Cybersecurity concerns are not a new issue in healthcare, but the frequency and severity of cyberattacks have heightened awareness among executive leaders.¹ In 2024, there was a clear rise in cyber incidents and outages, affecting not just healthcare but also other industries. This trend highlights the risk of third-party relationships and prompt a more urgent call to action.

When cyberattacks occur, the healthcare industry follows a cyclical pattern. Organizations will bolster their defenses in the aftermath of an attack, only to become less vigilant over time. This approach provides a temporary solution but often fails to produce better long-term security as attackers adapt and overcome new defenses or organizations begin to neglect cybersecurity measures. And while leaders have historically viewed cyber threats as occasional emergencies, they are actually a persistent, daily threat to operations and patient care.

Moreover, leaders often concentrate on cyber defense without equal focus on cyber resilience. Cyber defense aims to stop cyberattacks before they happen, whereas cyber resilience includes preparing for, responding to, and recovering from attacks to keep operations running smoothly.