Cybersecurity in Hospitals: Protecting the Future of Healthcare
With the increasing digitalization of healthcare services, such as electronic health records, telemedicine and AI-based diagnostics, the benefits for patients are clear. However, the healthcare sector has become one of the main targets of cyber attacks and ransomware, putting data security and care at risk.
To tackle these threats, the European Union has announced the European Cybersecurity Action Plan for Hospitals and Healthcare Providers, which is based on four main pillars:
Prevent: Strengthen the sector's capabilities to prevent cyber incidents.
Detect: Implement advanced tools to identify threats effectively.
Respond and Recover: Minimize the impact of attacks on patient care.
Deter: Create mechanisms to discourage cybercriminals from attacking European health systems.
Key Measures of the Plan
The plan includes actions such as the creation of a European Cybersecurity Support Center for hospitals, the development of practical guides for cybersecurity best practices and annual cybersecurity maturity assessments in the healthcare sector. Pilot projects, training programs for healthcare professionals and early warning subscriptions for ransomware attacks will be launched between 2025 and 2026.
Challenges and Paths for the Future
According to recent reports, 54% of cybersecurity incidents in the healthcare sector between 2021 and 2023 were ransomware attacks, where sensitive data is encrypted and only recovered for a fee. In addition, the shortage of professionals specializing in cybersecurity represents a growing risk for healthcare organizations.
This European Action Plan reinforces the commitment to digital security and patient well-being. Protecting health systems is essential to ensure that digital innovation continues to benefit society, without compromising privacy and security.
Find out more and download the full report.
