Healthcare cybersecurity is no longer limited to hospitals. As care becomes increasingly connected across long-term care, home care, primary care, and regional partnerships, organizations are facing the challenge to secure an entire healthcare system. This sets different levels of funding, infrastructure, and cybersecurity maturity.

During the session: LDGs, OHTs, LTC, Home Care, Primary Care: How Are We Going To Secure The Entire Healthcare System?, speakers Dr. Wim Hafkamp of Z-CERT (Netherlands), Keith Lawson of London Health Sciences Centre, and Gary Rankin of Hamilton Health Sciences, explored how healthcare organizations can strengthen cybersecurity governance, collaboration, and resilience across the full continuum of care.

Cybersecurity Is A System-Wide Responsibility

Cybersecurity can no longer be treated as only a hospital issue. While acute care organizations have made progress through Ontario’s Local Delivery Groups (LDGs), many smaller organizations, particularly in home care, long-term care, and primary care, still lack dedicated cybersecurity resources and expertise.

The panel emphasized that healthcare systems are now too interconnected to operate independently. Cyber incidents affecting community organizations can quickly impact hospitals, patient flow, and clinical operations across regions. There’s a need for stronger collaboration and information sharing between organizations. Like the financial sector, as an example, competitors successfully work together on cybersecurity threats and intelligence sharing.

Governance And AI Are Reshaping Cybersecurity

Another major focus was governance and leadership accountability, where cybersecurity is no longer simply an IT responsibility. Boards, executives, clinical leaders, privacy teams, and operations all need to play active roles in managing cyber risk.

The discussion also explored how rapidly AI adoption is changing healthcare environments, acknowledging that “shadow AI”, which is staff independently using AI tools without oversight, is becoming a major barrier. Rather than trying to block AI entirely, the panel encouraged organizations to create clear governance frameworks, approved tools, and practical safeguards that support responsible adoption.

Lastly, privacy concerns were another recurring topic, particularly around sensitive patient information being entered into public AI platforms. It is important to enforce education, policy development, and secure approved tools that balance innovation with patient privacy and security.

Final Takeaway

Healthcare cybersecurity depends on collaboration across the full continuum of care. As healthcare organizations become more connected, cyber risks affecting one sector can quickly impact the broader system. From governance and information sharing to AI oversight and regional coordination, building resilience requires shared responsibility, continued investment, and stronger partnerships across healthcare.

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