Healthcare systems like UMMC are attractive targets for financially motivated groups or those looking for the sensitive data they hold.

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The University of Mississippi Medical Center (UMMC) suffered a ransomware attack on February 19, 2026, forcing the shutdown of all 35 of its medical clinics statewide. The attack compromised UMMC's EPIC EHR platform, IT network, and phone systems, pushing staff to revert to pen-and-paper workflows and cancel elective procedures. UMMC is working with the FBI, CISA, and cybersecurity experts to assess the damage. Experts note this is a textbook ransomware campaign designed for maximum disruption to pressure payment, and highlight that healthcare is the second-most targeted US industry due to the high value of patient data. Recommended defenses include offline/immutable backups, network segmentation, phishing-resistant MFA, EDR on all devices, and regular penetration testing.

Mississippi Healthcare System Shuts Down Clinics After Ransomware Attack