U.S. Launches Cybersecurity Pilot for South Carolina Rural Hospitals
Summary
The ONCD launched Project Lifeline 250, a six-month industry partnership to help South Carolina rural hospitals defend networks, maintain care after incidents and replace high-risk legacy devices. The program’s plans after six months are unclear.
Key points
- Project Lifeline 250 is the ONCD’s second regional cyber pilot, following a Texas program focused on the water sector.
- The six-month South Carolina pilot will connect industry with rural hospitals to defend networks, deploy physical backup devices after an incident and identify and replace high-risk legacy devices.
- Participants include Abnormal AI, Cisco, Cyera, Microsoft, Rilian Partners, Trellix and Zscaler, alongside state cybersecurity and law-enforcement programs and local governments.
- The article says healthcare had 804 large breaches affecting more than 140 million people last year; the FBI identified the sector as a top target for ransomware and other hackers in 2025.
- The ONCD has not said what will happen after the pilot, and has only partnered with or publicly discussed partnerships with GOP-led states.
Article Details
- Event Type
- Launch of a six-month rural hospital cybersecurity pilot program, Project Lifeline 250, in South Carolina.
- Impact
- The program connects participating firms with rural hospitals to help defend hospital networks, deploy physical backup devices after an incident, and identify and replace high-risk or legacy devices. The article reports no results yet; it notes that healthcare had 804 large breaches affecting more than 140 million people last year and that the FBI identified the sector as a top target for ransomware and other hackers in 2025.
People
Henry McMasterSouth Carolina governor who endorsed Project Lifeline 250 as a step toward helping the state’s rural hospitals defend against cyberattacks.Sean CairncrossNational Cyber Director who visited South Carolina to debut Project Lifeline 250 and described its intended services.Yotam SegevCyera cofounder and CEO who discussed the urgency of bringing cybersecurity expertise to rural hospitals through the pilot.
Vendors
Abnormal AIAmong the participating firms: Abnormal AI, Cisco, Cyera, Microsoft, Rilian Partners, Trellix and Zscaler.CiscoAmong the participating firms: Abnormal AI, Cisco, Cyera, Microsoft, Rilian Partners, Trellix and Zscaler.CyeraAmong the participating firms: Abnormal AI, Cisco, Cyera, Microsoft, Rilian Partners, Trellix and Zscaler.MicrosoftAmong the participating firms: Abnormal AI, Cisco, Cyera, Microsoft, Rilian Partners, Trellix and Zscaler.Rilian PartnersAmong the participating firms: Abnormal AI, Cisco, Cyera, Microsoft, Rilian Partners, Trellix and Zscaler.TrellixAmong the participating firms: Abnormal AI, Cisco, Cyera, Microsoft, Rilian Partners, Trellix and Zscaler.ZscalerAmong the participating firms: Abnormal AI, Cisco, Cyera, Microsoft, Rilian Partners, Trellix and Zscaler.