Shielding the Frontline: The Cyber Security Landscape of UK Healthcare

The UK healthcare sector, encompassing the NHS, private providers, and their extended supply chains, is facing an unprecedented rise in cyber attacks.

Over recent months, ransomware campaigns, supply chain breaches, and phishing-led credential theft have surged across the industry. From NHS contractors to patient data platforms, adversaries are exploiting both technological and operational weaknesses in what remains one of the nation’s most critical infrastructures.

As digital transformation accelerates - driven by electronic patient records, AI-based diagnostics, and connected medical devices, the potential attack surface has expanded dramatically.

While these innovations promise to improve care delivery and efficiency, they also expose the sector to increasingly sophisticated and persistent cyber threats. For many healthcare organisations, cyber security has evolved from a technical issue to an operational, financial, and even clinical one, where digital compromise can directly impact patient safety.

Key Cyber Threats Affecting UK Healthcare

1. Ransomware and Data Extortion

Ransomware remains the most disruptive cyber threat to UK healthcare. Attackers increasingly favour double-extortion techniques - stealing data before encryption to pressure organisations into paying ransoms. Groups such as Akira, RansomHub, BlackCat/ALPHV, and the emerging Warlock have all been active against UK and European healthcare entities in 2025.
Healthcare’s dependence on always-available systems, combined with the sensitivity of patient data, makes it a prime target. The operational impact is immediate, with delays to appointments, cancelled procedures, and disrupted emergency care potentially causing long-term reputational damage following close behind.

2. Supply Chain Vulnerabilities

The NHS and its contractors rely on vast supplier networks for infrastructure, clinical equipment, and digital services. This interconnectivity, while essential for modern care delivery, creates systemic risk.
In 2025, multiple incidents demonstrated this weakness: the Dodd Group ransomware breach compromised sensitive client and project documentation, and NRS Healthcare’s earlier data exposure resurfaced as a stark reminder of persistent third-party vulnerabilities. Even indirect suppliers, such as construction, logistics, and software vendors, can become unwitting gateways to NHS systems and patient data.

3. Phishing and Credential Theft

Phishing continues to dominate as the most common entry vector. NHS England Digital issued multiple cyber alerts throughout August and September 2025 warning of credential theft campaigns targeting both staff and patients. Attackers increasingly exploit stolen credentials, stealer logs, and multi-factor authentication bypass techniques.
Recent breaches involving childcare providers such as Kido also exposed highly sensitive personal data, which has been weaponised for phishing and harassment attempts against families and staff. These incidents highlight how even peripheral organisations connected to healthcare pathways are at risk.

4. Emerging AI-Enabled Threats

The rise of artificial intelligence has not only benefited healthcare innovation but also cyber criminal operations. The “EvilAI” malware, first identified in mid-2025, has demonstrated how AI can be abused to mimic legitimate healthcare software and harvest user credentials. As AI integration deepens in diagnostics, scheduling, and patient communications, the potential for exploitation through spoofed or trojanised tools continues to grow.

5. Legacy Systems and Patch Gaps

Outdated technology remains a major Achilles’ heel. Many NHS systems still operate on legacy software, some of which is approaching end-of-life. With the impending Windows 10 end-of-support in October 2025, the urgency for upgrades and patch management has never been greater. These unpatched environments present ideal targets for ransomware and intrusion campaigns.

The UK Impact: A Sector Under Pressure

The summer of 2025 underscored the fragility of the UK’s healthcare cyber security posture.

• Dodd Group, a key NHS contractor, was compromised by Lynx ransomware, with claims of 4TB of exfiltrated data including sensitive project documentation.

• NRS Healthcare, a community equipment supplier, was cited again in September 2025 communications as a reminder of ongoing third-party exposure within NHS supply chains.

• Kido, though not a clinical healthcare provider, experienced a Radiant ransomware attack that published sensitive child data, creating phishing and social engineering risks for families.

