Green Cybersecurity in Healthcare: Integrating Digital Security and Environmental Sustainability—A Narrative Review

Abstract

The accelerated digitalization of the healthcare industry has altered service delivery in healthcare. Such technologies as electronic health records, artificial intelligence (AI), telemedicine, and the Internet of Medical Things (IoMT) have a major role. These innovations are not only more effective and contribute to better patient outcomes but also introduce severe cybersecurity threats and environmental concerns. Cyberattacks are ideal targets for healthcare systems. These risks include data breaches, ransomware, and compromised medical devices due to the high sensitivity and value of the patient data. Simultaneously, as the digital base expands (data centers and AI), it consumes more energy, generates more carbon emissions, and more electronic waste, exacerbating environmental issues. This narrative literature review examines the concept of green cybersecurity in healthcare, a combination of security strategies and environmental sustainability principles. The results indicate that green approaches to cybersecurity, such as energy-efficient algorithms, AI-assisted threat detection, blockchain-based data protection, and green data center configurations, can help increase system resilience and minimize environmental impacts. Also, it is essential to bridge the gap between cybersecurity plans and global sustainability models, such as the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, to ensure the sustainability of healthcare in the long term. The challenges mentioned above demand cross-disciplinary teamwork, policy-making, and sustainability by going digital. To sum up, green cybersecurity is a significant development in the healthcare sector. It enables the development of safe, effective and green systems. The future directions of research ought to be related to scalable, energy-efficient cybersecurity frameworks, balancing between sustainability and security performance objectives.