The health care industry, a cornerstone of our society, is facing an unprecedented challenge when it comes to safeguarding the vast amounts of sensitive patient data it manages. What was once a concern has now become a crisis: medical data breaches are not isolated incidents but a relentless tide, impacting millions of individuals and placing immense strain on the health care ecosystem.
For IT and cybersecurity professionals, understanding the gravity of this situation, its underlying causes, and the shortcomings of current defenses is the first crucial step toward building a more secure future.
The statistics paint a sobering picture. According to the 2025 Breach Barometer published by Bluesight, the health care sector experienced an alarming surge in data breaches in 2024, with over 300 million patient records compromised— a 26% increase over 2023 numbers. This total includes the most extensive health care data breach on record, impacting approximately one out of every two individuals in the United States.1 This is unfortunately not surprising as statistics show that medical records are 50 times more valuable than traditional financial information – the risk/reward is worth it to the cyber criminals.
Even in the early months of 2025, the trend persists. In its February 2025 Data Breach Report, the HIPPA Journal reported on 46 large health care data breaches (incidents involving 500 or more individuals), affecting 1.2 million individuals.2 While this showed a month-over-month reduction, the high number of breaches throughout 2024 suggests this may be a temporary dip in an otherwise upward trajectory.
The causes behind this epidemic are multifaceted. According to the reported data, foremost among them are hacking and other IT incidents, which accounted for 74% of reported breaches in February 2025 and exposed the protected health information (PHI) of over 1.1 million individuals (89% of the total affected).
These incidents encompass a range of malicious activities, including data theft, ransomware attacks, and the compromise of email accounts through phishing campaigns. Health providers network servers remain the primary target, reflecting the wealth of sensitive information they often contain. The persistent success of email-related breaches, with 14 such incidents reported in February 2025, underscores the critical need for robust email security measures and user awareness training.
However, the threat landscape extends beyond external actors. Insider threats, both in the form of unintentional errors and deliberate malicious actions, also pose a significant risk. While perhaps less frequent than hacking, insider breaches can directly compromise patient privacy and erode trust in health care providers.1
Furthermore, the interconnected nature of the health care industry introduces vulnerabilities through business associates – third-party entities that handle PHI on behalf of covered entities. In 2024, the 2025 Breach Barometer connected breaches involving business associates to a remarkable 77% of all breached records.1 This highlights the extended attack surface and the critical importance of ensuring robust security practices throughout the entire health care ecosystem.
Despite increasing awareness and regulatory mandates like HIPAA, many health care organizations continue to exhibit fundamental failings in their cybersecurity posture. A significant concern is the lack of comprehensive risk analysis and risk management processes. Without a thorough understanding of potential threats and vulnerabilities, organizations struggle to implement effective safeguards.
Inadequate access controls often grant unauthorized personnel access to sensitive electronic protected health information (ePHI). Moreover, a recent survey produced by the HIPAA Journal indicated that at least 43% of HIPAA-covered entities either rely on manual processes or may not track HIPAA compliance at all.3 This reliance on outdated methods can lead to inconsistent record-keeping, increased administrative burdens, and a higher risk of non-compliance and subsequent breaches.
Weaknesses in email security infrastructure, including the absence of advanced threat protection and multi-factor authentication, contribute significantly to the success of phishing attacks and email account compromises. Delayed patch management cycles leave critical systems vulnerable to known exploits, providing easy entry points for cybercriminals. Finally, insufficient oversight and due diligence regarding business associates can lead to breaches occurring within these third-party systems, with cascading effects.
For IT and cybersecurity professionals within the health care sector, the challenge is clear, and the responsibility is significant. Mitigating the risk of medical data breaches requires a multi-pronged approach encompassing technological solutions, robust processes, and a culture of security awareness. Here are crucial steps to take to shore up these gaps:
- Prioritize advanced email security solutions
Deploying sophisticated threat detection and prevention technologies, implementing multi-factor authentication for all email accounts, and conducting regular security awareness training focused on identifying and avoiding phishing and social engineering attacks are paramount.
- Enforce stringent access controls
Implement the principle of least privilege, ensuring that users only have access to the information and systems necessary for their job functions. Regularly audit access logs to identify and investigate any anomalous activity.
- Establish and adhere to rigorous patch management processes
Timely identification and application of security patches to all systems and applications are essential to close known vulnerabilities before they can be exploited by threat actors.
- Develop and maintain comprehensive incident response plans:
A well-defined and regularly tested incident response plan is crucial for effectively managing and mitigating the impact of a data breach, including procedures for investigation, containment, eradication, recovery, and notification.
- Strengthen business associate agreements and oversight
Conduct thorough due diligence on all business associates to ensure they have adequate security measures in place and regularly assess their compliance with these agreements and HIPAA regulations.
- Invest in proactive monitoring and threat detection technologies
Implement security information and event management (SIEM) systems and explore the use of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) powered tools to detect anomalous activity, identify potential threats in real-time, and accelerate incident response.
- Consider implementing HIPAA compliance software
For organizations still relying on manual processes, adopting dedicated HIPAA compliance software can significantly streamline compliance efforts, centralize documentation, automate tracking of essential tasks, and provide comprehensive reporting, thereby reducing the risk of non-compliance and potential breaches.
- Foster a culture of security awareness
Regularly educate and train all employees on patient privacy best practices, the importance of safeguarding PHI, and their role in preventing data breaches. This includes training on recognizing and reporting suspicious activity and understanding the organization’s security policies.
The fight against medical data breaches is not a static battle but an ongoing evolution against increasingly sophisticated threats. By acknowledging the scale of the problem, understanding its root causes, addressing organizational failings, and proactively implementing robust IT and cybersecurity measures, professionals in this field can significantly strengthen the defenses of the health care industry and better protect the sensitive information entrusted to its care. The security and privacy of patient data must be a continuous priority, ensuring that the focus remains on delivering quality health care without compromising the fundamental right to privacy.
About the Author
Scott Speranza is the CEO of HealthLock, a company on a mission to restore privacy, control, and savings to health care consumers. With over 25 years of experience in software-as-a-service, health management solutions, and insurance claims auditing, Scott brings a deep passion for protecting patients from the growing issues of medical billing fraud, denied claims, and privacy violations.
Scott’s leadership spans roles at top firms including PricewaterhouseCoopers, SAP/BusinessObjects, RSA, and Fiberlink (where he helped grow MaaS360 Security to $400M before its acquisition by IBM). He is also the founder of inAssist, HealthLock’s parent company, and has overseen the audit of over half a billion dollars in medical claims—generating more than $230 million in member savings.
A firm believer that the health care system should serve and protect patients—not profit from their confusion—Scott has championed HealthLock’s innovative technology that detects billing errors, negotiates overcharges, and safeguards medical data. His vision has helped forge partnerships with major institutions like Mastercard, expanding HealthLock’s impact to millions of Americans.
A graduate of Westmont College with a degree in economics, Scott balances his professional life with community involvement, including board service with Sharefest LA, and enjoys sports, politics, and time with family. His commitment to transforming the health care experience continues to shape HealthLock’s role as a trusted advocate for every patient.
Scott can be reached online at [email protected] and at our company website https://healthlock.com
