Hospitals in Crisis as Cyberattacks Target Medical Devices
▼ Summary
– 22% of healthcare organizations faced cyberattacks affecting medical devices, with 75% disrupting patient care and 24% requiring patient transfers.
– Healthcare cybersecurity has shifted from an IT issue to a patient safety priority, with 35% of organizations now most concerned about OT systems like medical devices.
– 53% of networked medical devices have critical vulnerabilities, and healthcare experienced more cyber threats in 2024 than any other critical infrastructure industry.
– Cyberattacks on healthcare systems caused operational disruptions, including manual processes (46%), delayed diagnoses (44%), and extended patient stays (44%).
– 83% of healthcare organizations now include cybersecurity in medical device procurement, with 73% influenced by FDA and EU regulations, and 78% valuing SBOMs.
Healthcare organizations face unprecedented cybersecurity threats as attacks increasingly target critical medical devices, putting patient safety at risk. Recent data shows that nearly one-quarter of healthcare providers have experienced cyber incidents directly affecting medical equipment, with three-quarters of these cases disrupting patient care. Alarmingly, 24% of attacks were severe enough to require transferring patients to other facilities.
The healthcare sector’s cybersecurity priorities are shifting dramatically. Operational technology (OT) systems, including medical devices, now rank as the top security concern for 35% of organizations, surpassing traditional IT infrastructure. This change reflects the growing digitization of hospitals, where everything from MRI machines to IV pumps connects to networks. The FBI warns that over half of networked medical devices contain critical vulnerabilities, making healthcare the most targeted critical infrastructure sector this year.
Cyberattacks Cripple Patient Care
Hackers are no longer just stealing data, they’re sabotaging the systems hospitals rely on for diagnosis and treatment. Electronic health records remain the most compromised (52%), but attacks on medical devices create cascading operational failures. Nearly half of affected providers resorted to manual workarounds, while 44% reported delayed procedures or prolonged hospital stays. System outages lasted up to 12 hours in 31% of cases, forcing staff to use less efficient backup methods that can compromise care quality.
Supply chain breaches add another layer of risk, affecting 26% of organizations. These attacks often go undetected until multiple facilities are impacted, making containment far more difficult.
Security Now Drives Purchasing Decisions
Healthcare leaders are taking action by embedding cybersecurity into procurement processes. 83% of organizations now include security requirements in medical device RFPs, with 46% rejecting vendors over safety concerns. Regulatory changes, including FDA guidelines and EU cybersecurity laws, influence 73% of purchasing decisions. Transparency is also critical, 78% of buyers demand software bill of materials (SBOMs) to assess device vulnerabilities before purchase.
Investments Rise, But Confidence Lags
While budgets for medical device security grew for 75% of organizations, only 17% feel fully prepared to detect and stop attacks. The stakes are high enough that 79% of executives will pay extra for devices with built-in exploit prevention, and 41% accept premiums up to 15%. Just 12% expect advanced protections to come at no additional cost, signaling a recognition that robust security requires real investment.
As one industry leader noted, cybersecurity is no longer about compliance checkboxes, it’s about preventing life-threatening disruptions when systems fail. With patient care on the line, hospitals must prioritize resilient technology that keeps critical devices secure and operational.
(Source: HELPNET SECURITY)
