Stopping Healthcare Data Breaches Before They Cost Lives

For healthcare providers, the fallout from data breaches extends beyond financial and reputational loss to directly threaten patient safety. According to Forescout’s “Critical Condition” report, the year 2024 saw 742 data breaches impacting 717 unique organizations. 

Of these, 57 large-scale breaches affected between one and ten million people, and 32 mega-breaches affected more than ten million people. In just the first four months of 2025, 238 healthcare data breaches exposed the data of over 20 million individuals – about two breaches per day.

These staggering numbers are especially troubling because in the case of healthcare, lives are on the line. When sensitive data is exposed or systems are disrupted, patient care suffers – studies demonstrate how data breaches increase mortality rates among hospital patients. Addressing these threats demands urgent, comprehensive protection.

Securing the key vectors for data breaches

The graphic from the report sheds light on where data breaches most commonly occur in healthcare. The top four locations of exposure are:

1- Network servers
2- Email systems
3- Electronic medical records
4- Desktops and laptops

Each vector poses unique risks and offers distinct avenues for protection.

How healthcare providers can avoid breaches

1- Network server
Data Loss Prevention (DLP) for networks is essential because servers store vast volumes of Personal Health Information (PHI). When organizations lack visibility and control over sensitive data, attackers can exfiltrate it quickly. Layering in a Next-Generation Firewall (NGFW) can also strengthen perimeter defenses, enabling segmentation and threat inspection. Forcepoint DLP integrates seamlessly with a NGFW, helping limit unauthorized access, monitor data movement and enforce encryption and segmentation policies efficiently.

2- Desktop and laptop
Endpoints such as company-owned desktop and laptop computers face their own threats, and compromised devices can become gateways to broader networks. Endpoint DLP ensures that locally stored or transferred data is monitored and protected. Forcepoint DLP unifies endpoint and network DLP, with agentless protection for endpoints that minimizes disruption to clinicians and staff workflows while maintaining robust coverage.

3- Email systems
Email is the vector of choice for many attacks targeting the healthcare sector, so specialized DLP for email is non-negotiable. Forcepoint DLP for Email applies content inspection and policy enforcement within email clients and servers, blocking risky transfers of regulated personal data before they leave the organization.

4- Electronic medical records

Healthcare providers retain medical records that are full of PHI and represent prime targets for malicious actors. DLP solutions can prevent exfiltration, but the first step for businesses is to understand what records they have and how much data risk is tied to them Forcepoint Data Security Posture Management (DSPM) locates all PHI across different environments within the organization, maps who can access what and helps manage permissions proactively to reduce risk and meet compliance mandates.

Harden your data security posture against growing threats

The healthcare sector remains under siege, with ransomware and other attacks escalating in frequency, scale and sophistication.

By deploying comprehensive coverage – unified network and endpoint DLP, email DLP and DSPM – providers can establish layered defenses that both block threats and reduce risk exposure. Forcepoint’s integrated capabilities let organizations complement reactive detection with proactive visibility and remediation, ensuring PHI remains secure and compliance remains steadfast. When it comes to protecting the lives and wellbeing of patients, nothing short of end-to-end data security is acceptable.

Ready to stop data breaches before they endanger patients? Talk to an expert to set up a Forcepoint product demo.