Canada’s Healthcare System Faces a Cybersecurity Crossroads Action Can’t Wait

Cybersecurity in healthcare has evolved far beyond protecting data it now determines whether hospitals can keep operating and patients can safely receive care. Across Canada, a growing number of cyber incidents have underscored just how fragile healthcare’s digital backbone has become.

In October 2023, five hospitals in southwestern Ontario were forced into “Code Grey” after a ransomware attack crippled IT systems and led to the theft of more than half a million patient records. The fallout lasted weeks, disrupting surgeries and appointments. Toronto’s SickKids Hospital faced a similar ordeal the previous year when ransomware locked critical systems and delayed children’s treatments, prompting an unusual apology from the attackers themselves. Newfoundland and Labrador’s health network suffered a devastating breach in 2021, costing over $16 million and leaving thousands of patients waiting.

These are not isolated events they’re symptoms of a deeper, systemic issue. Globally, healthcare is one of the most targeted sectors. The Change Healthcare breach in the U.S. exposed nearly 193 million records, while the UK’s National Health Service suffered massive losses in the 2017 WannaCry attack. Each incident carries a chilling message: healthcare cybersecurity is not just an IT problem, it’s a public safety issue.

Recognizing this, the Canadian Cybersecurity Network (CCN) launched its Pulse Check – National Cybersecurity in Healthcare Report at the InCyber conference in Montreal. François Guay, CCN’s founder and CEO, emphasized that cybersecurity is a collective responsibility: “Every healthcare worker, policymaker and leader has a role to play in protecting our healthcare system.”

Industry experts echo the urgency. Elias Diab, vice-president of cybersecurity at Accerta, notes that “every cyber defence is another layer of protection around public health,” while Dr. Benoit Desjardins of the University of Montreal warns that inaction could push the already strained healthcare system “past its breaking point.”

The report calls for a unified national approach focused on five areas: embedding cybersecurity in every digital-health initiative, investing in people, prioritizing human-centric training, adopting secure-by-design models, and sharing threat intelligence across all institutions.

Healthcare organizations cannot afford to treat cybersecurity as an afterthought resilience must be built into every layer of their operations. This is where trusted partners like Directpath Global Technologies (DGT) can provide crucial support. As a Managed Security Service Provider (MSSP), DGT delivers proactive solutions including Mobile Threat Defense (MTD), Extended Detection and Response (XDR), Vulnerability Assessment and Penetration Testing (VAPT), SOC 2 compliance, Vulnerability Risk Management as a Service (VRMaaS), Web Application Firewall (WAF), and vCISO support. Backed by an advanced Artificial Intelligence Division, DGT helps healthcare organizations build tailored, intelligent defenses that protect both patient trust and operational continuity.

In today’s digital healthcare landscape, every worker, every decision, and every system is part of Canada’s first line of defense. The time to act is not tomorrow it’s now. Source: Yahoo Finance