The healthcare sector is rapidly integrating connected devices, creating the Internet of Medical Things (IoMT). This expansion allows for better patient care through real-time data and remote monitoring. However, every new connection point increases the attack surface for cyber threats. These connected devices handle vast amounts of Protected Health Information (PHI), which is highly valuable to malicious actors. A security lapse can expose sensitive patient data, compromise device function, and potentially endanger patient safety. The risk now involves equipment directly responsible for diagnosis and treatment, not just administrative systems.
Devices with Direct Network Connectivity
Fixed medical equipment permanently wired into a hospital’s internal network represents a significant risk concentration. Large imaging systems, such as Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) and Computed Tomography (CT) scanners, store and transmit high volumes of patient data. These machines often operate for many years, making security updates difficult without costly downtime or voiding vendor warranties. Picture Archiving and Communication Systems (PACS) managing these images frequently use legacy protocols, like DICOM, which lack modern network security features.
Electronic Health Record (EHR) workstations and laboratory analysis machinery also pose high risks. EHR systems are the central repository for patient PHI, making their connected terminals prime targets. Automated laboratory devices, which process diagnostic tests, are often integrated directly into the network to automatically log results. If compromised, these fixed devices can serve as a pivot point, allowing attackers to move laterally and access the entire clinical network.
Portable and Remote Patient Monitoring Tools
Devices that move throughout a facility or connect from outside the hospital perimeter pose distinct challenges due to less rigid security controls. Smart infusion pumps are a prime example, routinely moved between rooms and connected to the network for updates. A report found that up to 75% of connected infusion pumps had identifiable security weaknesses. These vulnerabilities could allow unauthorized remote interception of unencrypted communications. This communication, often using clear-text channels, can expose patient data or device credentials to a man-in-the-middle attack.
Telemedicine peripherals, such as digital stethoscopes and cameras, rely on potentially unsecured consumer-grade hardware for remote consultations. Staff mobile devices used for patient charting introduce risks related to physical loss, theft, and unsecure external Wi-Fi networks. Patient-worn biometric sensors and wearables continuously collect health metrics, creating large streams of wirelessly transmitted data. This transmission often lacks the robust security protocols of traditional medical devices, threatening data integrity through potential replay attacks.
The Core Vulnerabilities in Device Security
The underlying technical reasons for security failings are consistent across all device types. A persistent problem is the reliance on outdated or legacy operating systems that no longer receive vendor-supported security patches. Many medical devices have operating lifespans exceeding the supported life cycle of their embedded software, forcing them to run on unsupported systems like older versions of Windows. This leaves them vulnerable to exploits for known, publicly disclosed flaws.
Many devices are deployed with default or hardcoded credentials that are never changed or cannot be changed by the end-user. These credentials are often easily found in product manuals, providing an immediate point of entry for attackers who gain network access. Furthermore, many connected devices lack strong encryption for data, both when stored (at rest) and when transmitted (in transit). This lack of encryption allows sensitive patient data to be intercepted and read in plain text.
A poor or absent network segmentation strategy compounds these flaws into a systemic risk. If a single vulnerable device is compromised, the lack of internal firewalls allows the attacker to move unimpeded to other parts of the network. This means a security flaw in one device could lead to a breach of the entire EHR system. Additionally, the hardware often lacks the processing power, memory, or battery capacity to support the strong cryptographic algorithms necessary for modern security.
Protecting Patient Data and System Integrity
Securing the IoMT environment requires a multi-layered approach involving coordinated action from manufacturers and healthcare providers. Network segmentation is a foundational security measure, isolating medical devices onto separate, restricted networks away from administrative systems. This practice limits damage by preventing a compromise on one device from spreading across the hospital infrastructure.
Timely security patching is necessary, requiring manufacturers to provide continuous support and healthcare organizations to implement processes for regular updates without disrupting patient care. Regulatory frameworks, such as the security standards mandated by the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), establish minimum requirements for safeguarding patient data. These regulations compel providers to conduct regular risk assessments to identify and mitigate vulnerabilities. Maintaining the integrity of patient data and system functionality is a shared responsibility demanding persistent vigilance.