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In early 2024, major Michigan provider McLaren Health Care discovered a data breach that compromised the health and identity information of more than 743,000 people (SecurityWeek 2025). This incident underscored just how high the stakes have become—for not just patients and staff but also the integrity and trust that healthcare systems are built upon.
For today’s leaders, cybersecurity is not solely an IT responsibility. It is a core business imperative that demands a culture of vigilance and accountability at every level.
Understanding Cyber Risks in Healthcare
The healthcare sector faces a unique set of digital vulnerabilities, often heightened by a patchwork of legacy systems and the sensitive nature of patient data.
5 Key Risks Healthcare Organizations Face Today
- Ransomware and data breaches: High-value patient data continues to make healthcare a prime target for sophisticated cyberattacks. (SecurityWeek 2025)
- Outdated legacy systems: As organizations move to modern digital infrastructure, outdated technology can create new gaps, especially when hybrid or cloud systems are involved. (HealthTech Magazine 2025)
- Internet of Things and connected medical devices: The proliferation of smart devices—from IV pumps to MRI machines—adds countless new entry points for cyberattacks. (HealthTech Magazine 2025)
- Artificial intelligence-driven attacks: As artificial intelligence powers more healthcare solutions, attackers are rapidly weaponizing similar technologies for more effective, harder-to-detect cyberattacks. (HIT Consultant 2025)
- Supply chain vulnerabilities: Third-party vendors and cloud services expand the attack surface, making holistic oversight more complex.
The Role of Leadership: Setting the Tone from the Top
5 Steps to Foster a Cyber-Resilient Culture
- Champion cybersecurity from the top down—walk the talk visibly.
- Invest in ongoing scenario-driven training, not just annual refreshers.
- Empower and recognize cyber champions across the organization.
- Create open blame-free channels for learning from mistakes.
- Measure progress and celebrate every win, big or small.
When leadership models strong, visible cyber hygiene—such as multifactor authentication, rapid reporting of suspicious emails, and championing open discussion—those behaviors ripple throughout the organization. Staff members take their security cues from the C-suite just as much as from IT policy.
Regular executive involvement in cyber planning and response, along with investment in security resources, sends a clear message: cyber risk is a top-level, shareable responsibility.
Building a Resilient and Risk-Aware Culture
What practical steps can executives take to embed cybersecurity into everyday routines? Here’s where intent meets action:
- Make training engaging and frequent: Ditch the annual checkbox. Use relatable, scenario-driven trainings and refreshers that keep staff aware of real threats. (HealthTech Magazine 2025)
- Encourage open dialogue: Create safe channels for staff to report incidents or near-misses without fear. Learning from small mistakes prevents major ones.
- Empower cyber champions: Identify staff in every department who can act as local go-to resources. These champions help translate policy into everyday language—and action.
3 Ways to Make Cybersecurity Part of Everyday Conversation
- Open every leadership meeting with a quick cyber pulse—what’s new, what’s working, what’s a concern.
- Celebrate safe behaviors publicly—recognize departments that spot and report phishing emails, for example.
- Rotate short, practical cyber tips throughout internal communications.
Measuring and Reinforcing Progress
How do leaders know change is sticking? Use simple, visible tools:
- Simulated phishing tests: Track staff response rates for improvement over time.
- Feedback loops: Run regular micro-surveys or anonymous hotlines to identify gaps in confidence or knowledge.
- Celebrate small wins: From reporting a phishing attempt to proactively updating passwords, acknowledging progress keeps momentum strong.
Today’s healthcare landscape demands more than technical solutions—it requires a leadership mindset that builds resilience from within. By making cybersecurity everyone’s business, leaders help protect not only data and systems but also the very trust at the heart of healthcare.
This article was produced in partnership with GetGloby. Review our AI Standards here.
Source List:
- SecurityWeek. (2025). 743,000 Impacted by McLren Health Care Data Breach. Retrieved from https://www.securityweek.com/743000-impacted-by-mclaren-health-care-data-breach/
- SecurityWeek. (2025). Mainline Health, Select Medical Each Disclose Data Breaches Impacted 100,000 People. Retrieved from https://www.securityweek.com/mainline-health-select-medical-each-disclose-data-breaches-impacting-100000-people/
- HealthTech Magazine. (2025). How Does Infrastructure Modernization Impact Healthcare Security? Retrieved from https://healthtechmagazine.net/article/2025/06/how-does-infrastructure-modernization-impact-healthcare-security
- HealthTech Magazine. (2025). Healthcare Organizations Must Prioritize Clinical Care Resiliency. Retrieved from https://healthtechmagazine.net/article/2025/06/healthcare-organizations-must-prioritize-clinical-care-resiliency
- HIT Consultant. (2025). The AI Dilemma: A New Arms Race in Healthcare Cybersecurity. Retreived from https://hitconsultant.net/2025/06/24/the-ai-dilemma-a-new-arms-race-in-healthcare-cybersecurity/
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