============================================================ TITLE: Healthcare Cyber Security 2026: Trans-Tasman Lessons | Insicon Cyber TYPE: blog VERSION: 1 VERSION_ID: 71e40717-763d-4db4-af88-8a64492f6a89 GENERATED_AT: 2026-01-29T06:15:20.808Z SUMMARY: Learn essential cybersecurity lessons for healthcare organisations from recent Trans-Tasman breaches. Actionable recommendations to protect patient data in 2026. AUTHOR: Insicon Cyber DATE PUBLISHED: January 5, 2026 DATE MODIFIED: January 11, 2026 READING TIME: 15 min WORD COUNT: 2812 KEYWORDS: Healthcare Cyber Security 2026, Tasman Lessons, Insicon Cyber, Update: 10 January 2026, How Insicon Cyber Can Help SOURCE URL: https://insiconcyber.com/blog/healthcare-cyber-security-lessons-2026-trans-tasman ============================================================ KEY TAKEAWAYS: * Understanding the Evolving Threat Landscape * Building Strong Security Foundations * Building Operational Resilience * Governance and Continuous Improvement * Taking Action: A Practical Roadmap The recent cyber security incident affecting New Zealand's ManageMyHealth platform serves as a critical reminder that healthcare organisations across Australia and New Zealand face increasingly sophisticated cyber threats. With over 126,000 patients potentially affected, this breach highlights the urgent need for healthcare providers to strengthen their security posture. Rather than focusing on what went wrong, this article examines the key lessons healthcare organisations can learn and provides actionable recommendations to strengthen cyber resilience across the sector. ## Understanding the Evolving Threat Landscape Healthcare data remains one of the most valuable targets for cybercriminals in the Asia-Pacific region. The National Cyber Security Centre's latest Cyber Threat Report reveals that more than 40% of incidents in 2024/25 had criminal or financial motivations, representing a significant increase from previous years. "What makes healthcare particularly vulnerable? Medical records contain comprehensive personal information including identification documents, addresses, dates of birth, and sensitive health data. This information has substantial value on the dark web and can be exploited for identity theft, financial fraud, insurance fraud, and extortion." The ManageMyHealth incident demonstrates that attackers are specifically targeting healthcare organisations with relatively modest ransom demands, suggesting they view Australian and New Zealand healthcare providers as viable, accessible targets. This trend is likely to continue and accelerate throughout 2026. ## Building Strong Security Foundations The good news is that many successful attacks exploit basic security gaps that can be addressed through systematic improvements. Healthcare organisations that prioritise fundamental security hygiene significantly reduce their attack surface. ### Email Security and Domain Protection Email remains a primary attack vector for phishing, credential harvesting, and initial access. Implementing robust email authentication protects both your organisation and your patients from sophisticated email-based attacks. ### Essential email security measures: * Deploy DMARC at enforcement level (p=reject) with subdomain protection (sp=reject) to prevent email spoofing * Implement strong DKIM signatures with 2048-bit keys minimum * Configure SPF records correctly and review regularly * Enable DNSSEC across all domains and subdomains to prevent DNS hijacking * Defensively register your primary domain across major TLDs (.com, .net, .org, .com.au) to prevent brand impersonation ### Access Control and Authentication Weak access controls represent one of the most common vulnerabilities exploited in healthcare breaches. Strong authentication and access management are fundamental to protecting patient data. ### Key access control improvements: * Mandate multi-factor authentication (MFA) for all systems, particularly patient portals and administrative interfaces * Implement the principle of least privilege, ensuring users have only the access they need * Conduct regular access reviews and remove dormant accounts promptly * Monitor and log all access to sensitive patient information * Implement strong password policies and consider passwordless authentication where feasible ### Proactive Vulnerability Management Attackers actively scan for known vulnerabilities and unpatched systems. A systematic approach to vulnerability management significantly reduces your organisation's exposure to opportunistic attacks. ### Establish a robust vulnerability management programme: * Conduct regular vulnerability assessments and penetration testing, particularly for patient-facing systems * Maintain a comprehensive asset inventory including all systems that handle patient data * Implement a structured patch management process with clear timelines for critical vulnerabilities * Prioritise remediation based on risk, focusing on internet-facing systems and