By Russell Teague, Chief Information Security Officer (CISO), Fortified Health Security

The cybersecurity landscape continues to evolve rapidly, especially in the healthcare sector, and the industry must anticipate this continuum of change and potential instability. Based on past and recent events throughout 2024 and the emerging trends, here are my predictions for healthcare cybersecurity in 2025.

Surge in AI-driven cyberattacks

Cybercriminals will increasingly deploy AI to automate and scale their attacks, creating dynamic malware, adaptive phishing schemes, and sophisticated intrusion attempts. 

AI is already transforming cybersecurity, with both attackers and defenders harnessing its power. Cybercriminals are employing AI to assess security measures and refine their strategies, while tools like ChatGPT are streamlining the creation of convincing phishing attacks.

These attacks could lead to data breaches or operational disruptions in healthcare organizations, threatening sensitive patient data and potentially delaying critical care services. Healthcare systems should consider adopting AI-powered defense mechanisms to match this evolving threat.  

Escalation of Ransomware Attacks with Double Extortion Tactics

Healthcare will continue to be the main target for ransomware attacks, with threat actors increasingly combining encryption with data exposure threats to maximize extortion payouts. 

Ransomware attacks on healthcare systems surged this year, with incidents causing significant operational disruptions to patient care. Studies by the FBI and CISA have confirmed the increasing reliance on double extortion tactics, where attackers demand payment to decrypt data and prevent the public release of stolen data.  

Ransomware attacks can paralyze healthcare operations, forcing delays in patient care and diagnostics. Exposure to sensitive patient data could erode trust, damage reputations, and lead to significant financial losses for organizations.  

Increased Regulatory Scrutiny and Compliance Requirements

Governments and regulatory bodies will impose stricter cybersecurity compliance standards, forcing healthcare organizations to adopt more robust security frameworks. 

Legislation introduced in 2024, such as the proposed Health Care Cybersecurity Resiliency Act, underscores the government's growing focus on securing critical infrastructure. This trend follows global initiatives like the EU's GDPR and the U.S.'s CMMC. Healthcare organizations will face increasing pressure to demonstrate compliance to avoid penalties and protect patient trust while trying to address current IT challenges with legacy technology.  

Stricter compliance requirements will drive investments in security tools and protocols, enhancing data protection and patient safety. However, non-compliance could result in hefty fines and interruptions in operations. 

Expansion of Cybersecurity Budgets and Investments

Healthcare organizations will significantly increase investments in cybersecurity tools, talent, and infrastructure to combat rising threats.

In 2024, cybersecurity budgets in healthcare increased by 20%, driven by high-profile attacks and heightened board-level attention. Gartner projects further growth, with cybersecurity spending expected to reach 15% of total IT budgets by 2025. The financial impact of data breaches continues to be a significant driver of this shift, with the average cost of a healthcare breach reported at $10.93 million in 2023. However, it decreased to $9.77 million in 2024. This trend reflects a growing focus among decision-makers on prioritizing prevention over reaction to mitigate risks and safeguard critical systems.

Increased budgets will enable healthcare organizations to proactively secure systems, protect patient data, and minimize the likelihood of interruptions in care delivery.  

Emphasis on Third-Party Risk Management

Healthcare organizations will prioritize vendor assessments and contractually enforce stringent cybersecurity standards to mitigate supply chain risks. 

Third-party vendors remain a weak link throughout healthcare cybersecurity. In 2024, third-party compromises made up 45% of healthcare-reported breaches.   

By 2025, healthcare organizations will deepen their third-party risk management efforts to include identifying and attempting to mitigate single points of failure and addressing risks from fourth-and fifth-party relationships. These efforts will focus on strengthening supply chain security and minimizing disruptions caused by vulnerabilities within the broader vendor ecosystem.  

While third-party risks are well-documented, the dependencies on 4th and 5th parties-subcontractors and vendors of vendors-create hidden vulnerabilities. The SolarWinds and Kaseya breaches exemplified how a single compromised vendor can cascade through an entire ecosystem, impacting hundreds or thousands of organizations. Healthcare systems are particularly exposed, as many rely on a small number of critical vendors for patient data management, medical device connectivity, and cloud services. By exploring these deeper layers of risk, healthcare organizations can enhance operational resilience and reduce the likelihood of systemic failures.  

Identifying single points of failure ensures operational continuity by minimizing the risk of a compromised critical dependency. Assessing 4th and 5th party risks strengthens the security posture of the entire supply chain, protecting patient data and ensuring the availability of critical services. An expanded focus reduces the likelihood of cascading failures, and fosters trust in interconnected healthcare ecosystems.  

Enhanced Incident Response Services

Healthcare organizations will adopt more advanced and proactive incident response (IR) capabilities, including access to on-demand experts and centralized IR portals. The increasing frequency and severity of cyber incidents have exposed gaps in many healthcare organizations' IR capabilities. The introduction of centralized IR portals and partnerships with on-demand experts in 2024 has already demonstrated significant reductions in downtime and recovery costs. 2025 this trend will expand as healthcare systems seek faster, more coordinated responses to mitigate disruptions.  

Enhanced IR services minimize downtime and data loss, ensuring continued operations during cyber incidents and protecting patient care delivery.  

Healthcare Outsourcing of Cybersecurity  

By 2025, healthcare organizations will increasingly outsource cybersecurity functions to managed security service providers (MSSPs) and specialized third-party vendors. This shift will address critical talent shortages, alleviate pressures on in-house teams, and provide access to cutting-edge expertise and technology to combat the rapidly evolving threat landscape.  
  
The global cybersecurity workforce gap exceeded 3.4 million professionals in 2024, according to International Information System Security Certification Consortium (ISC)². Many healthcare organizations struggle to attract and retain skilled cybersecurity personnel due to competition from other industries and limited budgets. The aging IT workforce, combined with a rapidly evolving threat landscape, compounds this challenge. Outsourcing provides a cost-effective alternative, ensuring access to advanced tools, round-the-clock monitoring, and rapid incident response capabilities. MSSPs also specialize in regulatory compliance, helping healthcare organizations navigate stringent requirements and reduce risks.  

Outsourcing reduces the likelihood of breaches and system outages, ensuring uninterrupted access to critical systems and patient data. It minimizes downtime by enabling faster threat detection and mitigation, protecting patient care workflows. Additionally, outsourcing alleviates the burden on internal IT teams, reduces burnout, and allows organizations to focus on their core mission of delivering quality patient care.  

Securing Your Future

As we move into 2025, healthcare organizations must remain vigilant and adaptable. By anticipating these trends and investing in comprehensive cybersecurity measures, the healthcare sector can better protect its critical infrastructure and sensitive patient data.

##

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Russell Teague, Chief Information Security Officer, Fortified Health Security

With over 20 years of experience, Russell Teague's expertise spans Information Security across industries such as Healthcare, Pharma, Financial, Retail, Technology, and more. A U.S. Army Intelligence veteran, he has held senior leadership roles, including CSO and CTO, and worked with top cybersecurity service providers. Russell has consulted with the White House on the National Cybersecurity Healthcare Strategy, contributed to key publications, and has been a prominent voice at major industry events, including Blackhat, HIMSS, and Health Connect Partners (HCP).