Small and midsize (SMB) healthcare organizations face the same cybersecurity pressures as large health systems and hospitals but without the dedicated security leadership, deep staffing, or budgets. And the threats don’t scale down just because an organization is smaller. In fact, attackers increasingly see SMB healthcare as low-hanging fruit: valuable data, essential services, and limited security maturity. 

Fortunately, understanding the most common threats and the practical steps to reduce them can dramatically improve your security posture. Here are the top five risks facing SMB healthcare today and what you can do about them.

1. Human Error

The biggest risk to healthcare security isn’t a missing tool, it’s a mistake.

Healthcare workers are prime targets for attackers because they have access to sensitive data and often operate under time pressure. Staff may accidentally click a phishing link, send patient information to the wrong recipient, use weak passwords, or fall for convincing social engineering scams. 

What to do about it:

• Implement regular, bite-sized security training. Short monthly refreshers outperform long annual trainings.
• Use multi-factor authentication (MFA) everywhere possible. Even if credentials leak, MFA can block most unauthorized logins.
• Simplify secure behavior through the right technology. Tools should be easy enough that secure choices are also the convenient ones.

2. Ransomware

Healthcare remains a top ransomware-targeted industry1, and attackers hit SMB organizations because they know the impact is immediate. Without a CISO overseeing backups, patching, and response planning, recovering from ransomware can take days or weeks.

What to do about it:

• Ensure offsite, immutable backups. Backups connected to your network will also be encrypted during an attack.
• Patch promptly. Many ransomware campaigns exploit widely known vulnerabilities.
• Pre-build a ransomware response plan. Know who to call, what systems to isolate, and how to restore operations before you’re under pressure.

3. Outdated Systems

Legacy medical devices and older networks and tools run outdated operating systems that can’t be easily patched. These devices become silent points of entry. Without vulnerability management, gaps persist unnoticed.

What to do about it:

• Inventory everything. You can’t protect what you don’t know you have.
• Prioritize high-risk assets. Rank systems based on sensitivity, exposure, and age. Patch or upgrade the highest-risk items immediately.
• Adopt a quarterly patch cycle at minimum. Monthly is ideal, and keep a consistent cadence.

4. Third-Party Risks

SMB healthcare organizations rely heavily on outside vendors for everything from billing to telehealth to imaging systems. Each vendor relationship creates a new attack surface. When one of your vendors experiences a breach, your data and patients are affected.

What to do about it:

• Perform basic vendor vetting. Even a simple questionnaire about MFA, encryption, and incident response goes a long way.
• Limit access. Give vendors the minimum necessary privileges and disable old accounts immediately.
• Monitor integrations. Anytime a vendor connects directly to your data, treat that integration as a high-risk asset.

5. Lack of Security Governance

Many SMB healthcare organizations have security tools but no overarching strategy or designated responsible party for governance. Inconsistent policies and unclear responsibilities lead to reactive incident response — not proactive. They also block you from getting the most out of your tools.

What to do about it:

• Define simple, clear policies. Document data handling, device use, password rules, and email safety policies in plain language.
• Assign security ownership. Even if you don’t have a CISO, someone must oversee risk — not just tools. Consider working with a virtual CISO provider.
• Conduct an annual risk assessment. This is not optional in healthcare. It identifies your biggest gaps and helps prioritize investments.

Combat These Threats on Your Terms and in Your Budget

SMBs don’t have to accept that they are higher risk because they lack CISOs and deep pockets. You can explore virtual CISO services, build a security-first culture, and take other concrete steps listed above to adequately protect your organization — no matter its size. If you’d like a free analysis of your security environment and advice on immediate next steps, schedule a consultation with GuideIT. We have 30+ years of experience safeguarding SMB healthcare organizations.

• ¹ https://www.techtarget.com/healthtechsecurity/news/366618267/Healthcare-ranks-as-third-most-targeted-ransomware-victim