What happened
Cognizant hit with US class-action lawsuits after a TriZetto data breach exposed sensitive patient and client information, including personal identifiers and medical records. Plaintiffs allege failure to protect data, detect the breach promptly, and notify affected individuals. Legal filings cite potential negligence and regulatory violations, spanning financial loss, reputational harm, and privacy concerns. The lawsuits highlight ongoing scrutiny of third-party service providers managing critical healthcare data and emphasize the consequences of insufficient cybersecurity practices and breach response measures.
Who is affected
Healthcare clients, patients, and business partners using TriZetto platforms managed by Cognizant are affected. Organizations relying on third-party data management services face potential exposure if similar vulnerabilities exist. Legal and compliance teams within healthcare organizations are also impacted, as the breach could trigger regulatory investigations and contractual disputes.
Why CISOs should care
The incident illustrates the reputational and financial consequences of inadequate data protection. CISOs must ensure robust cybersecurity, enforce data governance, and maintain rapid breach response capabilities. Failure to secure sensitive data may result in lawsuits, fines, and long-term operational impact.
3 practical actions
- Review incident response: Evaluate breach detection and notification processes.
- Strengthen data protection: Implement encryption, access controls, and auditing for sensitive datasets.
- Compliance alignment: Ensure cybersecurity practices meet regulatory and contractual obligations.