Cyber Risk in Healthcare: Why Brokers Need to Pay Attention

The rapid expansion of telemedicine, digital health platforms, and software-driven treatments has transformed the way healthcare is delivered. But with innovation comes vulnerability. Healthcare organisations, whether a single GP practice or a large hospital network, are now prime targets for cybercriminals. For brokers, this creates both a challenge and an opportunity: helping clients understand their exposure and ensuring that they are adequately protected.

What Do We Mean by Cyber Security?

Cyber security, as defined by the National Cyber Security Centre, is the protection of the devices and services we use every day – from laptops and tablets to the online systems that run businesses – against theft or damage. In healthcare, this responsibility extends far beyond IT systems; it also encompasses patient records, connected medical devices, and the digital infrastructure that keeps services running.

The Threat Landscape

The risks facing healthcare clients are varied, but several stand out as particularly damaging. Ransomware attacks can lock critical systems until a ransom is paid, halting diagnostics and treatments. Data breaches expose highly sensitive patient information, often through stolen credentials or misplaced devices. Insider threats, whether intentional or accidental, can also compromise systems. And increasingly sophisticated fraud or phishing schemes see cybercriminals impersonating senior staff to trick employees into transferring funds or releasing confidential data.

Why Healthcare Is a Prime Target

Healthcare is uniquely vulnerable for several reasons. Patient records are extremely valuable on the black market, sometimes fetching up to £1,000 each. The complexity of healthcare IT environments – with outdated systems, remotely accessed platforms, and a growing network of connected medical devices – creates multiple entry points for attackers. Staff often lack sufficient cyber training, making them easy targets for phishing or fraud attempts. The result is a sector with both high-value data and numerous weaknesses.

Lessons from Real-World Attacks

The NHS has already experienced the devastating effects of cyber incidents. In June 2024, a ransomware attack on Synnovis, a pathology testing organisation used by two London NHS trusts, disrupted more than 3,000 appointments and exposed nearly 400GB of sensitive patient data, including names, NHS numbers, and blood test details. Qilin, a Russian cyber-criminal group, published the stolen information on the dark web after failing to extort a ransom, in what experts described as “one of the most significant and harmful cyber-attacks ever in the UK” (BBC News, 2024).

The fallout didn’t stop there. In 2025, it was confirmed that the same Synnovis attack contributed to the unexpected death of a patient at King’s College Hospital. A long wait for blood test results, caused by the disruption to pathology services, was identified as one of the factors leading to the patient’s death. More than 10,000 appointments were cancelled across London, with nearly 600 separate patient safety incidents recorded, including cases of severe harm (BBC News, 2025). As cybersecurity expert Deryck Mitchelson put it, “When systems that underpin diagnostics and treatment are brought down at scale, the consequences are not hypothetical. This is the real-world cost” (BBC News, 2025).

These examples demonstrate how cyber-attacks on healthcare are not just about lost data or financial loss—they directly impact patient safety and can even result in loss of life.

Building Resilience

While no organisation can eliminate cyber risk entirely, brokers can play a key role in guiding clients towards stronger protection. Practical measures include regular staff training to raise awareness, keeping systems and software updated, restricting user access to essential permissions only, conducting annual risk assessments, and implementing robust data recovery plans to minimise disruption when incidents occur. These steps not only reduce risk but also show insurers that the organisation is taking cyber resilience seriously.

The Broker’s Role

For healthcare clients, cyber risk cannot be treated in isolation. It intersects with malpractice and professional liability in ways that standard cyber policies may not address. Most cyber policies exclude bodily injury, which means that if patient care is disrupted and harm occurs, there may be a significant gap in cover. Brokers add real value by highlighting these gaps, educating clients on their exposure, and working with specialist MGAs to build programmes that integrate cyber and malpractice protections.

Partnering with a Specialist

As an MGA with a focus on healthcare, our role is to support brokers in navigating this complex risk landscape. We provide access to tailored products, market insight, and underwriting expertise so your clients are not left with dangerous blind spots in their cover.

If you’d like to explore how cyber liability and malpractice protections can be aligned for your healthcare clients, speak to our team today.

References

BBC News. (2024, June 21). NHS patient data stolen in Synnovis ransomware attack. BBC. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c9777v4m8zdo

BBC News. (2025, February 6). NHS patient death linked to Synnovis ransomware attack. BBC. https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cp3ly4v2kp2o