READING, Pa.– A new report from Omega Systems reveals that cyberattacks are taking a measurable toll on patient care in the U.S. healthcare system. According to the 2025 Healthcare IT Landscape Report, 19% of healthcare leaders say cyber incidents have already disrupted patient care, and more than half believe a fatal cyber-related event is likely within the next five years.
The findings come as cyberattacks on healthcare systems become more widespread, frequent, and sophisticated. Eighty percent of healthcare organizations reported being targeted in the past year, with social engineering and ransomware among the most common forms of attack. Despite this, many organizations continue to rely on outdated infrastructure and manual processes, leaving them vulnerable to modern cyber threats.
Mike Fuhrman, CEO of Omega Systems, noted that while cybersecurity does not rank among the top stated concerns of healthcare leaders, it is directly impacting core priorities such as patient safety, data protection, and regulatory compliance. He emphasized that growing gaps in cyber risk management are leading to real-world consequences.
The report found a disconnect between executive confidence and actual preparedness. While a majority of leaders expressed confidence in their teams’ ability to stop AI-powered cyberattacks, many lack basic safeguards. A significant number of organizations do not conduct regular employee training or phishing simulations, and nearly 20% do not have a current or effective incident response plan. In some cases, organizations admitted it could take up to a month to detect and contain a breach, with the life sciences sector particularly vulnerable to delays.
Outdated technology continues to be a major concern. More than half of the healthcare leaders surveyed said aging infrastructure would delay recovery in the event of a breach, and over a third acknowledged that their current cybersecurity tools are insufficient to protect cloud-based patient data. Many organizations have not adopted advanced threat detection systems or data visibility tools, and a significant portion lack awareness of which data across their networks is at risk.
Internal staffing challenges further weaken defenses. While most organizations maintain in-house IT or cybersecurity teams, nearly a quarter report being understaffed. One in five believe a cyberattack would be harder to recover from due to a lack of experienced personnel or around-the-clock security monitoring.
Compliance remains a critical concern for the industry. Though many companies report feeling prepared for upcoming HIPAA rule changes, over half still rely on manual processes to manage compliance. A majority of respondents say keeping up with regulations is their most pressing challenge, and more than half admit they lack the time and resources to stay fully compliant.
Despite these challenges, 55% of healthcare organizations do not currently work with a Managed Security Service Provider (MSSP), a resource that Omega’s data suggests could dramatically improve security outcomes. Organizations that co-manage IT and cybersecurity functions with an MSSP consistently outperform their peers in threat detection, vulnerability assessments, HIPAA control implementation, and regulatory readiness.
Fuhrman emphasized that many healthcare teams are under immense pressure and that internal resources alone are often insufficient to stay ahead of evolving threats. He said that partnering with MSSPs can give healthcare organizations a competitive edge, allowing them to protect patients, ensure regulatory compliance, and maintain operational resilience in an increasingly hostile cyber environment.
