Protecting the Digital Perimeter: Analyzing the Critical Threats in Healthcare Cyber Security, from Ransomware Attacks on Electronic Health Records to the Vulnerabilities of Networked Medical Devices and the Necessity of Proactive Risk Management
Healthcare Cyber Security has become a non-negotiable critical concern, as the sector is a prime target for cybercriminals due to the immense value and sensitivity of Protected Health Information (PHI), which includes financial data, medical history, and personal identifiers. High-profile attacks, particularly ransomware, have crippled hospital systems, diverting ambulances, delaying critical procedures, and proving that cybersecurity failures have a direct, life-threatening impact on patient safety. The rapid proliferation of Internet of Medical Things (IoMT) devices, such as connected infusion pumps and patient monitors, expands the attack surface significantly, as many lack robust native security features and often remain unpatched due to operational necessity, creating easily exploitable vulnerabilities across the network.