Cybersecurity in healthcare 2026: Protecting patients and preserving care amid rising threats

Almost all of us have at one point received a letter that begins: “We are writing to inform you about a recent incident that may have involved some of your personal information…”

Cybersecurity has become one of the most pressing patient safety issues facing healthcare organizations today. A single cyber incident can delay care, interrupt clinical workflows, and directly affect patient outcomes, making cybersecurity a patient safety issue.

The downstream impact on patient care is becoming impossible to ignore. Nearly three in four U.S. healthcare organizations report that cyberattacks have disrupted patient care, according to a joint study by Proofpoint and the Ponemon Institute. About half reported increased medical procedure complications and longer patient stays, while nearly one in three linked cyber incidents to higher mortality rates.

The Reality: Cyber Threats Are Escalating

Healthcare organizations are among the most frequent targets for cybercrime. According to the Proofpoint-Ponemon study, nearly all healthcare entities experienced at least one cyberattack in the past year, with an average of more than 40 incidents per organization. In 2025, the sector accounted for 22% of all disclosed attacks, with activity rising nearly 50% year over year. These incidents often forced providers to choose between prolonged downtime or ransom payments that can exceed $1 million, not including recovery and reputational costs.

At the same time, supply chain attacks have emerged as one of the most disruptive threat vectors. Over 80% of the stolen protected health information (PHI) records originated from third-party vendors, software providers, business associates, and non-hospital entities.

Modern healthcare systems rely heavily on a broader digital ecosystem that includes:

• Cloud Infrastructure and Hosting Providers: Supporting EHRs, analytics platforms, and data backups
• Revenue Cycle, Billing, and Back Office Vendors: Managing claims, audits, and financial operations
• Imaging and Diagnostic Platforms: Including cloud based PACS and laboratory systems
• Document Management and Records Processing Providers: Handling clinical and administrative documentation
• Pharmacy and Medication Management Platforms: Exchanging prescription and eligibility data
• Telehealth, Patient Portals, and Engagement Tools: Supporting virtual care, scheduling, messaging, and payments
• Medical Device, Data Analytics, IT, and Cybersecurity Vendors: Varying levels of access to clinical systems and sensitive data

While this digital supply chain drives efficiency, it also amplifies risk. A single breach at a major service provider can expose data across multiple covered entities simultaneously.

Insider risk and employee negligence remain persistent challenges. Broad access rights, complex systems, and high pressure clinical environments increase the likelihood of error. When systems go offline or data is compromised, delays in care become inevitable, and patient safety is put at risk.

Why Cybercriminals Target Healthcare

Healthcare organizations manage massive volumes of sensitive data, often on aging infrastructure. Several factors make them appealing to cybercriminals:

• Patient records fetch premium prices on illicit markets, often selling for hundreds of dollars per file due to the depth of information they contain
• Sprawling, disjointed systems, burdened by legacy technology
• Numerous administrators and decentralized databases create blind spots that attackers exploit
• Underfunded cybersecurity programs that allow vulnerabilities to persist
• Insider risk from staff negligence or malicious intent

Attackers seek patient records, such as social security numbers and medical histories, for identity theft and highly targeted scams. Ransomware groups understand that healthcare organizations are uniquely sensitive to downtime and that operational pressure can accelerate payment decisions.

Cybersecurity Trends for 2026

Healthcare leaders must prepare for several converging trends in the year ahead, including:

• Escalating Ransomware Demands: Payments and downtime costs are climbing, straining budgets and operations
• Supply Chain Vulnerabilities: Increased reliance on third-party vendors amplifies exposure
• Cloud Security Gaps: Misconfigured cloud environments remain a top entry point for attackers
• IoT and Medical Device Risks: Connected medical devices expand the attack surface
• Insider Threats: Human error and negligence continue to be leading causes of breaches
• AI-Driven Risk: Attackers use AI to automate phishing, reconnaissance, and social engineering
• Regulatory Pressures: HIPAA and emerging state-level mandates are tightening compliance requirements
• Zero-Trust Adoption: Organizations are moving toward zero-trust architectures to limit lateral movement within networks

Regulatory Scrutiny Is Intensifying

As these risks accelerate, regulators are signaling a more assertive enforcement posture in 2026. The Department of Health and Human Services’ Office for Civil Rights (OCR) has made HIPAA Security Rule enforcement a priority, particularly around security risk management. The focus is shifting from whether a risk analysis exists to how organizations act on its findings.

Healthcare organizations are now expected to demonstrate:

• A current, enterprise wide risk analysis
• A structured approach to evaluating identified risks
• Documented remediation efforts
• Evidence of ongoing review and monitoring

Organizations that conduct assessments but fail to meaningfully address findings may face increased scrutiny and enforcement.

Protecting Systems, Data, and Continuity of Care

Investing in cybersecurity upfront is far more cost-effective than responding after a breach. Healthcare organizations can significantly reduce risk by focusing on a balanced, coordinated strategy that aligns people, processes, and technology. Key priorities include:

• Cyber and HIPAA Risk Assessments: Identify vulnerabilities across networks, devices, cloud environments, and supply chains
• Incident Response Planning: Prepare for disruptions with clearly defined response protocols that minimize downtime and help protect patient safety when systems are impacted
• Third-Party Risk Management: Assess and monitor vendors, service providers, and partners whose access to systems or data could introduce downstream exposure
• Employee Training and Access Controls: Reduce negligence through targeted education and restrict access to sensitive information based on role and need
• Encryption, Multifactor Authentication, and Continuous Monitoring: Establish strong baseline controls and real time visibility to detect and respond to threats as they emerge

We Can Help

Don’t wait for a breach to expose your patients and your reputation. Elliott Davis works with healthcare providers and healthcare affiliates to strengthen cybersecurity programs before an incident occurs, helping organizations protect patient data, preserve care delivery, and meet regulatory expectations.

Our cybersecurity services for healthcare organizations include:

• Annual HIPAA security risk analysis
• Comprehensive cybersecurity assessments
• Internal and external vulnerability scans and penetration testing
• Corrective Action Plan development and advisory support

Contact us today to strengthen your cybersecurity posture and safeguard the care your patients depend on.

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The information provided in this communication is of a general nature and should not be considered professional advice. You should not act upon the information provided without obtaining specific professional advice. The information above is subject to change