The integration of connected devices in healthcare is potentially transformative, promising better patient care, improved diagnostics, and streamlined operations. These devices include wearable health trackers, remote patient monitoring tools, smart medical devices, and even the incorporation of IoT in hospital operations. They provide real-time data and analytics, enabling healthcare providers to make informed decisions and enhance patient care.
However, the rapid adoption of these technologies has exposed the healthcare sector to a host of cybersecurity challenges, exacerbated by a lack of investment in cybersecurity infrastructure. Connected devices collect and transmit sensitive patient data. Protecting this data from breaches is paramount, as unauthorised access can lead to identity theft, fraud or even endanger patients’ lives.
Many connected devices lack robust security features, making them vulnerable to cyberattacks.
There are also regulatory challenges. Healthcare organisations must adhere to stringent regulations such as the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) in the United States and the upcoming NIS2 Directive in Europe. Non-compliance can result in severe penalties.
These challenges are aggravated by a reliance on outdated legacy infrastructure. Many healthcare organisations are still dependent on old and unsupported operating systems and software, making them more susceptible to security vulnerabilities. These older systems are often not patched and updated in a timely manner, leaving them exposed to known threats. And they are frequently incompatible with modern cybersecurity solutions, complicating efforts to secure the infrastructure.
Need to secure multiple threat points
There is no easy solution to these challenges. Replacing legacy infrastructure requires significant financial investment, and many healthcare organisations are severely constrained by limited budgets and rising costs. Furthermore, the interconnectedness of highly complex healthcare systems renders standard security solutions largely ineffective.
The way the healthcare sector functions and the manner in which services are provided to it creates what is best described as an “elastic perimeter.”