India’s healthcare sector is currently at a critical juncture, facing both unprecedented opportunities and grave vulnerabilities. The rapid integration of technology has revolutionised medical services, enhancing patient care and operational efficiencies. However, it has also ushered in a new era of cyber risks, particularly in the realm of cybersecurity, demanding immediate attention.
With lives on the line, data breaches and cyber threats are unparalleled challenges that require the collective effort of healthcare providers, regulators, and cybersecurity experts.
The growing cyber threat in Indian healthcare
As per the India Cyber Threat Report 2025, released by the Data Security Council of India (DSCI), healthcare has emerged as India’s most targeted cyberattack industry. The report states that 21.82 per cent of all detected cyber threats in 2024 targeted the healthcare industry, surpassing high-risk sectors such as hospitality and banking, financial services, and insurance. The industry also experienced an average of 37.29 detections per endpoint, the highest among all sectors analysed.
These alarming numbers can be attributed to several factors.
First, healthcare organisations store vast amounts of sensitive patient data, making them lucrative targets for cybercriminals. Second, many hospitals and medical institutions still rely on outdated IT systems that lack modern security protocols. Lastly, the rapid digitalisation of healthcare services, including electronic health records (EHRs), telemedicine platforms, and connected medical devices, has expanded the attack surface while providing multiple entry points for cybercriminals.
Key vulnerabilities in India’s healthcare cybersecurity
Legacy systems and poor cyber hygiene
Despite the sector’s rapid adoption of digital solutions, many healthcare providers rely on legacy software and outdated IT infrastructure. These systems often lack the latest security patches and updates, making them more susceptible to cyberattacks.
Moreover, basic cyber hygiene practices are often neglected. Simple yet effective security measures—such as regular software updates, strong password policies, multi-factor authentication (MFA), and continuous employee training—can significantly reduce vulnerabilities. Without these fundamental precautions, healthcare organisations remain easy prey for hackers.
Third-party risks
Healthcare providers in India frequently collaborate with third-party vendors, including billing services, cloud storage providers, medical device manufacturers, and diagnostic labs. Each of these entities represents a potential weak link in cybersecurity. A breach in a third-party system can have devastating ripple effects, compromising sensitive patient data and disrupting essential medical services.
Increasing regulatory complexity
The Indian healthcare industry is a heavily regulated sector. Compliance requirements are becoming increasingly complex as healthcare businesses expand into ancillary services such as health insurance and InsurTech. Managing regulatory obligations while simultaneously addressing cybersecurity threats can be daunting for healthcare leaders.
The role of collaboration in building resilience
Cyber threats in healthcare are not just a technological challenge. They are, in fact, a systemic risk that necessitates a more unified, collective approach. Given the interconnected nature of healthcare systems, a single breach can have far-reaching consequences. This underscores the imperative for collaboration across organisations, industries, and government bodies to build a resilient cybersecurity framework.
Consider the 2022 ransomware attack on the servers of All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), India’s leading healthcare institution, that crippled critical systems and forced all operations to shift to manual processes. The attack reportedly compromised 40 million records, including those of some of the country’s most influential individuals. But beyond financial implications, this breach highlighted a deeper issue—the urgent need for a more assertive, collaborative approach to cybersecurity.
Collaboration across organisations, industries, and government bodies is essential to build a resilient cybersecurity framework.
Here’s how:
Sharing threat intelligence and best practices
A significant reason why cybercriminals succeed is that organisations fail to communicate and share intelligence about cyber threats. Healthcare leaders must take a cue from the banking and financial services industry, where organisations routinely share threat data and mitigation strategies to strengthen their collective defenses. Establishing a healthcare-specific cybersecurity consortium in India could enable healthcare institutions to:
- Share real-time threat intelligence to pre-emptively address emerging risks.
- Develop standardised security protocols for data storage, sharing, and encryption.
- Encourage cross-sector collaboration between healthcare providers, cybersecurity firms, and government agencies.
Strengthening third-party risk management
To mitigate the risks associated with third-party vendors, healthcare organisations must adopt a zero-trust security model so that all external partners adhere to stringent cybersecurity protocols. Some key strategies include:
- Comprehensive third-party risk assessments before onboarding vendors.
- Regular cybersecurity audits and compliance checks for all external partners.
- Mandating cybersecurity clauses in vendor contracts to ensure accountability.
Establishing a cybersecurity task force
A centralised cybersecurity task force composed of stakeholders from government agencies, private healthcare providers, technology firms, and cybersecurity experts would greatly benefit India’s healthcare sector.
This task force could:
- Develop national cybersecurity guidelines tailored for healthcare.
- Conduct cybersecurity awareness programs for healthcare professionals.
- Provide rapid-response support in the event of large-scale cyberattacks.
Investing in cybersecurity infrastructure and training
Many cyberattacks succeed due to human error and a lack of cybersecurity awareness among healthcare staff. It would help to encourage a strong cybersecurity culture across organisations with:
- Continuous employee training programs on cybersecurity best practices.
- Simulated phishing and ransomware attack drills to test readiness.
- Investments in AI-powered threat detection tools to identify vulnerabilities in real time.
Government-led cybersecurity initiatives
The Indian government has launched several initiatives, such as the Indian Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-In), Cyber Surakshit Bharat, and the National Cybersecurity Policy, to enhance data security across industries.
However, specific cybersecurity regulations for healthcare could be introduced to ensure compliance with global standards. Government agencies should also offer cybersecurity incentives to healthcare providers implementing robust security measures.
The road ahead: A collective responsibility
Cyberattacks on healthcare organisations do not just affect a single entity. They disrupt the entire healthcare ecosystem and go on to impact patient care, financial stability, and public trust. The increasing frequency and sophistication of these threats demand a unified industry-wide response.
With collaboration, knowledge sharing, proactive security measures, and building a culture of cyber resilience, India’s healthcare sector cannot only reduce instances of cyberattacks but also protect the integrity of patient data. A unified industry-wide response can be a powerful force against cyber threats.
