The Healthcare CISO’s Balancing Act

By Harold Rivas · November 25, 2024

For healthcare CISOs, cybersecurity likely feels like it has evolved into a high-stakes poker game with an occasionally unrecognizable deck of cards. Cyber threats are not only more complex, but they are also increasingly targeting healthcare organizations with ferocious precision. Trellix’s latest Mind of the CISO report reveals a harsh reality that many of you might find all too familiar—a mix of increasing regulatory demands, pressure to report frequently to leadership, and a wave of escalating attacks that demand constant vigilance. As the report highlights, today’s healthcare CISO role requires balancing these pressures while driving resilience in a sector where cybersecurity isn’t just a priority; it’s a necessity for safeguarding patient lives.

Here are a few of our report’s key insights. It’s also important to consider what they mean for your strategy as a CISO moving forward:

The constant call to report

Healthcare CISOs are being called to the boardroom like there is a Batphone on their desk. According to the report, 23% of healthcare CISOs report to the board daily, with another 37% doing so weekly. That’s a significant portion of your time spent communicating cybersecurity issues to executive leadership. Board reporting requirements are up across cybersecurity. This constant reporting underscores the heightened scrutiny on healthcare and the need for clear, effective communication that translates complex security data into business-impacting insights.

This level of involvement with the board can be beneficial, elevating cybersecurity to a strategic priority. But it also places a significant demand on your time, taking you away from your primary role of defense and threat mitigation. To make the most of these opportunities, CISOs should frame discussions with leadership around the tangible impact of security on patient care, operational stability, and the next item on our list, regulatory compliance.

The burden of compliance

Regulatory requirements are piling up fast. Over half of healthcare CISOs (52%) are extremely concerned about the pace of regulatory change, finding themselves in a near-constant race to adapt policies and practices to stay compliant. The healthcare sector is already one of the most regulated industries, with frameworks like HIPAA and HITRUST adding layers of complexity to cybersecurity strategy.

Keeping up with this regulatory whirlwind can be overwhelming, especially with limited resources. Yet, non-compliance is not an option in a field where breaches can have serious consequences for patients and providers alike. In navigating this challenge, it can be helpful to think of regulatory demands as both a compliance issue and a cultural driver. When communicated effectively, regulatory standards can rally your teams around a shared goal, fostering a culture of vigilance and responsibility.

Perception as a cost center: an added challenge

One of the report’s most striking findings is that 60% of healthcare CISOs feel their CIO or CEO views cybersecurity as a cost center rather than a value driver. This perception presents a real challenge to securing the necessary budget, resources, and internal buy-in to build a resilient security posture. When cybersecurity is seen solely as an expense, it becomes an uphill battle to demonstrate its value as an enabler of trust, efficiency, and safety within healthcare.

To shift this perception, CISOs might benefit from storytelling. Consider focusing on stories and metrics that tie cybersecurity to the organization’s mission of patient care. Emphasize how robust cybersecurity safeguards patient data, ensures continuity of care, and protects organizational reputation—all of which are essential to healthcare’s bottom line. This approach can help redefine cybersecurity from a necessary expense to a strategic asset.

Responding to the surge in cyberattacks

The July 2024 CrowdStrike outage sent shockwaves through the industry, and the healthcare sector was no exception. Nearly a quarter of healthcare CISOs reported a significant increase in cyberattacks following the outage, with state-sponsored attacks leading the charge (41%), followed by data theft (35%), ransomware (35%), and business email compromise (35%).

This surge in attacks underscores the need for proactive measures to counter the rising sophistication of cyber adversaries. State-sponsored attackers are targeting healthcare for its rich troves of personal and medical data, which can be weaponized for espionage, identity theft, or financial fraud. For healthcare CISOs, this means continually reinforcing defenses, updating incident response plans, and, perhaps most importantly, fostering resilience within your team to respond rapidly and effectively to evolving threats.

The way forward: a balanced approach

As a healthcare CISO, you’re tasked with not only defending against a barrage of cyber threats but also with navigating a complex environment in constant motion. The stakes are high; not only are financial and reputational risks on the line but so too are patient safety and trust. Here are a few strategies to consider in response to these findings:

1. Elevate communication with the board: Given the frequency of board reporting, seize these opportunities to communicate the value of cybersecurity in terms of patient care and operational continuity. Help board members understand cybersecurity isn’t just about preventing breaches; it’s about enabling safe, uninterrupted care.
2. View compliance as a cultural imperative: Rather than seeing regulatory compliance as merely a box to check, treat it as a driver of a security-first culture. In doing so, you’ll rally your team around shared values and build resilience from the ground up.
3. Highlight cybersecurity as a strategic asset: By shifting cybersecurity from a “cost” to a “value” perspective, you can build stronger internal support. Illustrate how robust security not only protects sensitive data but also enhances operational efficiency and patient trust.
4. Strengthen incident response for sophisticated attacks: With state-sponsored attacks on the rise, it’s crucial to regularly update your incident response protocols and ensure your team is well-prepared for targeted, complex attacks. Simulation exercises and continuous monitoring are essential tools for staying ahead of these sophisticated adversaries.

It’s true healthcare CISOs are facing an unprecedented level of responsibility, with increasing demands from both regulatory bodies and cyber adversaries. Yet, there is also an opportunity to lead the way in cybersecurity resilience, not only by building robust defenses but by reshaping the role of cybersecurity within healthcare. As the industry confronts these new challenges, the ability to communicate cybersecurity’s value, foster a culture of vigilance, and adapt to ever-changing threats will be the defining qualities of successful healthcare CISOs.

Go deeper into what’s top of mind for CISOs in The Mind of the CISO: CISO Crossroads report, and explore how the Trellix Security Platform helps foster cybersecurity resilience in your organization.