Long-term planning to help prevent cyberattacks

To provide safe, effective, and efficient patient care, healthcare organizations are becoming reliant on digital infrastructure and connected medical equipment. However, the more interconnected these systems are, the larger the attack surface for cybercriminals.  Healthcare executives must decide how to lower cybersecurity risk without sacrificing clinical continuity as medical devices grow more networked and outdated systems continue.

Healthcare businesses may reduce operational disruptions, prevent expensive breaches, and safeguard patients and data by taking a proactive approach to cybersecurity integration, infrastructure upgrading, and device replacement.

As Axel Wirth, chief security strategist at Medcrypt and consultant for the Healthcare Sector Coordinating Council, Cybersecurity Working Group, says, “In the end it will be a risk/benefit/cost trade-off, meaning how high is the risk to the device and larger network after device isolation (as discussed above) vs. the clinical benefit the device provides vs. the effort and investment of replacing it. The best advice would be to include cybersecurity considerations in a hospital's replacement planning strategy and to create long-range visibility of the problem.”

Cyber risks in the healthcare industry

According to IBM’s Cost of a Data Breach Report 2024, the average cost of a healthcare data breach reached an all-time high of $10.93 million per incident, more than twice the global average across all industries. Hospitals are particularly vulnerable because they rely on interconnected systems and devices that store and transmit sensitive patient data.

The weakest points are frequently outdated medical equipment including ventilators, imaging systems, and infusion pumps. Many of these gadgets were created long before cybersecurity was a top concern.  They lack encryption, run antiquated operating systems, and are difficult to patch without interfering with patient care. They consequently provide long-lasting weaknesses that hackers can use to gain access to bigger networks.

“A research report conducted by a cybersecurity firm found 53% of connected medical devices and other internet of things (IoT) devices in hospitals had known critical vulnerabilities. Approximately one third of healthcare IoT devices have an identified critical risk potentially implicating technical operation and functions of medical devices,” says the FBI’s Cyber Division’s Private Industry Notification. 

By moving from reactive combat to strategic foresight, long-term planning can assist hospitals in addressing this problem.  Healthcare businesses may foresee risks and plan replacements, upgrades, and security enhancements before issues worsen rather than waiting for a technology to malfunction or a vulnerability to be exploited.

Why short-term fixes don’t work

Budget constraints frequently affect healthcare companies, and short-term clinical requirements precede long-term cybersecurity investments.  This results in short-term solutions, such as implementing temporary workarounds, separating devices from the network, or patching specific vulnerabilities.

While these measures may reduce risk temporarily, they are not sustainable. Over time, technical debt accumulates: unsupported operating systems remain online, outdated equipment continues to operate, and IT teams become overburdened by manual oversight.

For example, isolating a vulnerable MRI scanner from the main network may prevent a cyberattack in the short term. But if the scanner cannot send images directly to the hospital’s Picture Archiving and Communication System (PACS), workflow efficiency drops, radiologists face delays, and patient care suffers.

Ultimately, short-term fixes create an environment of fragmentation and inefficiency. They may seem cost-effective initially, but they increase operational complexity and the likelihood of a major incident later.

The role of long-term planning in device replacement

Forward-thinking allows healthcare organizations to address cybersecurity risk in a structured, strategic manner, one that aligns technology modernization with clinical and operational goals.

As Axel Wirth notes, every replacement decision involves a risk-benefit-cost trade-off:

• Risk: What is the likelihood that the current device could be compromised, and how severe would the impact be on the network and patient safety?
• Benefit: How critical is the device to patient care? Can it be temporarily taken offline or replaced without disrupting operations?
• Cost: What is the financial and logistical investment required for replacement, including training, infrastructure, and downtime?

Hospitals can more effectively prioritize replacements if they incorporate cybersecurity into this framework for decision-making.  For instance, they may choose to swap out susceptible infusion pumps before less dangerous devices like temperature monitors.

Hospitals can predict when replacements will be needed and adjust their budgets by keeping track of all linked equipment, including their age, software versions, and patch status.  By doing this, the operational and budgetary shock of having to replace everything quickly following a cyberattack is avoided.

