183 Million Patient Records Exposed in 2024 –

What You Should Know: 

– Fortified Health Security, a managed security services provider (MSSP) specializing in healthcare cybersecurity released its 2025 Horizon Report. 

– The semiannual publication provides valuable insights into the latest cybersecurity trends, threats, and solutions for healthcare organizations.

2025 Horizon Report Background

The 2025 Horizon Report, a free resource for healthcare professionals since 2017, analyzes data from the Office for Civil Rights (OCR) and features contributions from renowned cybersecurity experts, including Paul Connelly. The report delves into critical challenges facing the healthcare industry, such as budget constraints, talent shortages, the growing role of AI, evolving threat actors, and third-party risk management.

Key Findings from the Horizon Report:

• Healthcare Data Breaches on the Rise: The total number of patient records exposed in 2024 increased by 9%, from 168 million to 183 million, highlighting the escalating threat to patient data security.
• Business Associates Remain a Major Vulnerability: Although Business Associates accounted for a smaller percentage of cyberattacks in 2024 compared to the previous year, these attacks still comprised 67% of total exposed patient records.
• Healthcare Clearing Houses Under Attack: Cyberattacks on Healthcare Clearing Houses surged by over 2,000%, indicating a growing vulnerability among entities that manage massive volumes of patient data.
• Phishing Attacks Continue to Rise: While network servers remain the most common breach location, phishing attacks are increasing, with email breaches growing by 18% in 2024.