes cybercriminals to target the healthcare sector. According to the Ponemon Institute, a mid-size hospital can incur at least $45,700 in losses per hour of disruption, even with proactive measures in place. This vulnerability was evident during the CrowdStrike outage, which affected over 750 US hospitals and caused service outages directly impacting patient care.
The healthcare sector must prioritize investing in robust cybersecurity measures to protect sensitive data and mitigate the impact of potential breaches. With cyberattacks on the rise, hospitals and healthcare providers must stay vigilant and proactive in safeguarding their systems and patient information.
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The urgency to recover from cyber attacks in hospitals
Hospitals and healthcare systems have become a major target for hackers. The move to electronic medical records has made data more vulnerable, and hospitals hold a great deal of valuable confidential data. In addition, many medical devices use older operating systems that are difficult to update and easier for hackers to exploit. As a result, hospitals must prioritize creating a robust cybersecurity culture to protect themselves from attacks.
The urgency to recover from cyberattacks in hospitals is paramount. A delay of hours, or even minutes, can increase mortality rates for heart attack and stroke patients. This means that even a short-duration outage in patient-related services can have concrete and seriously harmful consequences. For example, the Change Healthcare ransomware attack in early 2024 caused a total shutdown of its systems, relied upon by hospitals, pharmacies, and doctors' offices across the United States. Two months after the attack, providers were still facing challenges with verifying patients' insurance information and submitting claims.
Furthermore, the impact of cyberattacks on hospitals extends beyond immediate disruptions. Hospitals must also deal with the aftermath, including data breaches and potential identity theft for patients. In the case of the Change Healthcare attack, it took five months to start issuing notification letters to individuals whose data was stolen. This prolonged recovery process causes ongoing challenges for both healthcare providers and patients.
To mitigate the impact of cyberattacks, hospitals need to implement comprehensive cybersecurity measures. This includes staff training to reduce the risk of successful phishing attacks, as well as technical solutions such as multi-factor authentication and improved IT system segmentation. By addressing these issues, hospitals can minimize the disruption caused by cyberattacks and protect sensitive data.
While hospitals work to enhance their cybersecurity, it is also crucial to have procedures in place to manage the aftermath of an attack effectively. This includes having alternative methods of communication and data backup solutions to ensure that patient care can continue even in the face of cyber incidents.
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Frequently asked questions
Hospitals are frequent targets of cyber attacks due to the sensitive patient data they store. There is no fixed frequency for these attacks, but research shows that cyber attacks on healthcare organizations rose by 32% year-over-year.
Cyber attacks on hospitals can have severe consequences, including financial losses, data breaches, and reputational damage. In some cases, they may even lead to the postponement of medical procedures and appointments, as seen in the case of the NHS hack, where over 800 planned operations and 700 outpatient appointments were postponed.
Hospitals should invest in advanced cybersecurity systems to detect, prevent, and respond to potential threats. This includes solutions such as network security, application security, endpoint protection, and cloud security. Additionally, hospitals should also consider outsourcing security management and expert consultation to specialized firms.
One of the main challenges is the increasing sophistication and cost of cyber attacks. As attackers become more sophisticated, hospitals need to continuously upgrade their cybersecurity measures. Another challenge is the decision of whether to pay the ransom or not in case of a ransomware attack. While law enforcement advises against paying, hospitals may feel they have no choice, especially when lives are at stake.
Some notable examples of cyber attacks on hospitals include the 2024 NHS hack in London, which affected two hospital trusts and was attributed to a Russian cybercriminal gang called Qilin. Another example is the attack on Hillel Yaffe Medical Center's laundry service systems in October 2021, which disrupted automated procedures and employee access.
