
Healthcare Under Siege: Ransomware Attacks Soared in 2024
In 2024, ransomware remained one of the most pressing cybersecurity challenges facing healthcare organizations worldwide. As cybercriminals continued to target the healthcare sector with increasing frequency and sophistication, the impact of these attacks has never been more profound. From stolen patient data to disrupted services, ransomware can cripple healthcare providers, jeopardizing patient care and compliance efforts.
The Ransomware Landscape in Healthcare: Key Stats for 2024
The figures around ransomware attacks on healthcare organizations in 2024 were  staggering. According to recent data:
- 160 publicly disclosed attacks have occurred within the healthcare sector last  year.
- More worryingly, 415 undisclosed attacks on healthcare organizations were recorded.
- The average ransom demanded by cybercriminals surged to $2.5 million, a significant increase from previous years, reflecting the higher stakes for organizations and the increasing value of healthcare data.
- The United States continues to bear the brunt of these attacks, with 70% of all ransomware attacks on healthcare organizations taking place within the U.S.
- The RansomHub ransomware variant emerged as the most active strain, responsible for 43 healthcare attacks in 2024 alone.
These numbers highlight a disturbing trend: healthcare organizations are not only prime targets for cybercriminals but they also face significant financial and operational consequences in the aftermath of an attack. The ongoing evolution of ransomware tactics, particularly the rise of double extortion attacks and increasingly sophisticated variants like RansomHub, means that healthcare providers must be more vigilant than ever.
Why Healthcare is a Prime Target for Ransomware

Healthcare has long been a top target for ransomware attacks, but in 2024, the risks intensified. The reasons are clear:
- Sensitive Data: Healthcare organizations store vast amounts of sensitive data, including personally identifiable information (PII), protected health information (PHI), and financial records. This type of data is highly valuable on the dark web, making healthcare organizations an attractive target. The rise of data exfiltration continues, with the rate of data exfiltration surging to 94%, last year, the highest we’ve recorded to date. As data exfiltration emerges as a preferred tactic among cybercriminals, it is essential for organizations to prioritize tools such as anti data exfiltration technology (ADX) to prevent sensitive information from being stolen during cyberattacks.
- Urgency of Services: Healthcare providers are mission-critical operations, often with patients relying on timely care. Cybercriminals know that hospitals, clinics, and other healthcare institutions are likely to pay ransom demands quickly to restore their systems and prevent disruptions to patient care.
- Vulnerabilities in Legacy Systems: Many healthcare organizations operate on outdated IT infrastructure, making them more vulnerable to attacks. These legacy systems often lack the latest security patches or have weak security controls, providing an easier entry point for ransomware gangs.
- Limited Cybersecurity Resources: Many smaller healthcare providers lack the resources to implement robust cybersecurity defenses. This leaves them exposed to attacks and at greater risk of significant financial loss and operational disruptions.
Major Ransomware Attacks on Healthcare Organizations
Some of the largest and most impactful ransomware attacks in healthcare in recent years serve as stark reminders of the growing threat.
- Change Healthcare: In early 2024, Change Healthcare, a leading provider of software solutions and IT services to the healthcare sector, was hit by a ransomware attack that caused significant disruption to its operations. The attack impacted its claims processing and payment systems, affecting thousands of healthcare providers and payers. The attack exposed the personal data of potentially a third of all US citizens and the estimated cost of the attack has now been reported at over $1 billion.
- Synnovis: In June, Synnovis, a UK-based provider of diagnostic services to the National Health Service (NHS), experienced a large-scale ransomware attack that impacted its ability to process lab results. The attack disrupted diagnostic services across several NHS hospitals, leading to delays in patient diagnoses and treatment. Qilin claimed responsibility for the attack, leaking 400GB of data. The incident raised serious concerns over the vulnerability of healthcare supply chains and service providers.
