Implications of Forbes 2026 cybersecurity predictions for healthcare

In December, Forbes published “10 Cybersecurity Predictions That Will Define 2026,” stating that the “cybersecurity landscape is entering its most transformative period in decades” and that “2026 will be defined not by new categories of threats but by the scale, intelligence and automation behind the threats already in motion.” While Forbes’ list of 10 predictions was not written specifically for the healthcare industry, healthcare organizations should be aware of such predictions and how they can use HIPAA compliance, along with cyber preparedness, to avoid data breaches.

Learn about: Why HIPAA compliance pays off

A summary of healthcare data breaches in 2025

On the U.S. Office for Civil Rights’ (OCR’s) Wall of Shame, the top reasons for healthcare data breaches in 2025 were hacking and IT incidents. Moreover, several major breaches involved third-party vendors (i.e., business associates), such as Episource.

The top five largest healthcare breaches disclosed and/or confirmed in 2025 were:

• Aflac – more than 22.6 million individuals affected
• Conduent Business Services – more than 14.8 million individuals
• Yale New Haven Health System – approximately 5.56 million individuals
• Episource – approximately 5.42 million individuals
• Blue Shield of California – approximately 4.7 million individuals

In all, more than 35 million individuals were affected through ransomware incidents, vendor compromises, and unauthorized access occurrences.

What is HIPAA?

The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) sets out the rules and regulations surrounding access to and disclosure of PHI. The HIPAA Privacy Rule establishes the national standards to protect individuals' PHI, while the Security Rule creates a framework for the protection of electronic PHI (ePHI). Both rules set the limits and conditions of PHI exposure for both intentional and accidental disclosures.

HIPAA's regulations protect PHI from unnecessary exposure by increasing patient control and insisting on the use of strong physical, administrative, and technical safeguards. The legislation also includes information about what to do after a data breach. Healthcare organizations must inform all impacted individuals, OCR, and the media under the Breach Notification Rule when a breach involves unprotected PHI.

This notification process promotes accountability and transparency and guarantees that patients know of potential confidentiality violations. To enhance data confidentiality and lessen the impact of breaches, healthcare organizations must prioritize HIPAA compliance by using strong security measures, including data encryption, employee training, and secure PHI disposal practices.

What is HIPAA compliance?

HIPAA compliance occurs when healthcare organizations adhere to HIPAA and demonstrate PHI protection with strong cybersecurity. A HIPAA compliant organization fulfills HIPAA’s requirements by making a concerted effort to protect patients and itself from data theft and/or a data breach. Providers must be HIPAA compliant, ensuring sensitive patient information is protected from unauthorized access and data breaches.

Cybersecurity is a fundamental part of HIPAA compliance. The idea is for healthcare organizations to prioritize data security and avoid HIPAA violations and the penalties that come with them. Consequences of a data breach include large financial penalties, reputation damage, loss of business, and negative publicity.

Moreover, a PHI breach could result in a lengthy class-action lawsuit, as we have seen recently against Integris Health and Morris Hospital & Healthcare Centers. HIPAA compliance reduces cyber risks and compliance penalties and keeps patient data secure with rigorous controls. There are numerous types of security tools to implement, and organizations must find the right mix that suits their needs. Cybersecurity is crucial to prevent unauthorized access, breaches, or theft of sensitive information.

More info: The complete guide to HIPAA violations

Forbes’ 10 cybersecurity predictions for 2026: a recap

Here are Forbes’ 10 cybersecurity predictions that will shape 2026.

1. Artificial intelligence (AI) becomes the attacker’s operating system
2. Ransomware enters its most aggressive phase
3. The Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) enforcement begins and similar requirements spread across government
4. The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) becomes the new national baseline for cybersecurity
5. Encryption enters a new era of risk and reinvention
6. Identity security becomes the central battlefield
7. Security tool sprawl collapses into unified AI platforms
8. Supply chain cyber risk accelerates across every sector
9. The debate over encrypted traffic inspection intensifies
10. Cyber resilience becomes a board level metric
    
    

Forbes’ 2026 predictions and HIPAA compliance

As concluded in the Forbes article, its top 10 predictions show an obvious pattern: “Cybersecurity is moving from reactive defense to continuous readiness.” Additionally, an understanding of how to use new technologies can keep organizations secure. Cyber-preparedness refers to proactive measures, strategies, and practices that organizations implement to protect themselves from cyber threats and minimize the impact of potential breaches.

For healthcare organizations to use the Forbes predictions to their advantage, they must move beyond basic HIPAA compliance to proactive resilience and preparedness, using up-to-date tools, such as AI technology. Healthcare organizations that properly prepare and quickly recover after cyber incidents reduce health-related disruptions and don’t have to pay compliance penalties. By taking a proactive, resilient approach to cybersecurity, healthcare organizations can mitigate the risk of cyberattacks and protect sensitive patient data. Even if a breach occurs, strong cybersecurity protocols can detect an intrusion quickly, minimize damage, and expedite recovery. Organizations that don’t switch their thinking when it comes to cybersecurity, while remaining HIPAA compliant, may be left behind.

HIPAA compliant strategies for healthcare organizations

HIPAA already requires strict control over patients’ PHI with HIPAA compliance. Using Forbes 2026 predictions, however, healthcare organizations can move even more toward compliance with cyber resilience. Here's an updated list of what healthcare organizations should do to avoid costly penalties, focus on compliance, and demonstrate cyber preparedness.

1. Update policies and procedures to include proper patient care during system downtime
2. Audit current cybersecurity tools and remove/add features to remove tool sprawl while staying secure
3. Discover how to use AI responsibly to counteract all threats, including AI threats
4. Research governmental frameworks to ensure proper measures are in place
5. Use regular, hands-on simulations of breaches when training staff
6. Secure medical devices and keep track of all connected and accessed devices
7. Address vulnerabilities with business associates beyond just HIPAA compliance
8. Utilize strong access controls, including multi-factor authentication, network segmentation, and encryption
9. Actively monitor and audit systems for active threats

A strong cybersecurity strategy helps healthcare organizations meet regulatory requirements and avoid legal consequences. By implementing strong cybersecurity practices, healthcare organizations can prevent breaches and keep patients safe while focusing on patient care.

A further resource: HIPAA compliant email: The definitive guide (2025 update)

FAQs

How can healthcare organizations prevent data breaches?

Healthcare organizations can reduce the risk of data breaches by implementing strong cybersecurity measures, conducting regular security training for employees, and using encryption to protect sensitive data.

What should a healthcare organization do immediately after discovering a data breach?

Upon discovering a data breach, a healthcare organization should contain the breach, assess the scope of the impact, notify affected individuals and relevant authorities, and begin an investigation to understand how the breach occurred and how to prevent future incidents.

What types of attacks can generative AI identify?

It can detect advanced threats such as business email compromise, domain spoofing, brand impersonation, and AI-generated phishing messages

How do I start improving my organization’s cyber-preparedness?

Start by conducting a risk assessment to identify critical assets and vulnerabilities. Develop a comprehensive cybersecurity plan that includes incident response, regular employee training, and implementation of security technologies like firewalls and multi-factor authentication.