Ransomware attacks are a nightmare. This type of malware encrypts your files and locks you out of your own devices and data. And they’re getting more frequent—by 2031, experts predict they’ll be happening every two seconds.
The healthcare industry is a prime target for these attacks—a whopping 67% of healthcare organizations were hit by healthcare ransomware in 2024. That’s alarming, especially when ransomware attacks are decreasing in other industries.
So, why is healthcare such a magnet for cyberattacks? And what can your healthcare organization do to protect itself from these cyber criminals?
This blog post dives deep into the world of cyberattacks in healthcare and offers strategies to keep your data and devices safe. Your healthcare organization can’t afford a breach—it’s time to take action.
The bait: A ransomware attack often starts with a seemingly innocent email attachment or link disguised as an invoice, shipping document, or online file—something your employees see every day. These emails may even appear to come from a trusted vendor or even your own company, making them even harder to detect.
The infection: Once the unsuspecting user clicks on the attachment or link, their machine becomes infected with malware. Since most employee devices are connected to the network and shared cloud services, the malware quickly spreads, stealing sensitive patient data, login credentials, and other valuable information before encrypting it.
Ransom notice: Once the payload is dropped, a ransom note pops up on the user’s screen, demanding payment—usually in Bitcoin—in exchange for the decryption key. Some cybercriminals even offer “customer service” to help with the payment process.
Pay or restore: Now you’re faced with a difficult choice: pay the ransom and risk future attacks or restore your data from a backup (if you have one).
Cyber attackers are relentless in their pursuit to breach healthcare organizations. They use a variety of tactics to spread ransomware, including:
Cyber attacks, and especially healthcare ransomware, are common for three reasons.
Healthcare runs on legacy systems. According to The State of Ransomware in Healthcare 2024 by Sophos, outdated tech and infrastructure open doors for healthcare ransomware attackers. These aging systems make it harder to secure devices and stop cyber attacks in healthcare before they spread.
The average healthcare security compromise costs $4.74 million. That’s a staggering amount—and it’s no surprise why. Recovering from a cyberattack in healthcare takes time, money, and resources. But the real reason healthcare is such a lucrative target? The data.
Healthcare organizations hold a treasure trove of information: patient data, Social Security numbers, financial details, and other Personally Identifiable Information (PII). For attackers, this data is gold. They can sell it on the dark web or even use it to blackmail patients.
Healthcare generates an incredible 30% of the world’s data, and that number is only growing—with a staggering 36% annual growth rate expected in 2025. To put it into perspective, just one hospital produces around 50 petabytes of data per year.
It’s not just the value of healthcare data that makes it a target—it’s the sheer volume. For healthcare ransomware attackers, this abundance is like striking gold, giving them endless opportunities to exploit and disrupt.
Despite the growing threat of healthcare ransomware attacks, the healthcare industry hasn’t yet reached a unified solution to tackle the problem. In the U.S., while 70% of hospital boards include cybersecurity in their risk management oversight, only 37% conduct incident response exercises. That leaves significant gaps in preparedness.
Here’s how organizations are taking steps to fight back against healthcare ransomware and reduce cyber attack vectors:
Backups are copies of files or data stored in a separate hard drive or cloud storage. When healthcare ransomware strikes, having reliable backups is your lifeline. Backups allow healthcare organizations to restore systems to their pre-attack state and minimize downtime. To get the most out of your backups, keep these best practices in mind:
Ransomware loves to move across networks, but segmentation stops it in its tracks. By dividing networks into smaller sections, organizations can limit how far healthcare ransomware can spread. Here’s how it works:
for ransomware to move laterally, and it limits entry points.
more easily detected and allow for quicker response times.
Individual devices like laptops and desktops are often the first targets in healthcare ransomware attacks. That’s why robust endpoint security is essential. Here’s what it offers:
Weak passwords, phishing attempts, and failure to patch are often the root cause of healthcare ransomware attacks. Here are the practices organizations can employ daily to stop ransomware attacks:
Providers and hospitals are the primary targets of healthcare ransomware attacks. Here are the best practices you should implement:
Ransomware is a serious threat to healthcare organizations, but taking proactive steps can make all the difference.
That’s where ClearDATA comes in. Our advanced threat detection and prevention services are built to protect your organization from ransomware attacks. With 24/7 security monitoring, real-time threat intelligence, and automated remediation powered by our CyberHealth™ platform, we help you safeguard sensitive patient data while staying compliant with healthcare regulations.
Ready to stay one step ahead of cybercriminals? Partner with ClearDATA and talk to our cloud security experts. They’ll help prevent healthcare ransomware attacks before they disrupt your organization.