Successfully co-organised by Cyber Ireland and the Connected Health & Wellbeing Cluster (CHWC), taking place at Dundalk Institute of Technology, this one-day event welcomed more than 140 delegates from healthcare, health-tech, cybersecurity, research, government and industry, alongside 25 expert speakers and panellists who shared practical insights, case studies and best practices from across Ireland, Northern Ireland and Europe.
Building on the success of last year’s first edition, this second conference reinforced the growing need for collaboration between healthcare and cybersecurity stakeholders as digital transformation, AI adoption and regulatory requirements continue to reshape the sector. The Cybersecurity for Health conference is now established as a key annual event for organisations seeking to improve cyber resilience across Ireland’s healthcare ecosystem.
Addressing Today’s Healthcare Cybersecurity Challenges
The conference agenda explored a broad range of topics affecting healthcare organisations, from emerging threats and AI governance to ransomware preparedness and supply chain security.
The day opened with a keynote address from Vasileios Mingos, European Operations Director at Health-ISAC, who shared insights from the organisation’s latest threat intelligence and highlighted how healthcare organisations can improve resilience against an increasingly complex threat landscape. Topics included ransomware trends, supply chain vulnerabilities, AI-enabled attacks and the importance of sharing information across the health sector.
The agenda then explored practical challenges facing healthcare organisations and innovators through presentations and demonstrations from experts across industry and healthcare. Sessions covered:
- Working with the HSE and understanding cybersecurity expectations and standards.
- Security risks associated with AI-powered healthcare systems.
- AI governance frameworks and responsible adoption.
- NIS2 compliance and third-party risk management.
- Cybersecurity strategies within hospital environments.
- Emerging threats, ransomware preparedness and crisis response.
- International collaboration opportunities in healthcare cybersecurity
A particular highlight was a live demonstration showing how healthcare AI systems can be targeted through prompt-injection and related attacks, providing delegates with practical insights into securing AI-enabled applications.
Expert Speakers and Cross-Sector Perspectives
In total, the conference featured 25 expert speakers and panellists from organisations including Health-ISAC, HSE, Trend AI, InterTradeIreland, Smarttech247, Santegic, Kingsbridge Hospital Group, the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC), Ulster University, Queen’s University Belfast, Heart Rhythm International, BD Ireland, CloudAssist and many more. Across four expert panel discussions, delegates explored AI governance, healthcare cybersecurity, supply chain risk, ransomware response, and international collaboration opportunities.
The diversity of expertise represented throughout the day reflected the reality that healthcare cybersecurity is no longer solely an IT issue. It requires collaboration across technology, clinical, operational, regulatory and leadership functions to ensure patient safety and organisational resilience.
Networking, Collaboration and Invitation
Alongside the conference programme, attendees participated in a dedicated networking and exhibition showcase, creating valuable opportunities for healthcare organisations, cybersecurity providers, researchers and innovators to connect, share experiences and explore new collaborations. Interactive demonstrations and the “Hacker Shack” workshops provided practical perspectives on emerging cyber threats and defensive strategies.
Looking ahead
Cyber Ireland would like to thank all the speakers, sponsors, exhibitors, partners and delegates who contributed to the success of the conference. We would also like to thank our members who participated throughout the day and continue to support the growth of Ireland’s cybersecurity ecosystem.
The event showcased the progress of the CyberHealth Special Interest Group (SIG), a joint initiative led by Cyber Ireland and the Connected Health & Wellbeing Cluster. The SIG provides a forum for healthcare organisations, health-tech companies, cybersecurity vendors, researchers and public sector stakeholders to share knowledge, identify emerging challenges and develop practical solutions to strengthen cybersecurity across the healthcare sector.
Interested in joining the CyberHealth SIG? Contact Cyber Ireland or visit the CyberHealth SIG website to learn more about the working group, fill the application form and participate on our next activities