CYBERSECURITY
C yberattacks are a pervasive threat across every industry, but in healthcare, the consequences are measured in far more than just financial loss or reputational damage. When a healthcare provider’ s digital infrastructure is compromised, the disruption to patient care is immediate, tangible and can impact patient treatments and outcomes.
This unfortunate reality was starkly demonstrated by recent attacks on the NHS, whereby threat actors accessed sensitive patient data and forced major London hospitals to cancel critical operations and appointments, leaving thousands without the care they needed.
With the real-world impact of a cyberattack being a delayed diagnosis or a rescheduled surgery, the conversation around cybersecurity risk fundamentally changes. For healthcare providers, achieving a state of cyber resilience is not just a strategic goal – it is an absolute necessity to fulfil their remit.
The unique vulnerability of healthcare So why is healthcare such an attractive target for cybercriminals? In short, the sector represents a perfect storm of vulnerability and high-value data. Healthcare organisations manage vast quantities of highly sensitive personally identifiable data, as well as protected health information, both of which are valuable resources for cybercriminals seeking to extort organisations and people, and commit fraud.
84 February 2026