By Suresh Kanniappan, Sales Head, Infrastructure Management and Security Services, US at Happiest Minds
Let’s revisit the recent ransomware attack that hit one of the biggest hospital networks in the US. The cyberattack shut down surgeries, made patients’ records unavailable, and forced emergency departments to divert incoming cases. Unfortunately, this is not an isolated story. Throughout 2025, healthcare organisations have faced a growing wave of cyber threats, highlighting the urgent need for Cyber Resilience in Healthcare.
The scale and precision of cyber threats have increased manifold, with impacts extending far beyond data breaches: disrupting care, delaying diagnoses, and even shaking the very foundation of patient trust.
Why has Cyber Resilience in Healthcare Become More Critical Than Ever?
The recent report released by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, which found that more than 133 million patient records were compromised in the first half of 2025, marking the highest number to date. More concerning is the impact of ransomware attacks, which have grown 3X, affecting everything from the electronic health record systems to connected diagnostic equipment.
All these incidents have had a significant impact on human life. There were many postponed surgeries, families were afraid about what was next, and the clinicians had no access to the vital data when it was needed most. All these were not just operational challenges; they were an alarm for all healthcare systems that building a strong resilience is essential in today’s highly connected digital world.
What we need to understand is clear: cybersecurity in healthcare is no longer about prevention alone; it’s about resilience, recovery, and readiness. So, what must the healthcare industry focus on in 2026 and beyond?
- Zero Trust to Replace Perimeter: Zero Trust security is already in place, but how effectively it is implemented is to be verified. Zero trust will continue to be the backbone of every industry, ensuring every user, every device, and every access is verified without exception. It is not just about restricting access; it is about knowing who has access to what and granting permission to the right people for the right requirements.
- AI will Redefine Defense: AI has become an integral part of our lives; it is re-shaping both cyber-attacks and defense. Cyber adversaries are using AI to create personalized phishing attacks, exploit unpatched devices, and steal data and credentials at a pace humans can’t match. The advice for healthcare experts is to implement AI as a new defense engine, deploying AI-driven threat analytics, automated response workflows, and continuous monitoring to spot and contain threats in real time. This will help healthcare security teams protect data and clinical operations much faster and with higher precision.
- Supply Chain Vigilance to be Stepped Up: The recent breaches over the last 1 year have not happened within the boundaries of the hospitals, but it is beyond that through third-party vendors, devices, and software. It’s time for the healthcare providers to look into every vendor that enforces real-time risk monitoring, contractual accountability, and shared visibility across the entire healthcare and value chain. They need to bring strong security in place to ensure resiliency.
- Regulations Will Drive Accountability: Global regulators are strengthening mandates around healthcare data protection, breach reporting, and AI transparency. In the coming year, leadership involvement in cybersecurity governance will need to be stronger. Boards and CXOs will need to give digital safety the same priority as patient safety. Compliance will become an ongoing practice of accountability rather than just an annual paperwork exercise.
Role of the leaders
Strategic Priorities of Healthcare Leaders
- Redefining Cyber Resilience as a Leadership Imperative: The need of the hour is resilience, and it should start from the top management itself to foster leadership commitment and shared responsibility for bringing in a positive mindset, investing in better cybersecurity tools and service providers that enable patient safety.
- Empower People, Not Just Systems: Resilience is not built by technology; it is to be instilled within us, and human awareness is the best barrier. Each staff member, from the frontend IT administrators to nurses, is an integral part of ensuring the organization’s integrity and patients’ safety. Periodically conducting simulations, awareness campaigns, and real-world readiness drills will be necessary to make security a shared responsibility rather than an isolated function.
- Establish a Culture of Collaboration: Threats don’t operate in isolation, and neither should our defense. Leaders must champion collaboration across hospitals, vendors, industry groups, and public-sector bodies. Proactive threat intelligence sharing and coordinated response frameworks enable healthcare organizations to anticipate disruptions rather than merely react. True resilience is never built in isolation; rather, it is forged through partnership.
The Way Forward: Resilience as the Heartbeat of Healthcare
Healthcare no longer remains confined to hospital premises. It has gone much beyond the walls of any hospital. Every network and every device that carries the patient’s record or clinical data must be protected in today’s connected world.
It is more about constant trust rather than a one-time effort or technical achievement. Being resilient, even in the face of system failure, without compromising patient care, is vital.
As for 2026, organizations would have to balance innovation with integrity and treat cybersecurity not just as a compliance checklist but as a shared responsibility to prioritize patient health and data. Integrating AI into cybersecurity practice will further help strengthen threat detection and response by identifying threats and containing them even before they strike.
The future of health is not defined by how sophisticated AI will become but by how well it is integrated into every layer of care. Resilience will come from AI-powered systems that protect patient data, strengthen clinical operations, and make sure the promise of technology truly supports the promise of healing.
