Healthcare Cyber Incidents by the Numbers

A closer look reveals key trends on cyber incidents in healthcare.

By Jeff Wardon, Jr., Assistant Editor


So far in 2024, Healthcare Facilities Today has reported on 26 different cyber incidents, including ransomware, phishing and data breaches. That number is likely to climb in the second half of the year as cyberattacks show little signs of slowing down.  

To get a better look at just how many incidents happen each year and how they affect healthcare facilities, let’s take a closer look at the data.  

The following are statistics concerning cyber incidents in 2023 in healthcare, according to The HIPAA Journal

  • 741 data breaches of 500-plus records. 
  • About 140,000,000 individuals affected by healthcare security breaches. 
  • 23 of the largest healthcare breaches between 2009 and 2024 occurred in 2023. 
  • Hacking was the most common cause of breaches in 2023, with 596 incidents. 
  • 125 unauthorized access or disclosure incidents.

Related: HHS Alerts Healthcare Organizations to 'Qilin' Ransomware Group

Education and collaboration are keys to stemming the tide of cyber incidents. Many healthcare organizations opt to not share information on how they responded, and this leaves potential cyber victims in the dark and incapable of responding to cyberattacks. 

“As other organizations around the world are breached, we need to keep on learning and learning from each of those incidents,” Ben Debow, founder and chief executive officer at Fortified, told Healthcare Facilities Today. “We must be making sure that we are staying diligent and in filling in those holes, those attack vectors and addressing those as an organization prepares and becomes stronger.”   

Jeff Wardon, Jr. is the assistant editor for the facilities market. 



July 10, 2024


Topic Area: Information Technology , Security


Recent Posts

Biofilms: Top-Tier Threat to Surface Disinfection

It is time to recognize biofilms as the top-of-the-pyramid predators they are.


Ardent Health Obtains 18 Urgent Care Clinics in New Mexico and Oklahoma

The purchase follows Ardent Health’s acquisition of nine additional urgent care centers in its East Texas and Topeka, Kansas markets in 2024.


Parker Solves Contact Problems by Implementing Touchless Access Controls

Case study: The organization installed touchless access controls at its Somerset post-acute rehabilitation and skilled-nursing home.


Technology Trends for Healthcare Real Estate in 2025

AI and other sophisticated technologies are looking to influence healthcare real estate in the new year.


Advocate Healthcare Invests $1 Billion Into Chicago's South Side

The expansive investment in a wellness model is the direct result of an extensive community input process over much of 2024.


 
 


FREE Newsletter Signup Form

News & Updates | Webcast Alerts
Building Technologies | & More!

 
 
 


All fields are required. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

 
 
 
 

Healthcare Facilities Today membership includes free email newsletters from our facility-industry brands.

Facebook   Twitter   LinkedIn   Posts

Copyright © 2023 TradePress. All rights reserved.