The Verizon Data Breach Investigations Report (DBIR) for 2025 has set alarm bells ringing in the healthcare sector, revealing a shocking rise in cyberthreats. The report shows that system intrusion has overtaken errors as the predominant cause of data breaches, marking a worrying trend for healthcare organisations already battling numerous security issues.
Key Points
- System intrusion became the leading cause of healthcare data breaches, surpassing previous errors.
- Healthcare saw a 16% increase in espionage-related cyber incidents, a significant rise from just 1% last year.
- The report analysed over 22,000 security incidents, with 1,710 in the healthcare sector and 1,542 confirming data disclosure.
- Ransomware attacks in healthcare increased by 37% compared to last year.
- Third-party involvement in breaches doubled, necessitating robust vendor management strategies.
- Cyberthreat actors are primarily external, with a focus on accessing critical medical and personal data.
- Verizon stresses a comprehensive multi-layered defence strategy to safeguard against these threats.
Why should I read this?
If you care about the security of healthcare data (and let’s be honest, we all should), this report is crucial. It highlights the extreme urgency of robust security measures in an industry that’s become a playground for cybercriminals. This isn’t just statistics; it’s a wake-up call for everyone involved in healthcare, from IT pros to decision-makers—don’t miss the details!