Netwrix, a cybersecurity solutions provider specializing in data and identity threat protection, surveyed 1,309 IT and security professionals worldwide, including those in the healthcare sector. The findings revealed that 84 percent of healthcare organizations detected cyberattacks on their infrastructure within the past year. Phishing was the most common attack on-premises, while cloud environments faced a high incidence of account compromise, affecting 74 percent of those reporting a breach. Dirk Schrader, VP of Security Research at Netwrix, attributed these risks to the nature of healthcare work, where frequent communication with external parties and limited security awareness training increase vulnerabilities.
The financial impact of cyberattacks was significant, with 69 percent of healthcare organizations reporting monetary losses, surpassing the 60 percent average across other industries. Additionally, 21 percent of affected healthcare organizations experienced changes in senior leadership, and 19 percent faced lawsuits—higher than the industry-wide average of 13 percent. Ilia Sotnikov, Security Strategist at Netwrix, emphasized that breaches involving protected health information lead to serious concerns due to regulatory penalties and public trust issues.
