Despite implementing various safeguards concerning patient data, healthcare providers have overlooked the security of their medical equipment. These devices are essential for patient treatment and can expose hospitals to cyber invasions, leading to significant disruptions in patient services.
According to the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, over 88 million people were impacted by major breaches compromising vast amounts of electronic protected health information (ePHI) last year. This year, several prominent healthcare providers experienced cyberattacks, including Change Healthcare, Kaiser Permanente, and Ascension. Halcyon reported that Synnovis, a crucial provider of laboratory and diagnostic services in London, fell victim to a ransomware attack that caused widespread disruptions and affected numerous hospitals, including Guy’s, St Thomas’, and King’s College, amongst others, as per The Guardian.
By 2029, the global hospital count is projected to reach 166,548, as stated in a Statista report. On average, there are about 10 to 15 connected medical devices per hospital bed, suggesting a worldwide total of 1.67 million connected medical devices by 2029. Unfortunately, many of these devices are manufactured without a secure-by-design approach, exacerbating the cybersecurity risk. A survey by the Ponemon Institute and Proofpoint revealed that 89% of healthcare organizations encounter almost one cyberattack per week, with 53% stating they lack internal expertise to address such cybersecurity concerns. These statistics are concerning given the extensive use of interconnected medical devices in healthcare facilities.
Reasons behind the vulnerability of medical devices to cyber threats
While healthcare providers have made strides in securing electronic health records (EHRs), cyber attackers are now targeting medical devices to infiltrate hospital networks. This has pushed the security of medical devices into a critical state. The vulnerabilities include:
Outdated devices: Several older medical devices still in operation lack cybersecurity measures, operating on obsolete software versions that are susceptible to breaches.
Regulatory loopholes: Despite efforts by the FDA to strengthen medical device regulations, compliance remains inconsistent among manufacturers and healthcare entities.
Inadequate security measures: Many medical devices lack robust security measures, making them appealing targets for cyber threats.
Complexity: The intricate nature of medical devices, with multiple components, interfaces, and connectivity options, poses challenges for securing them effectively.
Interoperability requirements: The necessity for medical devices to interact with various systems, devices, and networks heightens security risks.
Resource shortages: Some medical device manufacturers lack cybersecurity expertise to implement proper safeguarding controls.
Supply chain vulnerabilities: Healthcare providers often face limitations in monitoring their medical device networks and supply chains end-to-end, impacting their ability to detect and respond to security threats.
Addressing these vulnerabilities in medical devices is crucial to bolstering the resilience of healthcare networks and mitigating cybersecurity risks.
Identifying vulnerable points susceptible to cyber attacks
Favored by hackers, vulnerable medical devices include:
- Insulin pumps used to administer insulin doses to diabetic patients can be manipulated to change dosage levels.
- MRI systems can be tampered with using malware, allowing unauthorized access and alterations to imaging data.
- Infusion pumps delivering medications are vulnerable to malicious alterations in dosage or treatment duration.
- Pacemakers can be compromised to disrupt heart rhythms or functionality, endangering patients.
- Nurse call systems pose significant cyber risks due to unpatched vulnerabilities.
Healthcare providers must ensure the security of interconnected medical devices within their facilities to minimize risks and uphold patient safety.
Strengthening healthcare cyber defense with gen AI
By leveraging generative artificial intelligence (gen AI), healthcare providers can fortify medical device security, boost cybersecurity defenses, and enhance patient care quality. Strategies for this include:
Enforcement of compliance measures:Leverage generative AI for ensuring conformity to HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act) and other regulatory criteria.
Cyber threat intelligence: Utilize generative AI from generating artificial intelligence to scrutinize extensive datasets, recognize and manage potential hazards regarding medical apparatus, and issue alerts to healthcare providers.
Data confidentiality: Guarantee adherence to HIPAA guidelines by de-identifying ePHI before utilizing generative AI and employing encryption methods to prevent external exposure of patient data.
Instruction: Develop cybersecurity training driven by AI for medical professionals to enhance insight, diminish security threats, and fulfill compliance standards.
Vulnerability control: Execute AI-supported evaluations to alleviate security vulnerabilities.
Software patch management: Deploy an effective, AI-guided system for patch management to guarantee prompt patching of the most crucial vulnerabilities and ensure medical equipment receives timely software upgrades.
Response to incidents: Employ AI to evaluate data for identifying patterns in plausible attacks, furnishing insights to analysts for improved decision-making and reducing the duration spent on alerts analysis.
Progressively, adherence to secure design principles will be pivotal
To conclude, the healthcare sector is dependent on the digital interconnection of medical tools. Historically, manufacturers of medical devices have not adopted secure design methodologies, thereby introducing risks into hospital network structures. Threat actors exploit this vulnerability by executing ransomware assaults, disrupting hospital operations, and engaging in different forms of cyber aggression. Healthcare providers can greatly enhance the security of medical devices by adopting cybersecurity best practices and harnessing the potential of generative AI to enrich patient care quality and, fundamentally, ensure the well-being of patients’ lives.