Page 116 - Cyber Defense eMagazine RSAC Special Edition 2025

All-Time High: Confronting The Escalating

Threat of Medical Data Breaches

By Scott Speranza, CEO of HealthLock

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

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