Healthcare Cybersecurity: Protecting Patient Data and Ensuring Continuity of Care
About the company
SHG Groep is a foundation with eight health centers and six pharmacies in the Haaglanden region of the Netherlands. The organisation provides comprehensive primary care services to tens of thousands of patients, supported by a network of healthcare professionals dedicated to delivering high-quality, accessible care.
The status quo
As a healthcare provider, SHG handles highly sensitive medical data. Any compromise would not only disrupt operations but could severely damage patient trust and organisational credibility.
Digital systems underpin nearly every aspect of daily operations. When these systems fail, care delivery slows or stops entirely. This risk became tangible when a system outage rendered one of SHG’s pharmacies inoperable for three days. Staff were unable to access essential information, and services were interrupted. The incident showed how deeply dependent healthcare delivery had become on stable and secure digital infrastructure.
Protecting digital infrastructures from within
At the same time, SHG’s IT leadership recognised a deeper structural issue.
We had focused on keeping attackers out. But if someone did get in, we would not have immediate visibility.”
SHG’s board recognised the urgency. Cybersecurity had become a strategic priority to ensure continuity of care and maintain patient trust.
Implementing the solution
To respond to this need, SHG sought a cybersecurity partner capable of providing continuous monitoring, threat detection, and strategic guidance. Eye Security stood out for its “assume breach” approach, the recognition that no organisation can prevent every intrusion but every organisation can detect and respond effectively.
Following onboarding, Eye Security deployed 24/7 monitoring, vulnerability detection, and centralised visibility across SHG’s infrastructure, supported by continuous analysis from its Security Operations Center (SOC). Further, Eye Security provided access to a centralised security portal that gave leadership clear, real-time insight into their security posture.
SHG had full visibility into its environment: which devices are compliant, where vulnerabilities exist, and which risks require attention. The platform also provided proactive alerts about emerging threats, along with concrete recommendations to mitigate them. Regular strategic check-ins ensured ongoing alignment between SHG and Eye Security’s experts.
During implementation, healthcare professionals could continue their work uninterrupted, without needing to manage or even notice the security controls operating in the background.
Results, effectiveness, and benefits
The most immediate benefit was visibility. SHG could now detect threats early, understand risks clearly, and act before incidents escalated.
Continuous monitoring ensures that suspicious activity such as compromised credentials or unusual system behaviour is identified and addressed promptly. This dramatically reduces the risk of prolonged undetected breaches or disruptive incidents.
The impact extended beyond technical improvements. Healthcare professionals experienced greater confidence and stability in their daily work. They could rely on systems being available, secure, and resilient. Security now operates quietly in the background, protecting systems without interfering with clinical workflows.
SHG’s leadership gained assurance that their environment is actively monitored and protected at all times. This allows executives and staff to focus fully on their primary mission: delivering high-quality patient care.
Discover why healthcare providers choose Eye Security.
Protect healthcare data against digital threats. Book a demo to see how Eye Security compares to your existing solution.
- Protect your business with 24/7 monitoring
- Respond to attacks within minutes
- Prevent ransomware and data breaches such as stolen credentials and compromised patient data
- Mitigate financial losses with cyber insurance
- Alignment with ISO 27001 and NIS2
- European data residency and GDPR compliance
- healthcare-specific expertise
