EU To Strengthen Cyber Defence In Healthcare  

The European Commission has published a comprehensive plan to fortify the cyber security of hospitals and healthcare providers across the EU. 

Recognising the increasing frequency of cyber attacks on healthcare systems, the EU Action Plan aims to safeguard patient care, improve response capabilities, and establish trust in digital healthcare solutions. 

The Plan is intended to demonstrate the EU's  a commitment to building a secure and resilient healthcare sector.  

The healthcare sector has witnessed a rise in cyber attacks in recent years. In 2023 alone, EU Member States reported 309 significant cyber security incidents targeting healthcare providers, more than any other critical industry.  These disruptions, which can delay medical procedures and endanger lives, highlight the pressing need for resilient cybersecurity strategies. 

Enhanced Prevention

The plan emphasises strengthening the healthcare sector’s preparedness to prevent cyber security incidents.  This includes: 

  • Guidance on Critical Cyber Security Practices: Hospitals and healthcare providers will receive tailored guidelines to implement best practices for cyber security. 
  • Cyber Security Vouchers: Financial assistance in the form of vouchers will be made available to micro, small, and medium-sized healthcare providers to enhance their cyber security capabilities. 
  • Learning Resources: New educational tools and training programs will be developed to equip healthcare professionals with the knowledge needed to navigate cybersecurity challenges. 

Improved Threat Detection: The EU Action Plan proposes the establishment of a Cybersecurity Support Centre for Hospitals and Healthcare Providers under the guidance of ENISA, the EU Agency for Cybersecurity.  

  • By 2026, the Centre will provide an EU-wide early warning system, offering near-real-time alerts about potential cyber threats. 

Effective Response to Cyber Attacks: To minimise the impact of cyber incidents, the Action Plan includes the following measures: 

  • A rapid response service under the EU Cybersecurity Reserve, leveraging private incident response providers to support healthcare organisations. 
  • Development of response playbooks to guide healthcare organisations in handling specific threats, such as ransomware. 
  • National cyber security exercises to strengthen incident response capabilities across Member States. 
  • Encouragement for Member States to mandate the reporting of ransom payments, enabling authorities to provide support and conduct follow-ups with law enforcement. 

Deterrence: To discourage cyber attacks on the EU healthcare systems, the plan includes the use of the Cyber Diplomacy Toolbox, a coordinated EU diplomatic response to malicious cyber activities.  

  • This framework aims to hold cyber threat actors accountable and protect critical healthcare infrastructure. 

Collaborative Implementation 

The success of the EU Action Plan will depend on collaboration amongst healthcare providers, Member States, and the cyber security community.  To ensure the plan is effective and addresses the needs of all stakeholders, the Commission will soon launch a public consultation open to citizens and industry experts. The feedback gathered will help refine the proposed measures, with specific actions scheduled for rollout in 2025 and 2026. 

Legislative Framework 

The EU Action Plan builds on existing EU legislation.  Healthcare providers are identified as a sector of high criticality under the NIS2 Directive, which works in tandem with the Cyber Resilience Act, a landmark EU regulation that mandates cyber security requirements for digital products.  

The recently established Cyber Emergency Mechanism under the Cyber Solidarity Act will play a crucial role in detecting, preparing for, and responding to cyber security threats. The initiative also supports the broader goal of creating a European Health Data Space, a framework designed to empower citizens with control over their health data while ensuring the security of sensitive information. 

Executive Vice-President for Tech Sovereignty, Security, & Democracy, Henna Virkkunen, emphasised the importance of resilience in healthcare systems: “We are launching an Action Plan to ensure that healthcare systems, institutions, and connected medical devices are resilient... Prevention is better than cure, so we need to prevent cyber-attacks from happening. But if they happen, we need to have everything in place to detect them and to quickly respond and recover.” 

By addressing cyber security challenges through prevention, detection, response, and deterrence, the plan lays the groundwork for a safer healthcare environment where technology empowers patients, enhances care, and supports professionals. 

