Healthcare data breaches continue to grow in volume and impact. According to the HIPAA Journal, more than 276 million individuals had their Protected Health Information (PHI) exposed or stolen in 2024 alone–a sharp reminder of how vulnerable the sector remains.
For healthcare organizations, maintaining real-time awareness of where PHI lives is one of the most difficult aspects of preventing data breaches. With sensitive data frequently exchanged and transferred between internal teams, ecosystem providers, and third parties, the risk of misdelivery, overexposure, and unauthorized access grows exponentially.
To stay secure and compliant, healthcare organizations need tools that provide visibility into their data, monitor for threats in real time, and enforce strong access controls. Below are strategies and regulations every healthcare security team should understand.
Why Healthcare Breaches Are So Costly
The average cost of healthcare data breaches are, on average, significantly higher than most.Research from IBM shows that the industry had the most costly data breaches in 2024 ($9.77 million in 2024), followed by the financial industry ($6.07 million). This disparity is due in part to the size and wide attack surface in healthcare, where businesses put operational results ahead of security. Add in the high value of PHI data to threat actors and strict compliance requirements, and the risks quickly multiply.
Cloud-based collaboration adds another layer of complexity. While it enables better care coordination, it can also lead to excessive permissions, misconfigurations, and difficulty tracking PHI across systems. Common breach causes include misdelivery, abuse of privileges, and lack of consistent monitoring. In some cases, attackers use stolen medical records for identity theft, insurance fraud, or further criminal activity.
Navigating Regulatory Complexity
Regulatory compliance is also critical, and organizations must navigate a web of stringent standards designed to protect patient data:
- Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA)
HIPAA establishes essential protections for patient information, mandating regular risk assessments and robust administrative, technical, and physical safeguards. Healthcare leaders must remain informed about HIPAA’s Privacy and Security Rules and the ongoing updates to ensure compliance.
- Health Information Trust Alliance (HITRUST)
The worldwide cybersecurity framework HITRUST provides recommendations on endpoint security, risk management, and physical security, among other topics, to help healthcare businesses comply with HIPAA regulations.
- Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health (HITECH) Act
Enacted in 2009, the HITECH Act strengthens HIPAA regulations, encouraging the use of medical technology and toughening sanctions for infractions. It extends HIPAA rules to corporate affiliates and requires yearly cybersecurity examinations.
- HHS 405(d)
The Healthcare Industry Cybersecurity Practices (HICP) framework is a voluntary set of cybersecurity principles for the healthcare industry established by HHS 405(d) rules under the Cybersecurity Act of 2015. Email, endpoint security, access control, and other topics are covered in this framework.
- Quality System Regulation (QSR)
The FDA enforces the Quality System Regulation (QSR), which focuses on medical device security and stipulates actions including firmware updates, risk management, and access prevention. The goal of the proposed modifications is to bring QSR into compliance with ISO 13485.
- Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS)
Healthcare firms that process payment transactions must adhere to PCI DSS, ensuring cardholder information remains secure throughout transactions.
Staying Secure: Practical Steps for Healthcare Leaders
It is crucial that patient data is safe, appropriately maintained, and never leaves your environment. Organizations should look for a Data Security Posture Management (DSPM) that is compliant with (or integrates with!) a well-structured data catalog and that finds and categorizes private patient information automatically.
To effectively safeguard PHI, organizations need more than reactive measures. A comprehensive, proactive security posture requires:
Real-Time Data Visibility:
Organizations must have continuous insight into where PHI resides, who accesses it, and how it’s being utilized. A strong DSPM solution automatically identifies, categorizes, and monitors sensitive data, providing clarity across complex data environments.
Identity-Based Access Controls:
Implement strict, identity-driven permissions to ensure only authorized individuals have appropriate access to PHI. Regularly reviewing and adjusting permissions minimizes the risk of misuse and breaches.
Continuous Threat Monitoring and Auditing:
Real-time threat detection and automated response capabilities help healthcare organizations quickly identify anomalies and unauthorized activity. Regular security audits, supported by robust DSPM tools, allow teams to proactively address compliance gaps and strengthen security posture.
Simplified Compliance Reporting:
With the right solutions in place, organizations can streamline compliance reporting, providing clear evidence of adherence to HIPAA, HITECH, PCI DSS, and other frameworks. Simplified reporting reduces complexity and ensures readiness for regulatory reviews.
In today’s environment, where the risks and regulatory demands only intensify, healthcare organizations must leverage advanced data security solutions that enable innovation without compromising patient privacy or compliance. By adopting proactive measures, healthcare leaders can confidently navigate the complexities of data security and uphold the trust patients place in their organizations.
About Yair Cohen
Yair Cohen is the Co-Founder and VP of Product at Sentra, a cybersecurity company focused on securing sensitive data across cloud environments, especially in the era of AI. At Sentra, he leads product strategy to help organizations discover, classify, and protect their data at scale. Prior to Sentra, he held senior product roles at Datadog, Digital Asset, and Microsoft, and began his career in the Israel Defense Forces’ tech unit. He holds a B.Sc. in Computer Science and Business Management from Tel Aviv University.