In addition, NHS England Digital issued high-priority alerts related to Cisco VPN, Citrix, and Ivanti vulnerabilities actively exploited by threat actors. These advisories stressed the importance of patch management and endpoint protection - particularly as healthcare infrastructure becomes increasingly cloud-connected and mobile-device reliant.

The operational and reputational impact of such breaches cannot be overstated. Cyber attacks can delay patient care, expose confidential medical records, and damage the public trust that underpins the NHS’s relationship with patients.

Challenges and Contributing Factors

The ongoing cyber challenges facing UK healthcare stem from several interlinked issues:

Legacy systems and fragmented IT estates - hinder effective patching and modern security integration.

Overstretched budgets and staffing - often relegates cyber security to a secondary priority.

Complex supplier ecosystems - amplifies risk exposure through third-party dependencies.

Delayed regulatory updates - Including the postponed Cyber Security and Resilience Bill, which could have strengthened governance and reporting frameworks.

Human error and phishing susceptibility - cited by the ICO as recurring causes of UK healthcare data breaches.

Building Cyber Resilience in UK Healthcare

Protecting patient data, maintaining service continuity, and meeting regulatory expectations all depend on an organisation’s ability to prevent, detect, and respond to evolving threats. Building resilience in healthcare requires a holistic, organisation-wide approach - combining technology, governance, and awareness.

24/7 Threat Monitoring and Rapid Response

The NHS and its suppliers face around-the-clock attacks targeting critical systems and sensitive data. A 24/7 Managed Detection & Response (MDR) capability is vital for continuous visibility, early detection, and swift containment of threats. PureCyber’s UK-based Security Operations Centre (SOC) provides this capability, giving healthcare organisations immediate access to real-time monitoring and incident response specialists when every second counts.

Secure the Supply Chain

Third-party vendors, from IT service providers to medical device suppliers, remain one of the greatest risks to healthcare cyber security. Comprehensive supply chain assurance must include vendor risk assessments, contractual security obligations, and ongoing monitoring. PureCyber helps NHS organisations and private healthcare providers identify vulnerabilities early and maintain confidence in their extended networks.

Empower Staff Through Awareness

Human error continues to drive the majority of breaches in healthcare. Continuous, role-based cyber awareness training ensures staff can recognise phishing attempts, social engineering tactics, and suspicious requests. Regular simulations and realistic testing help embed security behaviours at every level - turning staff from potential targets into active defenders.

Modernise Legacy Systems

Outdated technology continues to expose healthcare providers to unnecessary risk. The end of life for Windows 10 highlights the urgency of replacing or isolating unsupported systems. Regular patching, network segmentation, and phased upgrades are critical to closing these security gaps. PureCyber supports organisations through every step, helping map vulnerabilities and manage transitions without operational disruption.

Plan for Ransomware Recovery

With ransomware still the most significant threat to healthcare operations, resilience and recovery planning are essential. Offline and immutable backups, regularly tested restoration processes, and detailed response playbooks ensure services can continue even under attack. PureCyber’s Incident Response teams deliver rapid containment and recovery, enabling healthcare providers to resume operations swiftly and securely.

How Can PureCyber Help?

The PureCyber team are here to take over the burden of your cyber security and ensure your organisation’s data remains secure and well managed, with proactive monitoring and real-time threat intelligence - providing you with a comprehensive and reliable cyber department to support you in all aspects of your security efforts, including: 24/7 Security Operations Centre (SOC) services, Managed Detection & Response (MDR/EDR),Threat Exposure Management (TEM) & Brand Protection Services & Penetration Testing.

PureCyber is recognised as an Assured Service Provider by the NCSC to offer governance and compliance consultancy services/audits. Contact our team of compliance experts to enquire about our full range of Governance Support - including Cyber Essentials, ISO 27001, FISMA, SOC1 and SOC2 standards.

Get in touch or book a demo for more information on our services and how we can safeguard your organisation with our expert cyber security solutions.

Email: info@purecyber.com Call: 0800 368 9397