Healthcare data is a top target for cybercriminals. From phishing emails to ransomware attacks, hospitals and clinics face constant threats because of the sensitive patient information they store.
These attacks don’t just cause data loss, they can also lead to HIPAA violations, expensive fines, and lasting damage to your organization’s reputation.
In this blog, we’ll cover the most common HIPAA breach types, real-life ransomware cases, and practical ways to reduce risk and protect your patient data.
Common Types of HIPAA Breaches: Hacking & IT Incidents
Hacking is one of the leading causes of HIPAA breaches. These attacks often exploit weak passwords, outdated software, or unpatched systems. Common methods include phishing, malware, and ransomware.
Real Example: Ardent Health Services (November 2023)
A ransomware attack shut down key systems at Ardent’s 30 hospitals, including their Epic EHR, internet access, and internal tools. Ambulances were rerouted, and many procedures were delayed as staff switched to manual processes.
Impact of the Attack:
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ER Diversions – Ambulances were redirected to nearby hospitals due to system outages.
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Delayed Procedures – Non-emergency appointments and surgeries were postponed.
Despite the disruption, Ardent continued to deliver safe patient care using backup protocols and manual operations.
To respond to the crisis, Ardent initiated a comprehensive incident response that included:
- Notification of Law Enforcement: Federal agencies were promptly informed.
- Engagement of Cybersecurity Experts: Third-party forensic specialists and threat intelligence teams were brought in to investigate and assist with recovery.
- Deployment of Enhanced Security Protocols: Additional safeguards were implemented to restore systems securely and prevent further intrusion.
By December 6, 2023, Ardent had restored its Epic EHR system and resumed most clinical operations. Emergency rooms reopened to ambulance traffic, and outpatient clinics resumed services. Some elective procedures were still delayed during the final stages of recovery.
Later, it was revealed that the attack may have exposed the personal data of over 300,000 patients. A class-action lawsuit followed, claiming Ardent failed to implement proper cybersecurity protections.
This breach shows how serious ransomware threats are in healthcare—and why strong cybersecurity, secure EHR systems, and a solid incident response plan are critical to avoiding operational disruptions and legal consequences.
Unauthorized Access or Disclosure
Unauthorized access or disclosure occurs when employees or third parties view, share, or misuse PHI without proper authorization. This can happen due to curiosity, financial motives, or unintentional errors, such as sending patient records to the wrong recipient.
Weak internal controls, lack of role-based access restrictions, and insufficient auditing contribute to these breaches, which can lead to regulatory fines, legal consequences, and loss of patient trust.
In a notable 2024 case, a hospital employee accessed the medical records of 1,200 patients without authorization over a period of several months.
The breach was discovered during an internal audit when irregular access patterns were flagged. An investigation revealed that the employee had been viewing patient records without a legitimate work-related reason, violating HIPAA regulations.
The hospital faced legal action and reputational damage, ultimately strengthening its security policies by implementing stricter access controls, automated audit logs, and enhanced employee training to prevent future incidents.
Unauthorized Access or Disclosure
HIPAA breaches also happen when someone views or shares patient data without permission. This can be intentional, such as snooping or theft, or accidental, like sending records to the wrong person.
These incidents often stem from weak access controls, poor monitoring, or lack of employee training. The result: regulatory fines, lawsuits, and loss of patient trust.
Case Example (2024):
A hospital employee accessed the medical records of 1,200 patients over several months—without a valid reason. The breach was uncovered during an internal audit after unusual access activity was flagged.
The hospital faced legal consequences and damage to its reputation. In response, it upgraded its security measures, including:
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Stricter access controls
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Automated audit logging
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Stronger employee training programs
Loss or Theft of Devices
Unencrypted devices containing PHI, such as laptops, smartphones, or USB drives, can lead to breaches if lost or stolen. Mobile healthcare workers and remote employees are particularly at risk, as they often carry devices outside secure office environments.
If these devices lack proper encryption or remote-wipe capabilities, unauthorized individuals can access sensitive patient data, leading to compliance violations and identity theft.