those handling sensitive data * Monitor security advisories and threat intelligence relevant to your technology stack ## Building Operational Resilience Beyond prevention, healthcare organisations must be prepared to respond effectively when incidents occur. Operational resilience ensures your organisation can maintain critical services and recover quickly from cyber incidents. ### Reliable Backup and Recovery A comprehensive backup strategy is your last line of defence against ransomware and data loss. Recent case studies demonstrate that organisations with robust, tested backups recover significantly faster and avoid paying ransoms. ### Backup best practices: * Follow the 3-2-1 rule: three copies of data, on two different media types, with one copy offsite * Implement immutable backups that cannot be encrypted or deleted by attackers * Test restoration procedures regularly, ensuring backups are actually recoverable * Increase backup frequency for critical systems, aiming for Recovery Point Objectives (RPO) of hours, not days * Ensure backups include configuration data and system state, not just patient records ### Incident Response Planning The speed and effectiveness of your initial response to a cyber incident can dramatically impact the overall damage. A well-rehearsed incident response plan ensures your team can act decisively under pressure. ### Essential incident response components: * Develop and document a comprehensive incident response plan specific to your organisation * Establish clear roles and responsibilities, including 24/7 contact information * Conduct regular tabletop exercises to test your response procedures * Maintain relationships with external incident response specialists, legal counsel, and forensic investigators * Understand your legal obligations under the Privacy Act 2020 (NZ) and Privacy Act 1988 (AU) for breach notification * Prepare communication templates for patients, staff, regulators, and media ## Governance and Continuous Improvement Effective cyber security requires ongoing commitment from leadership and integration into organisational governance structures. Security is not a one-time project but a continuous process of assessment, improvement, and adaptation. ### Leadership and Board Engagement Board and executive leadership play a crucial role in establishing security culture and ensuring adequate resources are allocated to protect patient data. ### Governance recommendations: * Establish board-level oversight of cyber security risk * Receive regular reporting on security posture, incidents, and risk metrics * Ensure adequate budget and staffing for security functions * Include cyber security in enterprise risk management frameworks * Consider cyber security insurance as part of risk transfer strategy ### Third-Party Risk Management Healthcare organisations increasingly rely on third-party vendors for critical services. The NCSC reports that supply chain attacks targeting third-party suppliers are an increasing trend across the sector. ### Managing third-party risk: * Conduct security assessments of vendors before engagement * Include security requirements and audit rights in vendor contracts * Regularly review vendor security posture, particularly for critical service providers * Maintain an inventory of all third parties with access to patient data * Understand your shared responsibility model for cloud and SaaS services ### Building Security Awareness Technical controls alone are insufficient. Healthcare staff at all levels must understand their role in protecting patient data and recognising potential threats. ### Cultivating security awareness: * Provide regular security awareness training for all staff, not just IT personnel * Conduct simulated phishing exercises to test and improve staff vigilance * Make security training relevant to healthcare contexts with real examples * Establish clear reporting channels for suspected security incidents * Foster a culture where security concerns can be raised without fear of blame ## Taking Action: A Practical Roadmap Improving cyber security can feel overwhelming, particularly for resource-constrained healthcare organisations. The key is to start with high-impact, foundational controls and build systematically from there. We recommend prioritising improvements in this order: * Immediate priorities (0-30 days):Enable MFA on all systems, implement DMARC enforcement, conduct a rapid vulnerability assessment of patient-facing systems, and verify your backup restoration process actually works. * Short-term improvements (30-90 days):Deploy DNSSEC, conduct penetration testing, review and update your incident response plan, implement enhanced monitoring and logging, and assess third-party vendor security. * Medium-term goals (3-6 months):Establish ongoing vulnerability management processes, conduct tabletop exercises, implement security awareness training programme, and develop comprehensive security metrics and reporting. * Ongoing maturity (6+ months):Build threat intelligence capabilities, achieve relevant certifications (ISO 27001, HITRUST), integrate security into development processes, and establish regular third-party security assessments. ## Understanding Your Regulatory Obligations Healthcare organisations in Australia and New Zealand operate under specific privacy and security obligations that require prompt action when breaches occur. * In New Zealand, thePrivacy Act 2020requires organisations to notify the Privacy Commissioner and affected individuals when a privacy breach causes or is likely to cause serious harm. Recent regulatory guidance emphasises that healthcare organisations must have appropriate safeguards in place proportionate to the sensitivity of the information they hold. * In Australia, theNotifiable Data Breaches (NDB) schemeunder the Privacy Act 1988 establishes similar obligations. Healthcare providers must assess whether breaches are likely to result in serious harm and notify both the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC) and affected individuals. Both jurisdictions are increasing scrutiny of healthcare data security practices. The recent ManageMyHealth incident resulted in immediate government review and will likely influence future regulatory expectations across the Trans-Tasman region. ## Looking Forward: The Path to Resilience The threat landscape facing healthcare organisations will continue to evolve throughout 2026 and beyond. Ransomware groups are becoming more sophisticated, attack methods are diversifying, and the value of healthcare data continues to attract criminal attention. However, organisations that take a systematic, risk-based approach to cyber security can significantly reduce their exposure. The measures outlined in this article represent proven practices that demonstrably improve security outcomes. Most importantly, cyber security is not solely a technology challenge. It requires commitment from leadership, engagement from staff across the organisation, and integration into core business processes. Healthcare organisations that treat security as a strategic imperative, rather than a technical burden, are best positioned to protect the patients who trust them with their most sensitive information. ## Update: 10 January 2026 Since the publication of this article, significant new developments have emerged regarding the ManageMyHealth breach that warrant attention from healthcare organisations across Australia and New Zealand. ### Latest Developments ManageMyHealth confirmed on 6 January 2026 that all patients whose documents may have been accessed in the incident have now been identified, with the final count at approximately 120,000 affected individuals. The organisation is currently working through the Privacy Act notification process for each affected person in conjunction with Health NZ and the Office of the Privacy Commissioner. The company has obtained interim injunction orders from the New Zealand High Court, legally preventing any third party from accessing or sharing the stolen data. This represents an important legal safeguard, though it does not eliminate the risk of unauthorised disclosure. ### Geopolitical Dimension Emerges New information has emerged about the threat actor behind this breach that adds complexity to the incident. The individual or group operating under the alias "Kazu" has made political statements suggesting potential ideological motivations beyond pure financial gain. On 6 January 2026, the Kazu-affiliated messaging channel posted "Free Nicolás Maduro!!!!" following the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro by United States forces on 3 January. The threat actor has previously claimed to be based in Cuba and has allegedly targeted organisations across multiple countries including Nepal, United States, Argentina, Bolivia, Costa Rica, Iran, Mauritania, Mexico, Sri Lanka, Thailand, and Venezuela. What does this mean for the threat landscape? This development suggests that some cyber attacks on healthcare organisations may have mixed motivations combining financial gain with potential state-sponsored or ideologically driven objectives. However, the fundamental vulnerability exploited in this case, a broken access control flaw, remains a basic security failure that sophisticated defensive measures could have prevented. ### Government Warning on Ransom Payments The New Zealand Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet has issued strong warnings discouraging any organisation from paying ransoms to cyber criminals. Key points from this guidance include: * Payment does not guarantee resolution: Paying a ransom does not ensure the removal of malicious software, the return of data, or the end of the incident * Creates ongoing risk: Ransom payments create financial incentives for criminals to continue or expand their activities, including potentially targeting the same organisation again * Legal implications: Payments to groups from sanctioned states could