The importance of securing medical devices needs no introduction. Cybersecurity incidents in healthcare pose significant risks, from stealing personal information and accessing medical records to extorting organizations through ransomware. When one adds the looming danger of compromised medical devices being used to harm patients directly, the potential outcomes are horrific and potentially life-threatening.
The risks are real. In recent years, the healthcare industry has experienced breaches in third-party systems, physical security, software, networks, and outdated devices, all impacting patient care. From ambulances being diverted to canceled procedures when systems go offline, patients suffer, and lives are lost. Researchers estimate ransomware attacks alone caused the deaths of 42 to 67 Medicare patients between 2016 and 2021.
