Healthcare Cybersecurity And Patient Safety: What Every Leader Must Know
For years, healthcare security was viewed as an IT function or a technical afterthought. Leaders assumed cyber threats were something the IT department would “handle,” and most health care organizations believed they were too small, too local, or too clinically focused to be real targets.
That world is over.
On All Things LOCS podcast, cybersecurity expert Larry Trotter, founder of Inherent Security, explained why the healthcare sector is now considered critical infrastructure by federal agencies, including the Department of Health and Human Services, and why security incidents are no longer just IT problems but direct threats to patient outcomes and clinical outcomes.
Today, cyber threats can:
Shut down electronic health records
Delay or cancel surgeries
Force emergency patient rerouting
Expose sensitive PHI and even intellectual property
Create regulatory and legal consequences
Damage trust for years
Impact the safety, health, and lives of patients
This blog unpacks how patient safety and cybersecurity have become inseparable, the key challenges facing the healthcare industry, and what leaders must do to build cyber resilience, strengthen security awareness, and embed a strong cybersecurity culture inside their organizations.
This is not merely a technology story. It is a story of healthcare leadership and cybersecurity, risk management, accountability, and leveraging technology responsibly to mitigate risks and safeguard patients.
Why Healthcare Cybersecurity Is Now A Patient Safety Issue
From IT Headache To Life Or Death Risk
Historically, cyberattacks were dismissed as temporary disruptions. Systems went down, staff switched to paper charts, and operations limped along until IT restored access.
But modern attackers have changed the game.
Larry explained:
"It has been confirmed it happened in the UK, but a patient has died because of a cybersecurity breach."
This incident reflects a larger pattern across the health sector, where sophisticated ransomware attacks directly threaten protecting patient safety.
Modern ransomware shuts down:
EHR and EMR systems
Diagnostic imaging platforms
Surgical scheduling
Medication administration systems
Entire hospital networks
Healthcare organizations depend on interconnected systems for nearly everything. When those systems fail, patient outcomes can deteriorate quickly.
This is why cyber resilience is now a clinical imperative, not just an IT priority.
How Ransomware Attacks Disrupt Patient Care
Ransomware is no longer a prank. It is a commercial enterprise built on disruption and extortion.
"Hackers want money. It is a business. These are state sponsored hacks or hacking groups that consist of multiple individuals."
Modern attackers utilize:
Cyber threat intelligence to identify vulnerable systems
Reconnaissance to find clinics with weak security
Automated attacks that spread rapidly
Larry estimates that nearly every major breach in the news is ransomware:
"95% of the breaches that you are hearing about today are ransomware attacks."
For health care organizations, this means even a single vulnerability can jeopardize care delivery, delay treatments, and risk lives.
Think about it: what if a surgery center was taken offline? What if you had no way to submit a prior authorization?
The Hidden Cybersecurity Threat Inside Healthcare Clinics: Insider Risk
While ransomware dominates headlines, internal behavior, both malicious and accidental, continues to be the largest overall driver of security risks.
"Overall, actually insider threat, surprisingly, is the biggest threat in terms of cybersecurity risk."
How Insider Threats Lead To Healthcare Data Breaches
Insider risk includes:
Employees selling or leaking PHI
Poor adherence to cybersecurity awareness
Contractors with unnecessary access
Staff emailing sensitive data by mistake
Lack of cybersecurity training
Even accidental actions still count as security incidents requiring documentation and potentially triggering regulatory action.
"Even though that is an accident, it is still a breach and you can still get fined for that under HIPAA."
Culture, Training, And Human Error In Cybersecurity
This is where healthcare leadership and cybersecurity must align.
A strong cybersecurity culture includes:
Regular, role-specific security awareness training
Clear communication around risk
Expectations of accountability
Systems that make secure behavior easy, not optional
Human error is unavoidable, but risk mitigation strategies can dramatically reduce the chance of a catastrophic event. In addition, don't give your employees a reason to sell or leak PHI; create a great company culture that develops highly motivated employees.
What Happens When Patient Data Is Held Hostage
Many small practices assume they can survive a data leak. But when attackers gain access to PHI and EHR systems, the consequences are far more serious.
Operational Shutdown And Disrupted Care
A ransomware attack can freeze:
Scheduling
Billing
Lab orders
EHR charting
Medication administration
Clinics may be forced to reroute patients or suspend care altogether. Without incident response planning, organizations risk prolonged outages and compromised patient outcomes.
HIPAA Investigations, Fines, And OCR Audits
One of the most overlooked consequences of a cybersecurity incident in the healthcare sector is the regulatory fallout that comes after the attack. Even if a clinic pays the ransom, restores access quickly, or believes the damage was “minimal,” federal regulators do not see it that way.
Larry notes:
"Regardless if you pay or not, OCR will come in to audit you."
