SK Shieldus will strengthen the ability of Korean hospitals to counter cyber threats through a partnership with Elimnet.
The security firm said on the 24th that it had signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Elimnet to bolster personal data protection and cybersecurity at medical institutions, and that the two companies would jointly offer an integrated security service tailored to hospitals.
Cyber threats such as ransomware targeting medical institutions have persisted in recent years, raising the importance of security for protecting personal and medical data as well as for keeping healthcare services running smoothly. According to material published in 2026 by the Korea Social Security Information Service, security breaches at domestic medical institutions rose from 18 cases in 2020 to 71 in 2024, an increase of about 3.9-fold. Cumulative losses to medical institutions from such breaches are projected to reach about 1.53 trillion won ($1.1 billion) over the next five years.
Medical institutions in particular hold large volumes of sensitive information, including treatment records and personal data, making them prime targets for cyberattacks. Because a system paralyzed by an attack can disrupt patient care, the need to build security systems proactively is also growing.
SK Shieldus turned to Elimnet to raise the security capabilities of medical institutions. Elimnet is a specialist provider of ICT services including network and information security, internet lines, internet data centers (IDC) and cloud services, and has carried out personal data protection and ICT projects for medical institutions. It has experience linking hospital information systems (HIS) and electronic medical records (EMR), along with a customer network in the medical market.
Under the agreement, the two companies will combine SK Shieldus's 24-hour managed security service (MSS) and managed detection and response (MDR) capabilities with Elimnet's expertise in hospital data protection and its customer network to provide an integrated security service optimized for medical institutions.
They will also regularly share information on the latest security threats and vulnerabilities aimed at medical institutions and build a joint response system. On that basis, they plan to offer a security service that organically links everything from data protection to security operations and monitoring and to threat detection and response, raising both the security capabilities of medical institutions and the level of security at healthcare sites.
The two companies will also use each other's customer networks to jointly identify new business opportunities and expand cooperation in sales and marketing. Through this, SK Shieldus plans to strengthen its foundation in the medical cybersecurity business and respond more effectively to the security needs of medical institutions.
Kim Byung-moo, senior vice president and head of SK Shieldus's cyber business division, said cyber threats aimed at medical institutions have recently evolved beyond simple data leaks to a level that affects the continuity of healthcare services and patient safety. He said SK Shieldus would draw on top-tier security operations capabilities and threat response expertise to strengthen the cyber resilience of medical institutions and help create a safer digital healthcare environment.
