"Weak Connected Medical Device Security Increases Cyberattack Threats"

Medical device security remains a concern for healthcare organizations as the threat of cyberattacks continues to grow in the industry. The medical Internet of Things (IoT) has improved healthcare by making it more convenient, efficient, and patient-centered, but it is also a weak link in data security. Many Internet-connected devices with IoT sensors, such as glucose monitors, insulin pumps, and defibrillators, have insufficient security defenses, posing risks to healthcare facilities and patients. According to Capterra's 2022 Medical IoT Survey, which included over 150 respondents, medical facilities with more than 75 percent of connected medical devices face a 24 percent higher risk of cyberattack than practices with less than 50 percent of connected devices. Cyberattacks are becoming more common with the widespread use of connected medical devices. Forty percent of healthcare organizations have between 51 percent and 70 percent of their medical devices connected to the Internet via Wi-Fi or hardwiring. Zach Capers, senior security analyst at Capterra, states that as a healthcare organization connects more medical devices to its network, its attack surface expands. In addition, connected medical devices are often left unmonitored for security flaws, and because they run on a diverse set of software and hardware platforms, monitoring with a single tool is difficult. Capterra researchers said connected medical devices are typically developed with security as an afterthought, providing attackers with an easy entry point into the hospital network. These cyberattacks may also jeopardize the privacy of medical data. According to the survey findings, 48 percent of all healthcare cyberattacks have an impact on patient care, and 67 percent have an impact on the security of Personal Health Information (PHI). This article continues to discuss findings from Capterra's 2022 Medical IoT Survey.

HealthITSecurity reports "Weak Connected Medical Device Security Increases Cyberattack Threats"