Failure to maintain HIPAA security compliance can result in:
Heavy fines
Public reporting of breaches
Long term monitoring
Contract loss
How Cybersecurity Breaches Destroy Patient Trust
"Your patient might not trust you anymore once they find that information is out there."
Trust, once lost, is often unrecoverable. You spend years building a brand that is respected by your patients and community, all for it to come crumbling down. That is why protecting patient safety must include protecting patient data.
Why Small Healthcare Clinics Cannot Assume They Are Safe
Small clinics often believe they fly under the radar, but attackers increasingly target them because they are easier to infiltrate. If you don't think you'll ever be attacked, why would you prepare for it?
Why Hackers Target Small Practices
Attackers look for organizations with:
Limited staffing
Outdated systems
Weak authentication processes
Minimal monitoring
No dedicated cybersecurity professionals
Larry describes many clinics this way:
"You have no security person there, or someone who is wearing multiple hats, and one just happens to be security."
Resource Constraints, Overworked IT, And Security Gaps
Small practices frequently rely on:
IT generalists
Basic MSPs without healthcare expertise
Outdated or mixed hardware
No formal incident response planning
Yet these organizations remain responsible for HIPAA security compliance and risk mitigation strategies. Even with a limited budget that you can allocate to cybersecurity, there are some high level actions you can take that will greatly prevent harm to your organization, staff and employees.
Building Cybersecurity Into Healthcare Operations
Start With Basic Security Controls
Leaders must ask:
Are passwords unique and complex?
Is multi factor authentication enabled?
Are all devices encrypted?
Are systems monitored for unusual activity?
Is antivirus software up to date?
Even basic controls increase cyber resilience dramatically.
Why Cybersecurity Must Be Part Of Your Business Plan
Healthcare is highly regulated, and health care organizations must comply with HIPAA regardless of size.
"HIPAA has the same requirements for a small practice as it does for a large health system."
Cybersecurity should be built into:
Strategic planning
Financial forecasting
Staff onboarding
Technology purchasing
Vendor contracting
HIPAA Security Compliance For All Healthcare Organizations
Smaller practices may lean on:
MSPs
Virtual CISOs
Outsourced monitoring
Yes, larger systems may build internal departments. However, both small and large organizations need strong cybersecurity culture, clear training, and effective incident response planning.
Budgeting For Healthcare Cybersecurity Without Breaking The Bank
The Cost Of A CISO Versus The Cost Of a Breach
Hiring a full time CISO may cost up to 200k per year, but a major breach can exceed that easily through:
Lost revenue
Fines
Legal costs
Contract termination
Long term reputation damage
MSPs, Niche Security Providers, And Virtual CISOs
So you may be thinking that you can't afford to hire an expert. However, fractional models offer specialized support at lower cost:
MSPs with security services
Niche healthcare security firms
Virtual CISOs for governance and oversight
"We offer virtual CSO services... same expertise without paying the full time cost."
Cybersecurity As An Essential Operating Cost
Being transparent about your investment in cybersecurity signals responsibility, integrity, and a commitment to protecting patient safety.
As Larry explained on the podcast:
"Our price is a little bit higher, but we invest in security because we want to ensure the safety of your information."
For patients, that message is reassuring. For your staff, it sets the tone for a strong cybersecurity culture. And for your organization, it reframes cybersecurity spending as what it truly is: a vital part of delivering high-quality care, safeguarding clinical outcomes, and ensuring long-term stability in a rapidly changing threat landscape.
Questions Healthcare Leaders Should Ask MSPs And Vendors About Cybersecurity
How To Vet Your MSP For HIPAA Security Compliance
Your MSP is often your first line of defense against cyber threats and security incidents. But not all MSPs understand the unique requirements of the healthcare industry or the strict expectations set by HIPAA Security Rules and Health and Human Services.
Start with the simplest, and most important, question:
"Are you familiar with HIPAA compliance?"
If the answer is vague, defensive, or lacks specifics about technical, administrative, and physical safeguards, consider it an immediate red flag. Healthcare leadership and cybersecurity must operate hand-in-hand, and that requires an MSP who understands:
HIPAA Security Rule requirements
How to protect electronic health records
Incident response planning
Access controls, encryption, and monitoring
Documentation needs during audits
Cyber resilience strategies tailored to the healthcare sector
A strong MSP should be able to clearly articulate how their services map to HIPAA controls, not just claim that they “support healthcare clients.”
Third Party Vendor Risk And SOC 2 Compliance
Third-party vendor risk is exploding across the health sector. As Larry noted, 42 percent of breaches now trace back to external vendors—partners who process, store, or connect to sensitive data.
This makes vendor vetting an essential cybersecurity awareness practice.
Healthcare leaders should ask:
Are you SOC 2 compliant?
SOC 2 demonstrates that an independent auditor has verified your vendor’s security controls, policies, and operational safeguards.Have you undergone a penetration test in the last 12 months?
