Healthcare’s growing tech dependence heightens demand for cybersecurity

A shift to interconnected systems and IoT is raising the need for advanced measures.

The growing reliance on digital technologies and interconnected medical devices in the healthcare industry is underscoring the critical need for enhanced cybersecurity measures, said GlobalData.

An increase in cyber threats is driving a surge in investment in the medical devices sector, which is projected to reach $1.2 billion by 2027.

Ashley Clarke, Senior Medical Analyst at GlobalData, mentioned that healthcare's extensive network of connected devices and personal data makes it particularly vulnerable to such attacks.

Meanwhile, a shift towards interconnected systems and the Internet of Things (IoT) is raising the need for advanced protocols.

The report projected that 68% of medical devices will be network-connected by 2025, expanding the number of potential entry points for cybercriminals.

One key incident cited was a faulty software update from CrowdStrike that disrupted healthcare devices globally, leading to IT crashes, interrupted treatments, halted data flow, and delayed emergency response.

“As healthcare systems become more advanced, the risk of a single-point failure causing large-scale disruption of critical systems is growing,” Clarke said.