A recent breach in 2024 involved a lost laptop containing sensitive patient information, affecting nearly 50,000 individuals.
A thief stole a healthcare administrator’s unencrypted laptop from a parked vehicle and gained access to the stored patient records.
The breach led to legal action and regulatory penalties for failing to implement adequate security measures.
In response, the organization revised its policies, mandating full-disk encryption for all portable devices and requiring multi-factor authentication (MFA) for data access.
Improper Disposal
When patient records or devices aren’t securely disposed of, sensitive data can fall into the wrong hands. This can lead to identity theft, fraud, and serious HIPAA violations.
Healthcare providers handle large volumes of private information, so secure disposal is a must. Paper records should be shredded, and electronic devices must be wiped or physically destroyed before being discarded.
Case Example:
A clinic once tossed patient files in a public dumpster. This mistake gave unauthorized people access to private medical details and triggered an HHS investigation.
As a result, the clinic faced major fines and had to:
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Strengthen its disposal policies
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Train staff on proper data destruction
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Start regular audits to stay compliant
Ransomware Attacks in Healthcare
Ransomware attacks involve malicious software that encrypts networks, rendering them inoperable until a ransom is paid. Attackers often gain access through phishing emails, compromised credentials, or exploiting unpatched vulnerabilities in outdated software.
Once inside, the ransomware spreads laterally across the network, locking patient records, appointment schedules, and even critical medical devices connected to the system.
The healthcare industry has seen a surge in these attacks due to the high value of medical data and the urgent need for hospitals to restore operations quickly, making them more likely to pay ransoms.
The U.S. Office of the Director of National Intelligence reported a 128% increase in attacks against the U.S. healthcare sector, with 258 incidents in 2023 compared to 113 in 2022.
Notable Incidents
In 2024, a ransomware attack targeted a major hospital network, encrypting over 914,000 patient records. A sophisticated threat actor group launched the attack by sending a phishing email with a malicious attachment.
Once an employee opened it, the group exploited unpatched vulnerabilities in the hospital’s outdated IT infrastructure to infiltrate and gain access to sensitive systems.
Upon infiltration, the attackers deployed the ransomware, which encrypted critical medical records, including patient histories, diagnoses, and ongoing treatments.
The attack caused significant disruption across the hospital’s network, severely affecting daily operations. Staff delayed or rescheduled surgeries and struggled to provide quality care without access to essential patient records.
The hospital’s emergency department quickly became overwhelmed as the cyberattack disabled critical systems, including scheduling and patient tracking, leaving teams without the tools needed to manage patient flow effectively.
Overwhelmed by the scale of the cyberattack and unable to restore systems quickly, hospital leadership made the difficult decision to negotiate directly with the attackers.
After weeks of halted operations and mounting internal and external pressure, the hospital paid a multi-million-dollar ransom in cryptocurrency to regain access to its encrypted data. However, the payment didn’t result in the immediate return of full functionality.
The hospital faced a prolonged recovery period, during which teams manually restored many systems and gradually decrypted sensitive data.
This incident highlighted the devastating financial and operational impact of ransomware attacks on critical healthcare systems.
It also served as a stark reminder of the importance of robust cybersecurity measures, including timely software updates, employee training on phishing threats, and having a comprehensive incident response plan in place.
The hospital has since implemented stricter security protocols, including enhanced encryption methods, multi-factor authentication, and greater collaboration with external cybersecurity experts to prevent future attacks.
Take Action Against HIPAA Breaches and Cyber Threats Today
As healthcare organizations continue to face increasingly sophisticated cyber threats, understanding the common types of HIPAA breaches and ransomware attacks is essential for maintaining compliance, safeguarding patient data, and protecting operational integrity.
By implementing proactive measures such as robust security protocols, employee training, encryption, and developing a comprehensive incident response plan, healthcare providers can significantly reduce the risk of cyberattacks and ensure they remain compliant with HIPAA regulations.
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