Without testing, vendors cannot claim their security posture is effective.How soon will you notify us of a breach or security incident?
Notification timelines directly impact your ability to protect patient safety and mitigate risks.Can we review your security policies and incident response plans?
A legitimate vendor should be willing to provide documentation—especially one that handles PHI or interacts with critical infrastructure in your organization.
These questions are not optional. They are essential to building cyber resilience and reducing cyber risk for patients, staff, and clinical outcomes.
Monitoring, Maturity, And Continuous Cybersecurity Improvement
Why 24/7 Monitoring Matters In Healthcare
Larry put it bluntly:
"Hackers do not go to sleep."
Healthcare organizations must assume that cyber threats operate around the clock. This includes automated attack bots, ransomware groups in different time zones, and threat actors who intentionally attack overnight when staffing is lowest.
Without real time monitoring, even small security incidents can quickly escalate into catastrophic failures that impact:
Clinical workflows
Patient access to care
Lab results
Pharmacy systems
EHR and EMR availability
Real time monitoring allows teams to detect anomalies early, disrupt attackers before they escalate privileges, and dramatically reduce the damage window. For a sector where delayed care affects patient outcomes, the impact cannot be overstated.
Where AI Fits Into Healthcare Cybersecurity
AI Governance, Privacy, And PHI Protection
The biggest challenge is that AI innovation is moving faster than regulation. Health and Human Services, state regulators, and legislators are still working to define standards for:
PHI protection in AI systems
Training data transparency
Vendor accountability
Ethical safeguards
Intellectual property considerations
Some new proposals, such as the New York requirement that organizations publicly disclose training datasets used in AI tools, introduce risks of their own. Larry described this as excessive because exposing training data can reveal proprietary methods, clinical algorithms, and sensitive information.
Healthcare leaders must therefore create internal AI governance frameworks that prioritize:
PHI protection
Risk mitigation strategies
Vendor vetting
Cyber threat intelligence
Transparent internal policies
Balancing Innovation, Compliance, And Cybersecurity Risk
AI has enormous potential for improving clinical outcomes, documentation speed, and workflow automation. It delivers:
Efficiency
Predictive analytics
Automation
Decision support
Reduced administrative burden
But it also introduces:
Privacy concerns
Training data vulnerabilities
Bias and data quality issues
Vendor compliance challenges
Increased attack surfaces
This is why healthcare leadership and cybersecurity must work together to evaluate AI tools before implementation. Innovation cannot come at the expense of patient safety or regulatory compliance.
Cybersecurity In Healthcare Is A Leadership Responsibility
The most important insight from Larry was not technical. It was cultural:
"This is up to leadership. If you are in that role, you have to understand how important this is to your organization, your employees, and all the patients."
Cybersecurity is not an IT function. It is a leadership mandate tied directly to:
Patient safety
Clinical continuity
Financial stability
Organizational culture
Reputational trust
Leaders must build a strong cybersecurity culture by prioritizing:
Cybersecurity awareness
Workforce training
Accountability systems
Budgeting for cyber resilience
Transparent communication with patients
Clear escalation pathways
Protecting patient safety now means protecting patient data. A breach is not just a technology failure. It is a leadership failure.
Larry summarized the entire conversation with one simple directive:
"One change every organization should make today? Invest in cybersecurity."
Healthcare Cybersecurity FAQ
What is the biggest cyber threat facing healthcare today?
Ransomware remains the most disruptive threat, but insider risk continues to be the largest overall contributor to breaches. Both jeopardize patient outcomes, operations, and cyber resilience.
How does cybersecurity connect to patient safety?
When systems go down, clinicians lose access to electronic health records, medications, diagnostics, and scheduling. This can delay care, reroute patients, and lead to worse outcomes. Patient safety and cybersecurity are now inseparable.
How can small healthcare organizations improve cybersecurity?
Start with a HIPAA risk assessment, implement basic controls, and partner with MSPs or virtual CISOs. Even small steps significantly mitigate risks and strengthen cyber resilience.
Does HIPAA require specific cybersecurity measures?
HIPAA requires administrative, technical, and physical safeguards, collectively known as HIPAA security compliance. These include access controls, audit logs, encryption, training, and risk assessments.
Why is incident response planning essential in healthcare?
Without an incident response plan, even a minor event can escalate into extended downtime, regulatory penalties, and major disruptions to care. Response plans reduce recovery time and protect clinical outcomes.
How can leaders strengthen cybersecurity culture?
Leaders should promote security awareness, provide ongoing cybersecurity training, reinforce expectations, and model secure behavior. A strong cybersecurity culture is the most powerful defense against human error.
Cybersecurity is now a leadership responsibility. Listen or watch to the complete episode of All Things LOCS and learn exactly how to protect your organization.
Then schedule a call with Inherent Security to fortify your systems before the next threat hits.