- Ascension: One of the largest healthcare providers in the U.S., Ascension was targeted by ransomware in May. The attack disrupted critical patient care services, affecting thousands of patients at its hospitals across the country. Black Basta ransomware group took credit for the attack, demanding a multi-million dollar ransom, which Ascension refused to pay. While the organization was able to mitigate some of the damage through its incident response plan, the attack caused significant service delays, data breaches, and reputational damage. It has been revealed that data belonging to 5.6 million individuals was impacted by the incident. This incident highlighted the vulnerabilities even large healthcare organizations face in defending against ransomware attacks.
These high-profile incidents underscore the severity of the ransomware threat in the healthcare sector, particularly as cybercriminals continue to target not only hospitals but also critical service providers, software vendors, and healthcare IT systems.
The Impact of Ransomware on Healthcare Organizations
The consequences of a ransomware attack on a healthcare organization extend far beyond the immediate financial demands. The true cost of a ransomware attack can include:
- Patient Care Disruptions: Hospitals and clinics may face delays or even shutdowns in critical systems, leading to canceled procedures, missed diagnoses, and overall disruption of patient care. In severe cases, this can lead to loss of life.
- Reputational Damage: The public disclosure of a ransomware attack can significantly damage a healthcare provider’s reputation. Trust is a cornerstone of the healthcare industry, and patients may be hesitant to seek care from organizations that have suffered a breach that could have been prevented.
- Legal and Regulatory Consequences: Ransomware attacks can trigger compliance issues with regulations such as HIPAA. Healthcare organizations are required to protect patient data and report breaches within specific timeframes. Failure to do so can result in hefty fines, legal costs, and lawsuits.
- Financial Losses: Beyond the ransom itself, organizations may face long-term financial losses due to downtime, data recovery, and reputational damage. In fact, the financial impact of a ransomware attack can reach millions of dollars, even without paying the ransom.
How Healthcare Organizations Can Defend Against Ransomware
Given the rise of ransomware in 2024, healthcare organizations must take proactive steps to mitigate the risks and defend against these ever-evolving threats:
- Regular Data Backups: Regularly backing up critical data and ensuring that backups are isolated from the main network is essential for minimizing the impact of a ransomware attack. In the event of an attack, organizations can restore their systems more quickly without paying the ransom.
- Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA): Implementing multi-factor authentication across all systems is an effective way to reduce the risk of unauthorized access. This adds an additional layer of security, making it harder for attackers to gain access to sensitive data.
- Security Patching: Healthcare organizations must prioritize patching vulnerabilities in their systems and software. Cybercriminals frequently exploit known vulnerabilities, especially in legacy systems, so keeping software up to date is critical for defense.
- Employee Training: Human error remains one of the most common entry points for ransomware attacks. Phishing emails, in particular, are a popular tactic used by cybercriminals to deploy ransomware. Training employees to recognize phishing attempts and other social engineering tactics can significantly reduce the likelihood of an attack.
- Incident Response Plans: Having a robust incident response plan in place is essential for healthcare organizations to respond to a ransomware attack quickly and effectively. This plan should include steps for containment, data recovery, and communication with stakeholders and regulatory bodies.
- Collaboration with Cybersecurity Experts: Partnering with cybersecurity firms that specialize in healthcare can help organizations stay ahead of emerging threats. Virtual Chief Information Security Officers (vCISOs) can also play a pivotal role in guiding healthcare providers in strengthening their cybersecurity measures and developing comprehensive security strategies.
Conclusion
Ransomware attacks on healthcare organizations are expected to rise in 2025, with attackers employing increasingly sophisticated tactics to exploit vulnerabilities in the healthcare sector.
To mitigate the risks of ransomware and data loss organizations must invest in:
- A multi-layered approach to security
- The latest technologies designed to prevent ransomware
- Anti data exfiltration technology to effectively secure patient data
- Regular staff training
- Partnerships with cybersecurity experts
The key to success lies in preparedness, swift action, and a commitment to safeguarding both patient data and operational integrity in an era of escalating cybercrime.
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