GMVA Blog

Healthcare Is the #1 Target for Cybercrime

Written by Preston Strada | May 13, 2026 6:31:43 PM
 
 

In healthcare, we’re used to thinking in terms of risk.

Clinical risk. Operational risk. Financial risk.

But increasingly, one of the most pressing risks facing hospitals, health systems, and large specialty practices isn’t inside your walls, it’s digital.

According to the FBI’s 2025 Internet Crime Report, healthcare and public health organizations were once again the most targeted sector among all critical infrastructure industries. That’s not a new headline, but it is a growing concern.

And more importantly, it’s a signal.

 

A Growing Threat Landscape by the Numbers

The FBI’s latest report paints a clear picture of the scale and acceleration of cyber threats:

  • Over 1 million cybercrime complaints were filed in 2025
  • $20.8 billion in total reported losses, a 26% increase year-over-year
  • Healthcare ranked #1 in reported incidents among critical infrastructure sectors
  • Hundreds of ransomware attacks impacted essential industries, including hospitals and care delivery organizations

These aren’t abstract statistics. They represent real disruptions, locked systems, delayed care, compromised patient data, and strained operations.

For healthcare leaders, the takeaway isn’t just that attacks are increasing.

It’s that healthcare is firmly in the crosshairs.

 

The Challenges that Healthcare Systems are Currently Facing 

Healthcare organizations sit at the intersection of high-value data and operational urgency.

Patient health information (PHI), billing data, insurance records, and personally identifiable information create a uniquely valuable dataset. At the same time, the need for uninterrupted access to systems makes healthcare environments particularly sensitive to disruption.

Cybercriminals understand this dynamic.

And increasingly, attacks are less about “breaking in” through sophisticated technical exploits, and more about leveraging access points that already exist.

The FBI report highlights a continued rise in:

  • Phishing and social engineering attacks
  • Business Email Compromise (BEC)
  • Credential misuse and unauthorized access

In other words, the modern threat landscape often centers around who has access, how that access is managed, and how securely systems are being used day-to-day. 


Security Isn’t About Location, It’s About Infrastructure

One of the biggest misconceptions in conversations around cybersecurity and remote work is that risk is tied to geography.

In reality, risk is tied to infrastructure, controls, and oversight.

A team member sitting in your office using an unsecured workstation can present far more risk than a remote professional operating within a tightly controlled, enterprise-grade environment.

The organizations that are navigating this shift successfully are the ones that have redefined their approach:

  • Standardized, locked-down devices
  • Controlled access to systems and data
  • Continuous monitoring and compliance checks
  • Clear protocols for handling PHI

In short, they’re treating every access point, regardless of location, as a critical part of their security posture.

 

Building a Secure Foundation for Remote Healthcare Teams

As healthcare leaders evaluate partners and staffing solutions, security can’t be an afterthought or a checkbox.

It has to be built into the operating model.

At Global Medical Virtual Assistants (GMVA), this is exactly why we developed our Secure WorkZone—a purpose-built environment designed to ensure that remote team members operate within the same (or higher) security standards as on-site staff.

This includes:

  • Enterprise-grade device lockdown and access controls
  • HIPAA-compliant systems and workflows
  • Ongoing monitoring and IT oversight
  • Strict protocols around PHI access and handling

The goal isn’t just to provide talent, it’s to provide secure, scalable support that aligns with the realities of today’s cyber threat landscape. 

 

A New Standard for Healthcare Operations

Healthcare doesn’t have the luxury of downtime. It doesn’t have the margin for compromised data or disrupted systems.

As cyber threats continue to rise, the organizations that will be best positioned moving forward are those that take a proactive approach, combining operational efficiency with a security-first mindset.

Because in today’s environment, it’s not just about getting the work done.

It’s about getting it done securely.