EU Commision   |    IndustrialCyber   |    Cyber Express  |  SC Magazine  |    Infosecurity Magazine 

Image: Mart-Production

You Might Also Read: 

Protecting Patient Privacy: Cybersecurity Priorities For Healthcare:


If you like this website and use the comprehensive 6,500-plus service supplier Directory, you can get unrestricted access, including the exclusive in-depth Directors Report series, by signing up for a Premium Subscription.

  • Individual £5 per month or £50 per year. Sign Up
  • Multi-User, Corporate & Library Accounts Available on Request

 


Cyber Security Intelligence: Captured Organised & Accessible


 


 

« Thermodynamic Computing - A New Computer Architecture
Data Broker Discloses A Major Breach Of App User Data »

Infosecurity Europe
CyberSecurity Jobsite
Perimeter 81

Directory of Suppliers

Authentic8

Authentic8

Authentic8 transforms how organizations secure and control the use of the web with Silo, its patented cloud browser.

Syxsense

Syxsense

Syxsense brings together endpoint management and security for greater efficiency and collaboration between IT management and security teams.

DigitalStakeout

DigitalStakeout

DigitalStakeout enables cyber security professionals to reduce cyber risk to their organization with proactive security solutions, providing immediate improvement in security posture and ROI.

IT Governance

IT Governance

IT Governance is a leading global provider of information security solutions. Download our free guide and find out how ISO 27001 can help protect your organisation's information.

The PC Support Group

The PC Support Group

A partnership with The PC Support Group delivers improved productivity, reduced costs and protects your business through exceptional IT, telecoms and cybersecurity services.

IEEE Computer Society

IEEE Computer Society

The IEEE Computer Society is the world's leading membership organization dedicated to computer science and technology.

UpGuard

UpGuard

UpGuard's discovery engine brings visibility to complex IT environments, enabling teams to identify risk, confirm compliance and make business safer.

InteliSecure

InteliSecure

InteliSecure offer Professional Services, Security Assessments and Managed Services for data and threat protection.

Heimdal Security

Heimdal Security

Heimdal Security provides proactive protection against cyber threats including ransomware, exploit kits and financial malware.

SCADASUDO

SCADASUDO

SCADASUDO is a cyber solution architecture and design office, established by leading experts in the field of OT (Industrial control) and IT (information Technology).

SOOHO

SOOHO

SOOHO helps to detect security vulnerabilities earlier. Our blockchain security platform audits from smart contracts to on-chain transactions.

US Cyber Range

US Cyber Range

US Cyber Range is a scalable, cloud-hosted infrastructure providing students with virtual environments for realistic, hands-on cybersecurity labs and exercises.

Secured Communications

Secured Communications

Secured Communications has developed the only unified secure communications platform trusted by public safety and counter terrorism professionals around the world.

Portshift

Portshift

Portshift leverages the power of Kubernetes and Service-Mesh to deliver a single source of truth for containers and cloud-native applications security.

Neosecure

Neosecure

NeoSecure is a specialist Cybersecurity Solutions and Managed Services provider in Latin America.

Digital Intelligence

Digital Intelligence

Digital Intelligence offer a full array of products, forensic and e-discovery consulting services and training.

GreenPages Technology Solutions

GreenPages Technology Solutions

GreenPages provide expert strategic guidance and proven cloud-era solutions for our clients. Every day we help organizations leverage the cloud securely with less risk and cost.

Segra

Segra

Segra owns and operates one of the nation’s largest fiber networks and provides best-in-class broadband and data security solutions throughout the Southeast and Mid-Atlantic.

Virtual IT Group (VITG)

Virtual IT Group (VITG)

VITG is a cyber security-focused Managed Service Provider (MSP).

Entitle

Entitle

Entitle's SaaS-based platform automates how permissions are managed, enabling organizations to eliminate bottlenecks and implement robust cloud least privilege access.

ModelOp

ModelOp

ModelOp is the leading AI Governance software for enterprises and helps safeguard all AI initiatives.