Healthcare providers across the Asia-Pacific region are under growing pressure to protect patient safety as cyberattacks rise in frequency and cost. In many cases, these breaches impact more than data -- they can disrupt billing, halt treatments, delay surgeries, and put lives at risk.
Modern healthcare environments are built on a complex mix of IT systems, operational technology (OT), and connected clinical devices known as the Internet of Medical Things (IoMT). While these are deeply integrated, they're often fragmented in terms of security visibility and control. Many can’t be patched regularly, and others can’t be taken offline without affecting patient care. On top of this, vendors and partners often access these systems remotely.
Read on for a closer look at the real-world impact of healthcare breaches across APAC, the regulations driving action, and how Safous helps healthcare organizations protect critical systems.
The healthcare sector remains one of the most targeted industries for cyberattacks. There were 725 reported major healthcare breaches in 2023 alone, impacting more than 168 million patient records.1 And data breach volume jumped by 63.5% year-over-year in 2025, with 275+ million records exposed globally.2
According to the HIPAA Journal, the average cost of a healthcare data breach has continued to climb, reaching unprecedented levels and solidifying healthcare's status as the most expensive industry for breaches.3
One recent example, the 2024 Change Healthcare cyberattack, shut down claim processing, pharmacy operations, and revenue systems across thousands of U.S. providers. The attack resulted in an estimated $100 million in losses per day,4 showcasing how an attack on a single vendor can cause nationwide care disruptions and financial peril.
The damage from data breaches goes beyond financial loss -- it directly affects the delivery of care. A recent study found that 65% of healthcare organizations have suffered cyber incidents that caused appointment cancellations and delayed treatments.5 Worse yet, research shows that critical care patient mortality rises by nearly 50% after a cyberattack.6
When the IT systems that manage patient records, the OT systems that control building access and power, and the IoMT devices that deliver medication and monitor vitals fall victim to a successful attack, it is not just compliance or reputation at risk; it's human lives.
Healthcare providers across the APAC region aren't just expected to prevent attacks, but also to meet growing regulatory requirements. Governments across the region are moving to tighten data protection and cybersecurity rules in response to the threats impacting their critical healthcare infrastructure.
Regional frameworks such as APPI, PIPA, DPDP, and PDPA are influencing APAC healthcare providers, with compliance now including expectations like:
The regulations shaping healthcare across APAC are moving fast, and they demand controls that are proactive, visible, and verifiable.
Many healthcare IT teams are experts in defending traditional endpoints like laptops and servers. However, the modern hospital network adds a wide array of connected devices, including IoMT like MRI machines and heart monitors, OT like HVAC controls and building management systems, and thousands of smart sensors.
These devices create a massive and often invisible attack surface because they can’t run antivirus or software agents and aren’t managed directly by IT teams. This creates blind spots and backdoors, enabling attackers to exploit a forgotten device or unprotected vendor session before moving laterally and disrupting care.
The only effective solution is a unified security strategy that provides:
This approach shifts cybersecurity strategies from simply protecting data to ensuring cyber-physical safety across the entire healthcare environment.
Privileged Remote Access: Provides app-level, VPN-less access with least-privilege enforcement, time-bounded elevation, and supervised sessions that are fully recorded.
IT/OT/IoMT Coverage: Supports consistent workflows and access policies across clinical, facilities, and IT systems—reducing friction and blind spots.
Evidence-First Security: Captures full session recordings, command activity, and file access trails to streamline audits and investigations.
Want to know more? Watch our on-demand webinar, Cybersecurity That Saves Lives: Building a Unified Defense for IT, OT & IoMT in Healthcare, for insights and actionable steps to strengthen your healthcare cybersecurity posture.
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