As Houston Methodist’s Chief Information Security Officer (CISO), I find myself constantly navigating the ever-evolving landscape of cybersecurity to better understand how to protect our organization, patients and employees. This year brings a host of new challenges and opportunities that are shaping the way we protect HM and the sensitive data we handle.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) Threats Cybercriminals are becoming increasingly sophisticated, leveraging AI to conduct highly-targeted phishing and social engineering attacks that can bypass traditional security measures. AI enables hackers to automate and scale operations, crafting phishing campaigns that look like real communications. Adding to the threat is the rise of deepfakes — AI-generated synthetic media capable of creating realistic but fake images, audio and videos. These deepfakes can be weaponized for identity theft, fraud and public manipulation, potentially causing significant financial and reputational harm. For example, they can even fabricate a realistic video of an HM executive making false statements.
Ransomware Threats Ransomware tactics have evolved. Attackers are no longer content with just encrypting data; now they’re engaging in multifaceted extortion, threatening to release sensitive information if ransoms aren’t paid. This technique, dubbed “double extortion,” puts additional pressure on organizations to comply with ransom demands to avoid reputational damage. This forces us to rethink our approach to data protection and incident response, ensuring that we have robust backup and recovery plans in place.
Global Threats On a broader scale, global threats remain a significant concern with countries like Russia, China, Iran and North Korea engaging in cyber activities driven by political gains. To counteract this, HM will need to strengthen our defenses and collaborate more closely with government agencies and industry partners to share intelligence and best practices.
Cloud Security Threats As we migrate our applications to the cloud, securing these environments must be paramount. Attackers are increasingly targeting cloud applications to gain access to sensitive data. Ensuring robust vulnerability and patch management processes is essential to mitigate these risks.
How You Can Help In 2025, fostering a culture of awareness is key. You can help by following best practices like staying informed, using strong passwords, being vigilant against phishing and reporting any suspicious activity. Together, we can address challenges to keep our patient information secure and safeguard HM from emerging threats.
