Strong cybersecurity measures are necessary for global health technology

New Delhi: As the global healthcare sector embraces technology with connected medical devices, there is an urgent need for robust cybersecurity measures to protect patient data, a report found on Friday.

The report from GlobalData, a data and analytics company, found that the medical device sector is experiencing a significant increase in cybersecurity spending, with growth projected at 12.9 percent from $631.2 million to $1.2 billion between 2022 and 2027 – a response to the increasing number of cyber threats targeting devices in healthcare facilities.

“Healthcare is uniquely vulnerable due to the value of personal data and the vast network of connected devices. This network can include legacy systems with outdated security protocols and personal devices connected to health networks,” said Ashley Clarke, Senior Medical Analyst at GlobalData.

Clarke called the need to invest in cybersecurity “critical,” noting that when healthcare technology is hacked, “there is an immediate need to restore compromised systems to ensure patient wellbeing.”

Healthcare data breaches are on the rise globally. In the U.S., the Department of Health and Human Services reported a doubling of the number of people affected from 2022 to 2023, and a further 15 percent increase in the first half of 2024.