Benefits of long-term cybersecurity planning in healthcare

• Reduced risk of cyber incidents: By phasing out legacy devices systematically, hospitals reduce entry points for attackers. Devices that cannot be patched or monitored effectively are replaced before they become liabilities.
• Cost predictability: Long-term planning allows hospitals to spread costs over several years, rather than absorbing a massive financial hit after a breach or emergency replacement. This makes cybersecurity investment more sustainable and budget-friendly.
• Operational continuity: Strategic replacements minimize disruption. With a clear roadmap, hospitals can align equipment upgrades with clinical schedules, preventing downtime and maintaining quality of care.
• Regulatory compliance: HIPAA and the FDA both emphasize the importance of risk management and device security. Long-term planning ensures compliance with these evolving standards and supports readiness for audits and investigations.
• Enhanced collaboration: Cybersecurity, clinical engineering, and procurement teams can work together from the outset—creating a shared understanding of device priorities, security requirements, and budget constraints.
• Future-proofing the healthcare system: Incorporating cybersecurity planning into equipment replacement cycles ensures that hospitals are not only addressing current threats but also gearing up for future challenges. This approach embeds resilience into the organization's core framework.

See also: HIPAA Compliant Email: The Definitive Guide (2025 Update)

Steps for implementing a long-term cybersecurity plan

Developing a long-term cybersecurity strategy in healthcare requires a structured and proactive approach. The study Revolutionizing Healthcare IT: Addressing Legacy Systems with Enterprise Architecture, shows ways hospitals and health systems can transition from vulnerable legacy environments to more resilient infrastructures.

Conduct a comprehensive risk assessment

Begin with a full inventory of network-connected medical devices and information systems. Assess vulnerabilities in both hardware and software, focusing on outdated operating systems, unsupported devices, and unpatched systems. This assessment helps establish a clear baseline for prioritizing upgrades or replacements.

Read more: How to perform a risk assessment

Establish cybersecurity governance

Create a multidisciplinary cybersecurity committee that includes IT, clinical engineering, compliance, and hospital leadership. Governance structures ensure accountability, streamline communication, and align cybersecurity planning with organizational goals.

Develop phased replacement and mitigation plans

Replacing legacy systems cannot happen overnight. A phased strategy, prioritizing high-risk devices first, allows healthcare institutions to balance patient safety, budget constraints, and operational continuity. In the meantime, mitigation measures such as network segmentation, continuous monitoring, and device isolation can reduce exposure.

Invest in workforce training and awareness

Even the most advanced cybersecurity tools are ineffective without a well-informed workforce. Ongoing training should help clinical and technical staff recognize potential threats, follow secure practices, and report incidents promptly.

Implement continuous monitoring and auditing

Long-term cybersecurity resilience depends on real-time monitoring, vulnerability scanning, and regular audits. These actions help detect anomalous activities early and ensure that controls evolve with emerging threats.

Plan for scalability and technological evolution

A sustainable cybersecurity plan must accommodate technological advances such as AI-driven monitoring, zero-trust architectures, and secure cloud integrations. Building scalability into planning ensures that today’s investments remain relevant in the future.

Long-term cybersecurity planning is an ongoing process rather than a one-time project. By following these steps, rooted in risk assessment, governance, and continuous improvement, healthcare organizations can better safeguard patient data, protect operational integrity, and prepare for future digital transformation.

Related: Modernization of healthcare legacy systems

FAQS

How can hospitals prioritize which systems to replace first?

Prioritization should be based on risk assessments that consider a device’s vulnerability, connectivity level, and clinical importance. Systems with outdated software and direct network access should be addressed before less critical equipment.

Who should be involved in long-term cybersecurity planning in healthcare?

Effective planning requires collaboration among IT professionals, clinical engineers, hospital administrators, procurement officers, compliance teams, and even external cybersecurity experts. A multidisciplinary approach ensures that both operational and clinical needs are met.