Stronger Together: Addressing Systemic Risk in Healthcare

October 14, 2025

Systemic risk in healthcare refers to failures within interconnected systems that result in widespread disruptions to patient care, medications, and emergency services. Recent incidents, such as the 2024 Change Healthcare cyberattack and the CrowdStrike IT outage, underscore the growing threat of systemic risks and highlight the urgent need for collaboration, resilience planning, and improved cybersecurity measures.

Key Features and Benefits of The Healthcare Cybersecurity Benchmarking Study

Benchmark Against Standards: Compare cybersecurity maturity using frameworks such as:
- NIST Cybersecurity Framework 2.0 (NIST CSF 2.0).
- Healthcare Cybersecurity Performance Goals (HPH CPGs).
- Health Industry Cybersecurity Practices (HICP 2023).
Assess and Improve Readiness: Gain insights into vulnerabilities, operational metrics, and key investment priorities.
Collaborative Solutions: Leverage shared data to make informed decisions and implement targeted improvements.
Protect Patient Care: Strengthen resilience to systemic risks and ensure uninterrupted delivery of care.

Protect your organization from systemic risks and improve cybersecurity resilience. Join The Healthcare Cybersecurity Benchmarking Study today at censinet.com!

Frequently Asked Questions

What is systemic risk in healthcare, and why is it significant?

Systemic risk occurs when failures in interconnected systems cause disruptions across the healthcare ecosystem, leading to life-threatening delays in treatment, medication shortages, and operational failures. Recent high-profile cyberattacks emphasize the severity of these risks.

What factors are driving the rise of systemic risk in healthcare?

Consolidation of Services: Few organizations now manage critical services, creating “choke points” where failures can cascade. Third-Party Vendor Dependence: Vendors are frequent targets for cyberattacks, which can disrupt operations for multiple healthcare organizations. Lack of Preparedness: Many healthcare organizations lack robust plans to handle prolonged IT outages or ransomware attacks. Basic Security Gaps: Common vulnerabilities like weak MFA and outdated software increase exposure to cyber risks.

What is The Healthcare Cybersecurity Benchmarking Study?

The study is an industry-led initiative that helps healthcare organizations evaluate and enhance their cybersecurity maturity. It benchmarks organizations against frameworks like NIST CSF 2.0, HPH CPGs, and HICP 2023, providing actionable insights to allocate resources effectively.

How can healthcare organizations mitigate systemic risks?

Develop Clinical Continuity Plans: Ensure safe care delivery during IT outages. Strengthen Cybersecurity Basics: Implement MFA, phishing training, and regular patch management. Collaborate Through Industry Programs: Participate in initiatives like the Benchmarking Study for shared insights and performance comparisons.

Why is collaboration critical in addressing systemic risks?

Collaboration enables healthcare organizations to overcome resource constraints, share best practices, and collectively strengthen the sector’s resilience against systemic risks.