violate the United Nations Act 1946 or Russia Sanctions Act 2022, carrying penalties of up to seven years imprisonment and/or fines of $100,000 for individuals and $1,000,000 for organisations This guidance reinforces why robust backup and recovery capabilities are so critical. Organisations with tested, immutable backups can recover from ransomware attacks without facing the impossible choice of whether to pay criminals. ### What This Means for Healthcare Organisations These developments underscore several critical points for healthcare providers across Australia and New Zealand: 1. The threat landscape is complex and evolving. Healthcare organisations may face attacks from purely financial criminals, ideologically motivated actors, or state-sponsored groups. Regardless of attacker motivation, strong security fundamentals remain your best defence. 2. Legal and regulatory consequences are real. Beyond the immediate damage of a breach, organisations now face potential legal liability if they make ransom payments to sanctioned entities. This makes preventive security measures even more critical from a risk management perspective. 3. Basic security hygiene still matters most. Despite the geopolitical complexity surrounding this particular threat actor, the vulnerability exploited was a fundamental access control flaw. The security measures outlined in this article, particularly strong authentication, access controls, and regular vulnerability assessments, would have prevented this breach regardless of who was behind it. 4. Backup and recovery is insurance. With ransom payments potentially illegal and certainly ineffective, having reliable, tested backup and recovery processes is no longer optional. It's the difference between a manageable incident and an existential crisis. ### Our Recommendations Remain Valid The geopolitical dimension of this breach may be new, but it doesn't change the fundamental security principles that protect healthcare organisations. The practical roadmap outlined in this article, from immediate 0-30 day priorities through to long-term security maturity, remains the most effective approach to protecting patient data. If anything, these developments make the case for systematic security improvements even more urgent. Healthcare organisations cannot predict whether the next attack will come from opportunistic criminals or more sophisticated actors, but they can ensure that basic security controls are in place to defend against both. * Cyber Daily - New details emerge on New Zealand health record hack (9 January 2026)https://www.cyberdaily.au/security/13067-new-details-emerge-on-new-zealand-health-record-hack * ManageMyHealth - Cyber Breach Updates (6 January 2026)https://managemyhealth.co.nz/ * New Zealand Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet - Ransomware Guidance ## How Insicon Cyber Can Help At Insicon Cyber, we are experienced in helping healthcare organisations across Australia and New Zealand strengthen their cyber security posture. Our team understands the unique challenges facing the healthcare sector, from legacy systems to regulatory compliance, and we deliver practical, risk-based solutions that work in real-world healthcare environments. ### Our services include: * Comprehensive cyber security assessments and health checks * Strategic cyber security planning and roadmap development * Vulnerability assessments and autonomous penetration testing * Incident response planning and tabletop exercises * Security awareness training for healthcare staff * Ongoing virtual CISO (vCISO) services * InfoSec (ISO 27001) compliance support Don't wait for a breach to take action. Contact Insicon Cyber today to discuss how we can help your organisation build a stronger, more resilient security posture. ## References and Further Reading * New Zealand National Cyber Security Centre Cyber Threat Report 2024/25https://www.ncsc.govt.nz/insights-and-research/cyber-threat-reports/ * Office of the Australian Information Commissioner - Notifiable Data Breacheshttps://www.oaic.gov.au/privacy/notifiable-data-breaches * NZ Privacy Commissioner - Privacy Act 2020https://www.privacy.org.nz/ * RNZ - ManageMyHealth hack: New Zealand's worst cybersecurity incidentshttps://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/583243/managemyhealth-hack-new-zealand-s-worst-cybersecurity-incidents * NZ Herald - ManageMyHealth breach: Patients at risk of identity theft, extortionhttps://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/managemyhealth-breach-patients-at-risk-of-identity-theft-extortion-experts/MPZ5I676E5B2HHKKDM3TFB5TE4/ ------------------------------------------------------------ ABOUT THIS CONTENT ------------------------------------------------------------ Source: https://insiconcyber.com/blog/healthcare-cyber-security-lessons-2026-trans-tasman Author: Insicon Cyber Published: January 5, 2026 This content is provided for informational purposes. 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