Foolproof? A Healthcare Guide to Ransomware Attacks

Woods Rogers Principal and Chair of the Cybersecurity & Data Privacy Practice Beth Burgin Waller recently joined The Digital Healthcare Experience podcast to discuss the growing threat of ransomware attacks across the healthcare sector and what organizations must do to prepare, respond, and recover.

Drawing on her experience responding to hundreds of cyber incidents, Beth explains why healthcare systems have become prime targets for ransomware actors, pointing to complex IT environments, legacy systems, and the high value of sensitive patient data. She emphasizes the importance of strong cybersecurity hygiene and proactive incident response planning, noting that preparation before an attack is critical to minimizing operational disruption and legal risk.

Beth also walks through what happens in the first hours following a ransomware event, including the role of legal counsel in preserving privilege, coordinating with forensic experts, and managing communications. The conversation explores key considerations around media response, cyber insurance coverage, ransom negotiations, and regulatory and litigation exposure, including the growing risk of class actions.

The episode provides practical, real-world guidance for healthcare executives, CIOs, CISOs, compliance professionals, and risk management teams navigating an increasingly complex threat landscape.

Watch Beth on The Digital Healthcare Experience.